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HISTORY 



OF 



DEKALB COUNTY 

INDIANA 



With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and 
Genealogical Records of Old Families 



ILLUSTRATED 



1914 
B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY, Inc. 
Indianapolis 



Fo^. 



DRDICATION. 

This work is respectfully dedicated to 

THE PIONEERS, 

long since departed. May the memory of those ^vho laid down their burdens 
by the wayside ever be fragrant as the breath of summer 
flowers, for their toils and sacrifices have made 
DeKalb County a garden of sun- 
shine and delights. 



^1>2J. 



J7 



PREFACE 



All life and achievement is evolution; present wisdom comes from past 
experience, and present commercial prosperity has come only from past exer- 
tion and suffering. The deeds and motives of the men that have gone before 
have been instrumental in shaping the destinies of later communities and 
states. The development of a new country was at once a task and a privi- 
lege. It required great courage, sacrifice and privation. Compare the pres- 
ent conditions of the people of DeKalb County, Indiana, with what they 
were one hundred years ago. From a trackless wilderness and virgin land, 
it has come to be a center of prosperity and civilization, with millions of 
wealth, systems of railways, grand educational institutions, splendid indus- 
tries and immense agricultural and mineral productions. Can any think- 
ing person be insensible to the fascination of the study which discloses the 
aspirations and efforts of the early pioneers who so strongly laid the founda- 
tion upon which has been reared the magnificent prosperity of later days ? To 
perpetuate the story of these people and to trace and record the social, polit- 
ical and industrial progress of the community from its first inception is the 
function of the local historian. .V sincere purpose to preserve facts and per- 
sonal memoirs that are deserving of perpetuation, and which unite the pres- 
ent to the past, is the motive for the present publication. A specially valuable 
and interesting department is that one devoted to the sketches of representa- 
tive citizens of these counties whose records deserve preservation because of 
their worth, effort and accomplishment. The publishers desire to extend 
their thanks to the gentlemen who have so faithfully labored to this end. 
Thanks are also due to the citizens of DeKalb county for the uniform kind- 
ness with which they have regarded this undertaking, and for their man\- 
services rendered in the gaining of necessary information. 

In placing the "History of DeKalb County, Indiana," before the citizens, 
the publishers can conscientiously claim that they have carried out the plan 
as outlined in the prospectus. Every biographical .sketch in the work has 
been submitted to the party interested, for correction, and therefore any error 
of fact, if there be any, is solely due to the person for whom the sketch was 
prepared. Confident that our effort to please will fully meet the approbation 
of the public, we are. 

Respectfully, 

THE PUBLISHERS. 



CONTENTS 



CHAPTER I— RELATED STATE HISTORY 25 

First Explorers — National Policies — George Rogers Clark Expedition — 
Xortliwest Government — St. Clair and Wayne Expeditions — Origin of Fort 
Wayne — Organization of Indiana Territory — State Organization, 1816 — The 
Last of the Indians — Internal Improvements. 

CHAPTER II— GEOLOGY, TOPOGRAPHY AND ZOOLOGY 38 

Location — Geology — Peat Deposits — Definition of Peat — Economic Value of 
Peat — The Fauna: Past and Present — Game Preserve. 

CHAPTER III— EARLY SETTLEMENT OF COUNTY 50 

First Settlers — Early Life — The Log Home — Early Labor — First Events — 
Other Pioneers — A Pioneer Honeymoon — Family Mills — Extracts on Early 
History — John Houlton's Tale — A Dangerous Predicament — John Fee's ■ 
Track — Incidents of Humor — A Searching Party — Bear Hunt Resumed — 
Pioneer Society — Mills and Mill Trips — Public Lands — Land Hunting — ^Cy- 
clone — Hydrophobia — Pioneer Fare — Mound Builders — Indians — Fox Hunts 
— The Last Bear. 

CHAPTER IV— ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT OF COUNTY 17 

Organization — -Location of County Seat — First Election — First Commission- 
ers' Meeting — County Jail — Court House History — First Court House — Sec- 
ond Court House — The New Court House — DeKalb County Asylum — As- 
sessment for DeKalb County. 1913 — Present County Officers^ — Finances of 
County, 1913. 

CHAPTER V— MILITARY HISTORY 90 

• Causes of the Civil War — Lincoln's Nomination — The First Call — DeKalb 
County Guards — Newspaper Editorials — Mass Meetings — Enlistments — 
Drafting — Big Celebration — Official Report — Bounty and Relief — Com- 
mands in Which Men from DeKalb County Enlisted — Spanish-.^merican 
War— DeKalb County Militia. 

CHAPTER VI— REMINISCENCES 118 

Wesley Park's Tale — Arrival at the Site of Auburn — Trying Times — Indian 
Customs — Sketch by S. W. Widney — Flood Waters — From Manuscript of 
W. H. Dills— A Costly Trip— A Night of Suffering — \bram Fair's Narra- 
tive — A Coon Story — John N. Miller's Narrative — A Long Trail for Flour — 
.-\ Hard Journey — More .'Adversities — A Mill Trip with Ague — The Last Deer 
— From the Manuscript of J. R. Skilling — Swamps and Animals — Indians — 
Prehistoric Evidences — Lumber and Asherie.s — Imports and Exports — Mills 
— First Public Utilities. 



CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER VII— TOWNSHIP HISTORIES 143 

Wilmington Township — Topography — Organization — Early Settlement — A 
Hard Winter — First Officers — Notes — Butler — Incorporations — Public Utili- 
ties — Concord Township — Topography — Organization — First Settlements — 
First Officers — St. Joe — Keyser Township — Topography — Organization — 
Garrett — Early Pioneers — Incorporation — Garrett in 1913 — Municipal Im- 
provements — City Hall — Library — Sacred Heart Hospital — Butler Township — 
Topography — Organization — Early Settlement -i- First Officers — Fairfield 
Township — Topography — Organization — Early Settlement — First Officers — • 
Franklin Township — Organization — Topography — Early Settlement — First 
Officers — Jackson Township — Topography — Organization — Early Settlement 
— Hurricane of 1841 — First Officers — Newville Township — Topography — 
Early Settlement — First Officers — Newville — Richland Township — Topogra- 
. phy — Organization — Early Settlement — First Officers — Corunna — Sedan — 

■ Smithfield Township — Topography — Organization — Early Settlement — First 
Officers — Ashley — Stafford Township — Topography — Early Settlement — 
First Officers — Troy Township — Topography — Early Settlement — Mills — 
First Officers — Artie — Spencer Township — Spencerville — Grant Township- 
Waterloo — Library — Union Township — Topography — Organization — Early 
Settlement — Auburn — Wesley Park — Early Settlers — Taverns — Incorporation 
as a Town and as a City — Public L^tilities — Library — Eckhart's Gift — Clubs 
and Societies — Postoffice — Auburn Y. M. C. A. — Automobile Factories and 
Other Industries — Storm of September 29. 1R72 — Fall of Sn}'der Block — Dar- 
ing Burglary. 

CHAPTER VIII— RELIGIOUS HISTORY 196 

First Preacher — First Meetings — Methodist Episcopal Churches — German 
Methodist Churches — Presbyterian Churches — Christian Churches — United 
Brethren Churches — Baptist Churches — St. Mark's Lutheran Evangelical 
Church — German Lutheran and German Reform Churches — Church of God — 
St. Matthew's Reformed Church — Protestant Episcopal Church — Evangelical 
Association — Catholic Churches. 

CHAPTER IX— HISTORY OF JOURNALISM 222 

Early Newspaper Making — First Paper in County — Other Early Papers — 
Waterloo Press, the Oldest Paper in the County — More Auburn Ventures — 
First Paper in Butler — First Newspaper in Garrett — The Butler Record — 

■ The DeKalb County Herald — Papers of Short Existence — The Ashley Times 
—The St. Joe News— The Corunna Star— The Auburn Weekly Bee. 

CHAPTER X— THE MEDICAL PROFESSION 234 

Early Doctors — An Interloper — The Medical Society — Present Physicians. 

CHAPTER XI— THE BENCH AND THE BAR 243 

Probate Court — Common Pleas Court — Justices of the Peace — Circuit Court 
— Circuit Court Judges — Early Lawyers — The Present Bar. 

CHAPTER XII— POLITICAL HISTORY 249 

First Elections — Election of 1860 — Later Elections — Presidential Vote in 
DeKalb County— State Senators — State Representatives — Sheriffs — County 
Clerks — County Auditors — County Recorders — County Treasurers — County 
Surveyors — Coroners — Prosecutors — Common Pleas Prosecutors. 



CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XIII— HISTORY OF EDUCATION 259 

The Early School — Early Text Books — Education in the Townships — School 
History of Auburn — Establishment of Uniform Schools — Auburn Academy 
— Spelling Matches — Destruction of Academy — First High School — Progress 
of Education— Education in Garrett — School Statistics — Teachers and Officers. 

CHAPTER XIV— AGRICULTURE 278 

Farm Lands — Value of Lands — Domestic Animals — Principal Crops — Pro- 
prietorship of Farms — County Fairs — The DeKalb County Free Fall Fair — 
Granges — Horticulture in DeKalb County. 

CHAPTER XV— RAILROADS AND TRANSPORT.A.TION 286 

Early Roads and Road Cutting — Railroad History — Surveys — Railroad Be- 
ginnings — Interurban Railway — -Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw Railroad — 
The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad — Trestles and Troubles — Land Buying — 
First Trains — Railroad Boarding Houses — Building of the Shops — Early 
Garrett. 

CHAPTER XVI— BANKS AND BANKING 302 

Early Banking Systems — ^First Bank in DeKalb County — Beginnings in Au- 
burn — Present Day Banks — Auburn State Bank — City National Bank — Sav- 
ings, Loan and Trust Company — Garrett State Bank — Garrett Savings, Loan 
and Trust Company — First National Bank — Knisely Brothers & Company 
State Bank — Citizens Bank — Thomas Exchange Bank — .St. Joe Valley Bank 
— The Commercial Bank. 

CHAPTER XVII— LODGES AND SOCIETIES 309 

Free and Accepted Masons — Knights of Pythias — Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows — Grand Army of the Republic. 

CHAPTER XVIII— MISCELLANEOUS 

Patent Medicines— Market Prices in the Fifties— Market Prices of 1913— 
Pioneers' Association of DeKalb County — First Meeting — Other Meetings — 
Wolf Bounty — First Circus — Log Values of 1854 — Population of County by 
Decades. 



HISTORICAL INDEX 



A 

Adversities, Early 135 

Agriculture 278 

Ague 136 

Artie 180 

Asheries 140 

Ashley 177 

Ashley Newspapers 232 

Assessment, County 87 

Auburn ISS'^ 

Auburn Academy 265 

Auburn Baptist Church 212 

Auburn Catholic Church 218 

Auburn Christian Church 207 

Auburn Clubs and Societies 191 

Auburn, Incorporation of 187 

Auburn Lutheran Church 213 

Auburn M. E. Church 198 

Auburn Newspapers 226 

Auburn Postoffice 192 

Auburn Presbyterian Church 205 

Auburn Public Library 190 

Auburn Public Utilities 189 

Auburn School History 263 

Auburn Y. M. C. A 193 

Auditors. County 255 

Automobile Industry 193 

B 

Banks and Banking 302 

Baptist Churches 211 

Beaver Dam 139 

Bench and Bar 243 

Big Run U. B. Church 210 

Birds 46 

Butler 147 

Butler M. E. Church 201 

Butler Newspapers 227 

Butler Township 160 

Butler U. B. Church 211 



C 

Cabins. Pioneer 54 

Catholic Churches- 218 

Christian Churches 207 

Church of Christ at Butler 208 

Church of God 217 

Circuit Court 245 

Circuit Court Judges 245 

Clark Expedition 27 

Clerks, County 255 

Colonial Policies 26 

Commissioners, County 78 

Common Pleas Court 244 

Common Pleas Prosecutors 257 

Concord Township 149 

Constitutional Convention 36 

Coon Hunt 75 

Coroners 257 

Corunna - 173 

Counterfeiters, Early 302 

County Asylum 87 

County Auditors 255 

County Clerks 255 

County Fairs 281 

County Finances 89 

County Jail 81 

County Officers 88 

County Recorders 256 

County Seat Location 77 

County Surveyors 256 

County Treasurers 256 

Court House History 83 

Courts. Early 243 

Crops 280 

Cyclone 74 

D 

DeKalb County Guards 93 

DeKalb County. Location 38 

DeKalb County Militia 116 



HISTORICAL INDEX. 



DeKalb County, Organization of 71 

Dills, W. H., Reminiscences 124 

Doctors, Early 236 

Doctors, Present 241 

Domestic Animals -- ^ 280 

Drafting 1 '— -PS- 
Drainage 38 

E 

Early Courts 243 

Early Dead 126 

Early Doctors 236 

Early History 58 

Early Indian Inhabitants 26 

Early Labor 55 

Early Lawyers 247 

Early Life 52 

Early Market Prices 316 

Early Medical Treatment 234 

Early Mills and Markets 53 

Early Newspaper Making 222 

Early Preachers 197 

Early Roads 286 

Early Schools 259 

Early Settlement 50 

Early Text Books 260 

Education 259 

Education in the Townships 261 

Eighty-eighth Indiana Regiment 108 

Election, First 27, 249 

Election of 1860 250 

English Reformed Church 217 

Enlistments 98, 99, 114 

Episcopal Churcli 218 

Evangelical Association 218 

Explorations 25 

Extradition. Old Time 137. 

F 

Fair, Abraham, Narrative 130 

Fairiield Township 162 

Fairs 281 

Family Mills 58 

Farm Lands 278 

Fauna, Past and Present 44 

Fee, John 65 

Finances of County 89 

First Bank in DeKalb County 303 

First Commissioners Meetings 78 



First Court House 83 

First Election 78, 249 

First Events 55 

First Explorers 25 

First High School 267 

First Newspaper 223 

First Preacher 196 

First Public Utilities 142 

First Religious Meeting 196 

First Settlers 50, 144 

150, 161, 163. 165, 167, 170, 172, 174 
178, 179, 185. 186 

First Threshing Machine 127 

Fish 45 

Five Nations 26 

Flood Waters 123 

Fort Wayne 33 

Forty-fourth Indiana Regiment 105 

Fox Hunts 76 

Franklin Township 164 

Fraternal Orders 309 

Free and Accepted Masons ^ 309 

Free Fall Fair 282 

French Explorers 25 

G 

Game Preserve 49 

Game. Wild 44 

Garrett 154 

Garrett Baptist Church 212 

Garrett Catholic Church 221 

Garrett Christian Church 207 

Garrett M. E. Church 199 

Garrett Newspapers 228 

Garrett Presbyterian Church 205 

Garrett Schools 274 

Geology 38 

German Churches 215 

German Methodist Church 203 

Governor St. Clair 30 

Granges 283 

Grand Army of the Republic 314 

Grant Township 181 

H 

Hard Winter 145 

Ilarmar's Expedition 31 

Horticulture — 284 



HISTORICAL INDEX. 



Houlton, John 50, 60 

Humorous Incidents 66 

Hurricane of, 1841 168 

Hydrophobia 74 

I 

Improvements. Internal i7 

Incidents of Humor 66 

Independent Order of Odd Fellows. 313 

Indian Customs 122 

Indian Inhabitants 26 

Indiana Territory 34 

Indians Last to Move 36 

Internal Improvements 37 

Interurban Lines 290 

J 

Jackson Township 166 

Jail, County 81 

Journalism 222 

Justice of the Peace 244 

K 

Keyser Township 153 

Knight? of Pythias 311 

L 

Land Hunting 73 

Last Bear 76 

Last Deer 138 

Last of the Indians 36 

Lawyers, Early 247 

Lawyers, Present 247 

Lincoln's Nomination 91 

Location of County Seat 77 

Location of DeKalb County 38 

Lodges 309 

Log Homes , 54 

Lumber in Early Days 140 

Lutheran Churches 213 

Lutheran Evangelical Churches 214 

M 

Market Prices in the Fifties.-. 316 

Markets, Early 53 

Masonic Order 309 

Mass Meetings. Wartime 97 



Medical History 234- 

Medical Society 240 

Memorable Campaigns 250 

Methodist Episcopal Church 198 

Methodist Protestant Churches 202 

Miami Tribe 26, 36 

Military History 90 

Miller, John N., Narrative 131 

Mills, Early 53, 73, 141, 180 

Miscellaneous 316 

Mound Builders 75 

Mt. Pleasant U. B. Church 211 



N 



Newspaper Editorials. 1861 94 

Newspapers of the County 222 

Newville 171 

Newville Christian Church 209 

Newville Township 169 

Newville U. B. Church 209 

Nineteenth Indiana Regiment 101 

Northwest Government 29 



Odd Fellows 313 

Official Roster 88 

One Hundred Eighteenth Regiment- 111 
One Hundred F'ifty-second Regiment 114 
One Hundred Fifty-seventh Regi- 
ment 117 



113 



One Hundred Forty-second Re 
uicnt ^ 

One Hundred Twenty-ninth Regi- 
ment 112 

One Hundredth Indiana Regiment— 110 

Ordinance of 1787 30 

Organization of DeKalb County 77 

Organization of Indiana Territory.. 34 

P 

Patent Medicines in Early Days 316 

Patrons of Husbandry 283 

Peat. Analysis of 44 

Peat, Value of 44 

Peat Beds 40 

Physicians, Present 241 

Pioneer Fare 74 

Pioneer Honeymoon 57 



HISTORICAL INDEX. 



Pioneer Society 7- 

Pioneers ^^ 

Pioneers' Association 317 

Political History 249 

Population by Decades 320 

Post Vincennes 28 

Pottawatomies, Tlie 36. 75 

Preaching, First 196 

Prehistoric Evidences 140 

I'resbytcrian Churches 205 

Present Banks 304 

Present Court House 84 

Present Lawyers 247 

Present Market Prices. — 316 

Present Physicians 241 

Presidential Vote 252 

Probate Court 243 

Progress of Education 267 

Prosecutors 257 

Protestant Episcopal Church 218 

Public Lands 73 

Public Utilities. First 142 

R 

Railroads 285 

Recorders 255 

Rehoboth M. P. Church 202 

Related State History 25 

Religious History 196 

Religious Meeting. First 196 

Reminiscences 58, 118 

Representatives 254 

Reptiles --— 45 

Richland Township 171 

Roads in Early Days 286 

S 

Sacred Heart Hospital . 160 

St. Clair, Gen. Arthur 30 

St. Clair's Expedition 32 

St. Joe 153 

St, Joe Christian Church 208 

St. Joe M. P. Church 202 

St. Matthew Reform Church 217 

St. Michael's Catholic Church 220 

School Officers 275 

School Statistics 275 

Schools 259 



.Schools in .\uburn 263 

Second Court House 83 

Senators, State 254 

Settlement, Early 50 

Sherififs 255 

Slavery Question 30 

Smithfield Township 173 

Soil of DeKalb County 278 

Spanish-American War 115 

Spelling Matches 265 

Spencer Township 180 

Spencerville 181 

Spencerville M. E. Church 202 

Stafford Township 178 

State History 25 

State Organization 36 

State Representatives 254 

State Senators 254 

Sufferings, Early 128 

Surveyors, County ■ 256 

Swamps 138 

T 

Taverns 186 

Teachers in DeKalb County 275 

Thirtieth Indiana Regiment 102 

Thirty-eighth Indiana Regiment 104 

Tliirty-fifth Indiana Regiment 104 

Threshing Machine, First 127 

Township Histories 143 

Transportation 286 

Treasurers, County 256 

Troy Township 179 

Twentieth Indiana Regiment 101 

Twenty-first Indiana Regiment 101 

Twentv-ninth Indiana Regiment 101 



U 

I'niform School System 263 

Union Township 184 

United Brethren Churches 209 

Unwelcome Visitors 63 

Utilities, First Public 142 

V 
Value of harm Lands 279 



HISTORICAL INDEX. 



W 



Wabash & Erie Canal 37 

War Mass Meetings 97 

Wartime Celebration 99 

Wartime Editorials 94 

Waterloo 181 

Waterloo M. E. Church 201 

Waterloo Library 183 



Waterloo Presbyterian Church 207 

Waterloo Press 224 

Waterloo U. B. Church 210 

Wesley Park's Tale 118 

Widney. S. W., Reminiscences 122 

Wild Animals 44 

Wild-cat Currency 302 

Wilmington Township 143 

Wolf Bounty 319 



BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX 



A 

Abbey, Giles T. 629 

Albright, Frank 937 

Altenburg, Eugene C. 378 

Altenburg, Henry E. 373 

Arford, Charles S. 848 

Atkinson. Edgar W. 491 

B 

Bachtel, William H. 830 

Barker, Isaac E. 874 

Barney, Solomon 539 

Baxter, John W. 440 

Baxter, Miles 488 

Beams, Jack M. 965 

Betz, Washington 898 

Blair, W. L. 563 

Bolinger, Jerry A. 438 

Boozer, Herman D. 606 

Bowman, Archie S. 64! 

Bowman, Clarence A. 911 

Bowman, James 430 

Bowman, Col. Stephen A. 357 

Brandaberry, Levi 400 

Brandon, Orin 379 

Brecbill, Christian 918 

Brechbill. John 767 

Broughton, Frank, M. D. 638 

Brown, Harry 645 

Brown. Herman L. 507 

Brumback, Edward M. 673 

Brunson, Aden D. 901 

Buchanan, John Edgar 321 

Buchanan, Verne E. 888 

Bunge, Fred 665 

Burtzner, George W. 773 

Buss, Christian C. 967 

C 

Cami). Aaron W. 954 

Campbell, Albertus 877 



Campbell, Charles A. 941 

Campbell, Clark 923 

Campbell, Edward 857 

Campbell, Frank S. 417 

Campbell, George 415 

Campbell, Romain C. S41 

Campbell, Samuel L. 416 

Campbell, William E 418 

Capp, Charles 628 

Carper, Philip S. 997 

Caruth, Davis E. 484 

Casebeer, Jacob B., M. D. 405 

Casebere, Solomon S. 670 

Chaney, Nelson 945 

Chapman, James 4S8 

Chapman, Lemuel N. 882 

Childs, Jason B. 683 

Childs, Phineas D. _— 693 

Close, Benjamin 582 

Cochran, Eli T. 525 

Coe, Henry E. 623 

Corbin, Worth 647 

Crooks, Robert W. 536 

Crooks, Sheldon 544 

Culbertson, Hugh R. 456 

Curie. Christian 904 

D 

Daniels, Arthur G. 806 

Daniels, Harrison M. 818 

Daniels, Reuben G. 822 

Dannells, Willis A. 712 

Dapp, Henry 878 

Darby, A. Byron, M. D. 402 

Davidson, Henry R. 731 

Davis, John L. 472 

Day, James C. 460 

Deems, George 692 

DeLong, H. F. 780 

DeLong, Marion S. 759 

Denison, George B. 594 

Denison, George O. 412 



BIOBRAPHICAL INDEX. 



Depew, Perry D. 828 

Deihl, John 787 

Diehl, Harry 730 

Diehm, William C. 763 

Dietzen, Nicholas 906 

Dilgard. Jonas E. 558 

Dilgard, Ray C. 760 

Dilgard, Simon A. 578 

Downend, Samuel H. 784 

Duesler, John W. 632 

Dunn, William 595 

E 

Eakright, Ellsworth A. 714 

Eakright, John J. 586 

Eckhart, Charles 323 

Eldridge, Oliver P. 986 

Elliott, Orlando 803 

Endicott, William P. 672 

Erick, William G, 979 

Erwin, Edwin 847 

F 

Fanning. Frank D., M. D 616 

Feagler. John C. 509 

Feick. Fred L. 688 

Fisher, Solomon 518 

Forest, W. H. 716 

Forney. William S. 834 

Forrest, Earl W. 873 

Fosdick, Edwin L. 366 

Frantz, John 609 

Frazer. Jacob I. 821 

Frederick, Charles E. 524 

Freeburn, C. W. 949 

Fulton, Wesley 614 

G 

Geddes, George W. 648 

Gerner, Karl 776 

Gfeller, Frank W. 886 

Gfeller. Frederick, Jr. 880 

Ginder, Frederick 752 

Goodwin, Elmer 870 

Goodwin. Leander S. 454 

Goodwin, Samuel L. 505 

Goodwin, William 793 

Graham, John E. 382 



Gray, John H. 721 

Gray, Truman W. 720 

Green, Monte L. 947 

Griffin, N. O. 687 

Grogg, Abraham 601 

Grogg, Alva F. 762 

Grogg, Daniel 612 

Grogg, Isaac 468 

Grogg, John 570 

Grogg, Oliver P. 757 

Grube, William H. 666 

Gruhlke, Augustus C. 534 

Gunsenhouser, Isaac 774 

H 

Hamilton. Clarence B. 680 

Hamilton, James M. 1001 

Hamilton, W. E. 1001 

Hamman, Daniel F. 924 

Hamman, David A. 910 

Hamman, Herman M. 943 

Hamman. John 935 

Hamman, Thomas 850 

Hanes, G. W. 727 

Harding, L. C. 964 

Harding, Verne E. 825 

Harmes, George E. 637 

Hartman, Ezra D. 837 

Ilartman, Joel E. 844 

Harwood, Thomas W. 664 

Haverstock, Samuel G. 533 

Hawver, Benjamin F. 974 

Hcbel. John 542 

Heitz, Joseph P. 772 

Hempstreet, Jeremiah 521 

Henderson, John W. — 653 

High, Samuel M. 719 

Higley, Luther H. 770 

Hine, Sheldon H. 991 

Hines, Francis M., M. D. 392 

Hinman, William H. 618 

Hixson, Forest A. 754 

Hoff, Frank A. 471 

Hoff, John P. 446 

Hoffelder, Frank C. 839 

Hoffelder, John 859 

Hodge, Chester P. 796 

Hogue. Francis A. 756 

Hogue. Frank 556 



BIOBRAPHICAL INDEX. 



Hohl. Joseph 868 

Hollister, Wellington H. 652 

Hose, Walter R. 707 

Houghton, C. A. 703 

Hull, Joseph A. 952 

Hull, Russell L. 520 

Husselman, Adam W. 604 

Husselman, Henry 657 

J 

Jackman, Isaac M. 678 

Jackman, Jefferson W. 768 

Jackman, John 710 

Jackman, Norman T. 528 

Jones, John W. 590 

Jones, Milton C. 896 

Judson, Harvey T. 453 

K 

Kegerreis, Joseph 884 

Kelley, Alfred 342 

Kelley, Douglas 903 

Kelly, Eugene 580 

Kettering, William C. 977 

Kimsey, John M. 635 

Kiplinger, Michael, Jr. 335 

Knauer, J. Harvey 695 

Koch, John C. 940 

Kosht, David R. 827 

Kosht, Simon P. 785 

Kramer, Albert A., M. D. 696 

Kraus, John 573 

Krontz, John H. W. 551 

Kuhlman, Col. Aubrey L. 336 

Kuhlman, George W. 592 

Kutzner, Myron -S. 598 

L 

Lawhead, James G. 346 

Leas, Byron 575 

Leas, Daniel L. 704 

Leas, John 390 

Leas, Obediah 597 

Leas, William H. 552 

Leasure, John H. 565 

Leasure, Dr. Lida 384 

Lehmback, Charles 791 

Leighty, Fred B. 951 



Leighty, Jacob D. 352 

Leins, Adam 805 

Little, Edward O. 486 

Lochner, John C. 496 

Lockhart, Robert W. 854 

Lockhart, William M. 931 

Lockwood, Reuben 546 

Long, J. Perry 420 

Long, Jackson A. 699 

Lower, Jacob, Jr. 819 

Lung, Noah A 790 

Lutz, Jacob 566 

Lutz. John 611 

Mc 

McCaguc. James P. 560 

McClellan, James Y. W. 432 

McClure, Timothy 734 

McCord, Howard B. 568 

McNabb, Warren 422 

M 

Madden, Alpheus W. i7t, 

May, George 810 

Milks, David 788 

Miller, Conrad 589 

Miller, Forest 782 

Miller, Lafayette J. 475 

Miller, William C. 671 

Mondhank, Walter J. 656 

Montavon, Colonel E. 462 

Mott, Egbert B. 364 

Mountz, Walter W. 576 

Mumaw, Samuel A. 999 

Musser, Jesse J. 363 

Myers, Franklin P. 915 

N 

Xebelung, J'red J. 522 

Xewcoiner, Christian, Jr. 480 

X'ewcomer, George W. 450 

X'immons, Frank W. 685 

Nisbet, James R. 644 

Nodine, Silas 748 

Xodine. William J. 961 

Noirot, George 584 

Nugen, S. H. 668 



BIOBRAPHICAL INDEX. 



O 

Oberlin, John J. 418 

dinger, Frank W. 624 

dinger, Jacob N. 681 

Oswalt, Dr. A. M. 429 

(1tto, Capt. John F. 395 

P 

Park, George VV. 920 

Pepple, Joseph 755 

Peters, Albert H. 872 

Place, Reed F. 973 

Pomeroy, James E. 424 

Potts, John S. 799 

Powers, A. S. 944 

Provines, Alexander 840 

Provines, James 717 

R 

Ralston, Andrew J. 370 

Reed, Charles R. 447 

Rempis, Theodore 889 

Reynolds, Melvin E. 765 

Rhoads, Willis 443 

Ritter, F. H. 608 

Rock, George, M. D. 361 

Rohm, Ezra 1003 

Rohm, Simon, Jr. 907 

Roland, Levi 724 

Rose, James E. 514 

S 

Saylor, E. W. 994 

Schiffli, Andrew 808 

Schiffli, Anthony 887 

Schopf, Elias 778 

Schulthess, George 554 

Seiler, Franklin P. 976 

Shaffer, George 728 

Shaffer, Oliver E. 894 

Sheets, Martin C. 832 

Sherwood, John V. 926 

Shoemaker, Emanuel R. 736 

Shoemaker, Henry D. 983 

Shoner, George 499 

Shoudel, John M. 862 

Shoudel, Michael L. 865 



Showalter, Henry M. 864 

Showalter, J. W. ■ 654 

Showalter, Joseph E., M. D. 434 

Shultz, Albert L. 660 

Shurts, P. A. 970 

SkilHng, J. R. 531 

Snyder. Jacob F. 981 

Sprott, Thomas H. 571 

Stafford, Thomas C. 677 

.Stone, Samuel G. 549 

Stroh, Adam 512 

Swarts, David J., M. D. 386 

Swartz. Melvin 650 

T 

Tarney. Dr. Simeon U. 436 

Teeters, Franklin M. 968 

Tess, H. L. 640 

Thomas, Daniel 675 

Thomas, Isaac M. 800 

Thomas, Milo J. 333 

Thomas, Ralph L. 492 

Thomas, William A. 501 

Thrush, Albert N. 995 

Triplett, E. A. 852 

Trostle, George W. 959 

W 

Walker, Eli 814 

Walker, Frank 812 

Ward, Rev. Stephen B. 482 

Warner, Jesse H. 998 

Webster, Charles W. 698 

Weller, Miles J. 751 

West, Price D. 408 

Widney, Byron E. 990 

Widney, Hugh M. 987 

Widney, John P. 397 

Widney, Oliver H. 464 

Widney, Samuel L. 984 

Wigent, Ervin W. 702 

Williams, Harvey O. 427 

Williams, Samuel 708 

Williamson, Eli Y. 478 

Willis, Frank W. 348 

Willis, Herbert C. 912 

Willis, Moses B. 928 

Wimer, John 503 

Wolf, Allen 971 



BIOBRAPHICAL INDEX. 



Wolfe, Arthur C. 621 

Wolfe, Samuel 662 

Wolfe, William 816 

Wyatt, Edmond J. 746 

Y 
Yarde, David 726 



Yarde, Frank 842 

Yarde, Henry 722 

Z 

Zent, Isaac M. 368 

Zimmerman, Elias 956 

Zimmerman, John 330 



Court House, AUBURN 




A) DKKALU CUl-.XTY COURT HOUSK 




NEW DEKALB COUNTY COURT HOUSE 



HISTORICAL 



RELATED STATE HISTORY. 



FIRST EXPLORERS. 

After the discovery of America by Columbus in 1492, or, to be exact, 
when Cokimbus touched off the coast of Florida, more than one hundred and 
fifty years were to pass before the white explorers were to touch foot to the 
soil later embraced within the bounds of Indiana. Colonies were established 
in Florida. Virginia and Nova Scotia by the rival governments of Europe, but 
not until 1 670-2 did the first white travelers venture so far into the North- 
west as Indiana or Lake Michigan. These explorers were Frenchmen by the 
names of Claude Allouez and Claude Dablon, who then visited what is now 
the eastern part of Wisconsin, the northeastern portion of Illinois and proba- 
bly that portion of this state north of the Kankakee river. In the year fol- 
lowing M. Joliet, an agent of the French colonial government, and James 
Marquette, a missionary stationed at Mackinaw, explored the country around 
Green bay, and along Fox and Wisconsin rivers as far westward as the 
Mississippi, the banks of which they reached on Jime 17, 1673. They de- 
scended this river a short distance and returned by way of tiie Illinois river. 
.\t a village among the Illinois Indians, Marquette and his followers were re- 
ceived with friendly hospitality, and made guests at a great feast of hominy, 
tish. dog meal and roast buffalo. In 1682 LaSalle explored the West, but it 
is not known for sure whether or not he entered the territory now embraced 
in Indiana. He took jjossession, however, of the whole Mississippi region, 
in the name of France, and he named it in honor of the king, Louisiana. 
.Spain at the same time claimed the region around the Gulf of Mexico. Con- 
sequently, the two nations clashed. 



26 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 



EARLY INDIAN INHABITANTS. 



At this time the country of Indiana was held by the Miami confederacy 
of Indians, the Miamis proper, originally the Twightwees, being the eastern 
and most powerful tribe. Their villages were few and scattering. These In- 
dian settlements were occasionally visited by Christian missionaries, fur trad- 
ers and adventurers, but no permanent settlement was risked by the white 
men. The "Five Nations," farther to the east, comprised the Mohawks, 
Oneidas, Cayugas, Onondagas, and Senecas. In 1677 *^he number of war- 
riors in this confederation was two thousand one hundred and fifty. About 
1711 the Tuscaroras retired from Carolina and joined the Iroquois, and the 
organization then became known as the "Six Nations." In 1689 hostilities 
broke out between the Indian tribes and the French colonists of Canada, and 
the following series of wars served the purpose of checking the grasping 
policy of Louis XIV, and to retard the planting of French colonies in the 
Mississippi valley. Missionary efforts, however, continued with more failure 
than success, the Jesuits allying themselves with the Indians in habits and 
customs, even encouraging inter-marriage between them and their white fol- 
lowers. 

NATIONAL POLICIES. 

The English, who were envious of the French, resorted to every method 
to e-xtend their territory westward. Both nations secured aid from various 
Indian tribes, and a bloody and merciless warfare continued for many years. 
France continued in her effort to connect the Canadian country with the 
Gulf of Mexico by a chain of trading posts and colonies, which further in- 
creased the jealousy of England and really laid the foundation for the 
French and Indian war, which terminated in the treaty of 1763, at Paris, and 
by which France ceded to Great Britain all of North America east of the 
Mississippi river, except New Orleans and the island on which it is situated. 
The British policy, after getting control of the Indian territory, was still 
unfavorable to its growth in population. In 1765 the number of French fam- 
ilies within the limits of the Northwestern territory did not exceed six 
hundred. These were in settlements around Detroit, along the Wabash river, 
and in the neighborhood of Fort Chartres on the Mississippi river. Of these 
families eighty-five resided at Post Vincennes, fourteen at Fort Ouiatenon 
on the Wabash, and in the neighborhood of the confluence of the St. Mary 
and St. Joseph rivers. The colonial policy of the British government opposed 
any measures which might strengthen the settlements in the interior of this 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 2/ 

country, lest they became self-supporting and independent of the mother- 
country. Thomas Jefferson, the wise statesman and governor of Virginia, 
saw from the first that actual occupation of western lands was the only way 
to keep them out of the hands of foreigners and Indians. 

Accordingly he engaged a corps of scientific men and sent them to the 
Mississippi river, to ascertain the point on that stream intersected by latitude 
36 degrees thirty minutes, to the southern line of the state, and to measure 
its distance to the Ohio. He intrusted the military operations in that quarter 
to General Clark, with instructions to select a strong position near the named 
point, and erect a fort and garrison the same for protecting the settlers, and 
to extend his conquest toward the great lakes on the north. Conforming to 
his instructions. General Clark erected Fort Jefferson on the Mississippi, a 
few miles above the southern limit. The result of these operations was the 
addition to Virginia of the vast Northwest territory. The fact that a chain 
of forts was established by the Americans in this vast region convinced the 
British commissioners that we had entitled ourselves to the land. During 
this time the minor events were transpiring outside the territory in question 
which later promoted the settlement in what is now known as Indiana. 

GEORGE ROGERS CL.VRK EXPEDITION. 

George Rogers Clark, some time in the spring of 1776, a resident of 
Kentucky, but a native of Virginia, formulated a scheme of more rapid set- 
tlement in the great Northwest territory. That part of Kentucky was occu- 
pied by Henderson and Company, who pretended to own the land and set a 
high .price on the same. Clark doubted the validity of their claim, and wished 
to make a test of it, and adjust the control of the country so that settlements 
might be fostered. He called a meeting of the citizens at Harrodstown, to 
assemble June 6, 1776, and consider the claims of the company, and consult 
with reference to the interests of the country. 

This meeting was held on the day appointed and delegates elected to 
confer with the state of Virginia as to the propriety of attaching the new 
country as a county to that state. Many causes prevented a consummatiov 
of this object until the year 1778. Virginia was favorable to the enterprise, 
but would not take action as a state. Governor Henry and a few others, how- 
ever, assisted Colonel Clark all they could. Clark organized an expedition 
and took in stores at Pittsburg and Wheeling, and proceeded down the Ohio 
to the falls, where he built some light fortifications. 

At this time Post Vincennes comprised about four hundred militia. It 



26 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

was a daring task for Colonel Clark with his small force of men to go up 
against it at Kaskaskia as he had planned. Some of his men, becoming 
alarmed at the critical situation, deserted him. He conducted himself so as to 
gain the sympathy of the French, and through them, the Indians to some 
extent, as both were very bitter against the English who had possession of 
the lake region He took Kaskaskia first, and succeeded by kindness in win- 
ning them to his side. It was difficult, however, for him to induce the French 
to accept his paper, continental money, in ]iayment for provisions. Colonel 
Vigo, a Frenchman, who had a trading establishment there, came to the 
rescue, and prevailed upon the people to accept this paper. Colonel Vigo 
sold cofifee at one dollar per pound and other goods in proportion. 

The next post was Vincennes. defended by Fort Sackville, an important 
possession to gain. Father Gibault, of Kaskaskia, who also had charge of 
the church at Vincennes, being friendly to the Americans, used his influence 
with the people of the garrison, and won them to Clark's standard. They 
took the oath of allegiance to Virginia and became citizens of the United 
States. Clark had concluded treaties with several Indian tribes, and placed 
Captain Leonard Helm, an American, in command of Vincennes. On learn- 
ing the successful termination of Clark's expedition, the general assembly of 
Virginia declared all of the settlers west of the Ohio organized into a county 
of that state, to be known as Illinois county ; but before the provisions of the 
law could be made efifective, Henry Hamilton, the British lieutenant governor 
of Detroit, collected an army of thirty regulars, fifty French volunteers, and 
four hundred Indians and mo\ed ujjon and took Post Vincennes in Decem- 
lier. 1778. Captain Helm and a man named Henry were the only Americans 
at the fort, the onlv members of the garrison. Helm was taken prisoner 
and the French disarmed. 

Upon hearing of the taking of Post Vinceimes, Clark, who was still at 
Kaskaskia. determined to retake the place. He gathered together about one 
hundred and seventy men. and on February 5th started from Kaskaskia, 
crossing the stream of the same name. The weather was wet and the low- 
lands covered with water. He had to subsist on such game as he could kill 
en route. The men underwent great privations, wading through acres of 
water to their hips, and suffering intensely with the cold. However. 
Colonel Clark shared all of the hardships of the men and asked nothing of 
them which he would not undergo himself. They reached the little Wabash 
on the thirteenth, and two days were occupied in crossing the swollen stream. 
They found the roads no better, but marched down and reached the Big 
Wabash on the seventeenth of the month. The next two days were consumed 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 29 

in attempting to cross the angry stream. Finally canoes were constructed and 
the entire force crossed the main stream, and then found the lowlands en- 
tirely under water and ice which had formed recently. His men refused to 
proceed. All of Clark's persuasions had no effect upon the half starved men. 
In one company was a small drummer-boy and also a sergeant who stood six 
feet and two inches high. Clark ordered him, the sergeant, to mount the boy 
on his shoulders and plunge into the water. He did so, and the small drummer 
beat the charge from his position, while Clark, sword in hand, followed. 
This maneuver was electrical, and the men, with a cheer, followed their 
leader. On arriving within two miles of the fort Clark halted his men and 
sent in a letter demanding surrender, to which he received no reply. He next 
ordered Lieutenant Bayley, with fourteen men, to advance and fire on the 
fort, while the main body of men moved in another direction and took pos- 
session of the strongest portion of the town. Clark then demanded Hamil- 
ton's immediate surrender, on penalty of being treated as a murderer. Hamil- 
ton refused indignantly. Fighting began and continued for over an hour, 
when Hamilton proposed a three days' truce. Clark, characteristically, sent 
word that notliing but unconditional surrender was satisfactory. In less than 
an hour the surrender was dictated by General Clark. This was on February 
24, 1779. 

Of this expedition, of its results, of its importance, as well as of the 
skill and bravery of those engaged, a volume could well be written. The 
expedition has never been surpassed in modern warfare, when we consider 
that by it the whole territory now included in Indiana, Illinois and Michigan 
was added to the Union, and so admitted by the British commissioners in the 
treaty of peace in 1783. But for the result of this expedition our western 
boundary would have l^en the Ohio instead of the Mississippi. Clark rein- 
stated Captain Helm in command at Vincennes, with instructions to subdue 
the marauding Indians, which he did, and soon comparative quiet prevailed 
on Indiana soil. The whole credit of this conquest belongs to Colonel Clark 
and Francis Vigo. 

NORTHWEST GOVERNMENT. 

By the conquest of Colonel Clark, Indiana came within the territory be- 
longing to Virginia. In January, 178.3, the General Assembly of the Old 
Dominion resolved to cede this territory to the general government of the 
United States. The proposition made by Virginia was accepted by the gov- 
ernment and the transfer made early in 1784. The terms were that Virginia 
was to be reimbursed for all expenses incurred in exploring and protecting 



30 DEKAI.B COUNTY. INDIANA. 

settlers in the territory: also that one hundred and fifty thousand acres of 
land should be granted to the soldiers who, with Colonel Clark, had made 
the famous expedition. After all these matters had been attended to, in the 
spring of 1784, the matter of governing this section of the west was referred 
to a committee of Messrs. Jefferson, of Virginia, Chase, of Maryland, and 
Howell, of Rhode Island, which committee, among other things, reported an 
ordinance prohibiting slavery in the territory after 1800, but this article of 
the ordinance was rejected. The Ordinance of 1787 has an interesting his- 
tory. Much controversy has been indulged in as to who is really entitled to 
the credit of framing it. This undoubtedly belongs to Nathan Dane; and to 
Rufus King and Timothy Pickering belongs the credit of having inserted the 
anti-slavery clause which it contained. Mr. Jefferson had vainly tried to 
secure a system of government for the Northwest territory excluding slav- 
ery therefrom. The South, however, invariably voted him down. 

In July 1787, an organizing act without the slavery clause was pending, 
which was supposed to secure its passage. Congress went into session in 
New York City. July 3th, Rev. Manasseh Cutler, of Massachusetts, came to 
New York in the interests of some land or speculators in the Northwest 
territory. He was a courtly gentleman of the old school type and had gotten 
into the confidence of the Southern leaders. He wished to purchase five 
million, five hundred thousand acres of land in the new territory. Jefferson 
and his administration desired to make a record on the reduction of the public 
debt, and this was a rare opportunity. Massachusetts' representatives could 
not vote against Cutler's scheme, as many of their constituents were inter- 
ested in the measure personally: Southern meml>ers were almost committed. 
Thus. Cutler held the key to the situation, and dictated temis, which were as 
follows : 

1. The exclusion of slavery from the territory forever. 

2. Providing 'one-thirty-sixth of all lands for public schools. 

3. Be it forever remembered that this compact declares that religion, 
morality and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happi- 
ness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall always be en- 
couraged. 

Dr. Cutler planted himself on this platfrom and would not yield, stating 
that unless thev could procure these lands under desirable conditions and 
surroundings, that they did not care to purchase. July 13, 1787, the bill be- 
came a law. Thus the great states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and 
Wisconsin were consecrated to freedom, intelligence and morality. October 
5, 1787. Congress elected General Arthur St. Clair governor of the North- 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 3! 

west territory. He assumed his official duties at Marietta and at once pro- 
ceeded to treat with the Indians and organize a territorial government. He 
first organized a court at Marietta, consisting of three judges, himself being 
president of the court. 

The governor, with his judges, then visited Kaskaskia for the purpose 
of organizing a civil government, having previously instructed Major Ham- 
tramck at Vincennes to present the policy of the new administration to the 
several Indian tril>es and learn their feelings. They received the messenger 
with a cool indifference, which, when reported to the governor, convinced him 
that nothing short of military force would command compliance with the 
civil government. He at once proceeded to Fort Washington to consult with 
General Harmer as to future action. In the meantime he intrusted to the 
secretary of the territory, Winthrop Sargent, the settlement of the dis- 
puted land claims, who found it a hard task, and in his reports states that 
he found the records so falsified, vouchers destroyed, and other crookedness 
as to make it impossible to get at a just settlement, which but again proves 
that the "graft" of the twentieth century existed decades l^efore tliis word 
had been coined. 

The general court in 1790 passed stringent laws against the sale of 
intoxicating liquors to Indians and also to soldiers within ten miles of any 
military post ; also prohibiting any games of chance within the territory. 

The consultation between St. Clair and General Harmar ended by a de- 
cision to raise a large military force and thoroughly chastise the Indians 
about the head of the Wabash river. Accordingly. Virginia and Pennsyl- 
vania were called upon to muster eighteen hundred men at Fort Steuben, 
and, with the garrison of that fort, join the forces at Vincennes under Major 
Hamtramck, who proceeded up the Wabash as far as the Vermillion river, 
destroying villages, but without finding an enemy to oppose him. General 
Harmar, with one thousand four hundred and fifty men, marched from Fort 
Washington to the Maumee, and began punishing the Indians, but witii little 
success. The expedition left Fort Washington September 30th, and returned 
to that place November 4th, having lost during that period one hundred and 
eighty-three men killed and thirty-one wounded. General Harmar's defeat 
alarmed as well as aroused the citizens in the frontier counties of Virginia, 
thinking the Indians might invade that state. 

The governor of Virginia called out the militia along the upper borders 
of that state ; at the same time Charles Scott was appointed brigadier-general 
of the Kentucky militia now preparing to defend the frontiers of that state. 
This excited Congress and a war board was appointed, consisting of five 



32 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

members. March 9, 1791, General Knox, secretary of war, wrote to General 
Scott recommending an expedition against the Indians on the Wabash. March 
3, 1 79 1, congress invested Governor St. Clair with the command of three 
thousand troops, and he was instructed by the secretary of war to march to 
the Miami village and establish a strong and permanent military post. After 
that was accomplished he was to seek the enemy with all his available forces 
and make them feel the effect of the superiority of the whites. 

ST. CLAIR AND WAYNE EXPEDITIONS. 

Although seriously damaged, the Indians were far from subdued. The 
Canadians and English along the border gave them much encouragement. In 
September, 1791, St. Clair moved from Fort Washington with a force of two 
thousand men and a number of pieces of artillery. November 3d, he reached 
the headwaters of the Wabash, where Fort Recovery was later built, and 
here the army camped, consisting of one thousand four hundred effective 
men. The following morning the army advanced and engaged a force of 
tweh e hundred Indians. Here the American army was disastrously defeated, 
having thirty-nine officers and five hundred and thirty-nine men killed and 
missing, twenty-two officers and two hundred and thirty-two men wOUnded. 
Several pieces of artillery and all their provisions were taken from them. 
The property loss was estimated at thirty-two thousand dollars. There has 
always been some disposition to blame General St. Clair for this awful de- 
feat, but his recent biographer, John Newton Boucher, of Greensburg. Penn- 
sylvania, proves conclusively that he was not to blame. Be that as it may, he 
resigned his commission after that battle and the work was taken up by 
General Anthony Wayne, of Revolutionary fame, who organized his forces 
at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and in October, 1793. moved westward at the 
head of an army of three thousand six hundred men. He proposed an of- 
fensive campaign. The Indians still held that the Ohio river should be the 
boundarv line between the United States and their lands. 

Major-General Scott, with about sixteen hundred A-olunteers from Ken- 
tuckv, joined the regular troops under General Wayne on July 26, 1794, and 
on the 28th the united force began their march for the Indian towns on the 
Maumee river. Arriving at the mouth of the .\uglaize, they erected Fort 
Defiance and on August 15th the army advanced toward the British fort at 
the foot of the rapids of the Maumee, where on the 20th, almost within 
reach of the British, the American army gained a decisive victory over the 
combined forces of the hostile Indians and a considerable number of Detroit 



DEKALB COUNTV, INDIANA. 33 

militia. The number of the enemy was estimated at two thousand, against 
about nine hundred American troops actually engaged. As soon as the action 
began this horde of savages abandoned themselves to flight and dispersed 
with terror and dismay, leaving Wayne's victorious army in full possession 
of the field. The Americans lost thirty-three killed and one hundred wound- 
ed ; the loss of the enemy more than doubled this number. 

The army remained three days and nights on the banks of the Maumee, 
in front of the field of battle, during which time all the houses and com 
fields were consumed and destroyed for a considerable distance both above and 
below Fort Miami, as well as within pistol shot of the British garrison, who 
were compelled to remain idle spectators to this general devastation and con- 
flagration, among which were the houses, stores and property of Colonel 
McKee, the British Indian agent, and general stimulator of the war then 
existing between the United States and the savages. On the return march to 
Fort Defiance the villages and corn fields for about fifty miles on each side 
of the Maumee were destroyed as well as those for a considerable distance 
around that post. 

ORIGIN OF FORT WAYNE. 

September 14, 1794, the army under General Wayne commenced its 
march toward the deserted Miami villages at the confluence of St. Joseph and 
St. Mary's rivers, arriving October 17th, and on the following day the site 
of Fort Wayne was selected. The fort was completed November 22d and 
garrisoned by a strong detachment of infantry and artillery under the com- 
mand of Colonel John F. Hamtramck, who gave to the new fort the name 
of "Fort Wayne." In 1814 a new fort was built on the site of this structure. 
The Kentucky volunteers returned to Fort Washington, and were mustered 
out of service. General Wayne, with the federal troops, marched to Green- 
ville and took up his headquarters during the winter. Here, in August, 

1795, after several months of active negotiation, this gallant officer succeeded 
in concluding a general treaty of peace with all the hostile tribes of the 
Northwestern territory. This treaty opened the way for the flood of immi- 
gration for many years, and ultimately made the states and territories now 
constituting the mighty Northwest. 

Up to the organization of the Indiana territory there is but little history 
to record aside from those events connected with military affairs. In July, 

1796, after a treaty was concluded between the United States and Spain, the 
British garrison, with their arms, artillery and stores, were withdrawn from 

(3) 



34 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

the posts within the boundaries of the United States northwest of the Ohio 
river, and the detachment of American troops consisting of sixty-five men 
under the command of Captain Moses Porter took possession of the evac- 
uated post of Detroit in the same month. 

In the latter part of 1796 Winthrop Sargent went to Detroit and or- 
ganized the county of Wayne, forming a part of the Indian territory until its 
division in 1805, when the territor}' of Michigan was organized. 

ORGANIZATION OF INDIANA TERRITORY. 

On the final victory of the American amiy in 1796 the principal town 
within what is now the state of Indiana was Vincemies, which comprised only 
fifty houses, but presented a thrifty appearance. There was also a small 
settlement where now stands Lawrenceburg, and several smaller settlements 
around trading posts, and the total number of civilized inhabitants in the 
territory was estimated at four thousand eight hundred seventy-five. 

Indiana territory was organized by act of Congress May 7, 1800, the 
material features of the ordinance of 1787 remaining in force and the people 
were invested with all the rights and advantages granted and secured by that 
ordinance. 

The seat of government was fixed at Vincennes. May 13, 1800, William 
Henry Harrison, a native of Virginia, was appointed governor. John Gib- 
son, of Pennsylvania, was made secretary of the territory. General Harrison 
called together the first territorial legislature or council March 3, 1801. From 
this time to 1810 the chief questions under discussion were land speculators, 
African slavery and the hostile views of the Shawnee chief, Tecumseh, and 
his brother, the wily Prophet, 

Up to this time the sixth article of the Ordinance of 1787, prohibiting 
slavery, had been somewhat neglected and many French settlers held slaves ; 
many slaves had been removed to slave-holding states. A session of dele- 
gates elected by popular vote in the new territory, petitioned Congress to 
revoke the sixth article of the old ordinance. Congress failed to grant this 
as well as many other similar petitions. When it appeared from a popular 
vote in the territory that a majority of one hundred and thirty-eight were in 
favor of organizing a General Assembly, Governor Harrison, on September 
II, 1804, issued a proclamation, and called for an election to be held in the 
several counties of the territon,' January 3, 1805, to choose members of the 
House of Representatives, who should meet at Vincennes. February ist. The 
delegates were duly elected and assembled as ordered, and they perfected 



DEKALB COUNTY, 



35 



plans for territorial organization and selected five men who should constitute 
the legislative council of the territory. The first General Assembly or Legisla- 
ture of the territory met at Vincennes July 29, 1805. 

July 30th the governor delivered his first message to the council and 
House of Representatives. Benjamin Park, who came from New Jersey in 
1801, was the first delegate elected to Congress. 

The first newspaper published within the territory of Indiana was the 
Western Sun, first issued at Vincennes in 1803, by Elihu Stout, of Kentucky, 
and first named the Indiana Gazette, but changed to the Sun July 4, 1804. 

In 1810 the total population of Indiana was 24,520. There were then 
reported 33 grist mills, 14 saw mills, 3 horse mills, 18 tanneries, 28 distilleries, 
3 powder mills, 1,256 looms, 1,300 spinning wheels; value of woolen, cotton, 
hemp and flax cloth, $150,059: of nails, 30,000 pounds: of wine from grapes, 
96 barrels, and 50,000 pounds of maple sugar. 

The territory of Indiana was divided in 1809, when the territory of Illi- 
nois was erected to comprise all that part of Indiana territory west of the 
Wabash river and a direct line drawn from that river and Vincennes due 
north to the territorial line between the United States and Canada. For the 
first half century after the settlement Vincennes grew slowly. 

The commandants and priests governed with almost absolute power ; the 
whites lived in peace with the Indians. The necessaries of life were easily 
procured ; there was nothing to stimulate energy or progress. In such a state 
of society there was no demand for learning and science. Few could read 
and fewer still could write their own names; they were void of public spirit, 
enterprise or ingenuity. Not until the close of the war of 1812 and 1814 
did Indiana take on her vigorous growth, and since then she has kept pace 
with her sister states. In 181 5 the total white population was sixty-three 
thousand eight hundred and ninety-seven. February 13, 1813* the Legisla- 
ture in session at Vincennes changed the seat of government to Corydon. 
The same year Governor Posev was appointed to take Governor Harrison's 
place, for he was engaged in subduing the enemies of this country. 

Up to 181 1 a man must own at least fifty acres of land before he was 
entitled to cast his vote. To become a member of the council he must pos- 
sess five hundred acres of land, and each member of the Legislature must 
needs own two hundred acres. 

In 1814 the territory was divided into three judicial districts. The 
governor appointed the judges and the compensation was fixed at seven 
hundred dollars per annum. The same year two banks were authorized : the 



36 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Mechanics Bank of Madison, with seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars, 
and the Bank of Vincennes; with a capital of five hundred thousand dollars. 

STATE ORGANIZATION 1816. 

The last territorial Legislature convened at Corydon in December, 1815, 
and petitioned Congress for authority to adopt a state constitution and main- 
tain a state government. The President approved the bill, and Indiana was 
made a state. The following May an election was held for the selection of 
delegates to a constitutional convention. That body met at Corydon, June 
15th to 29th, John Jennings presiding, and William Hendricks acting as 
secretary. 

The representatives in the constitutional convention were able men. 
The constitution they there formed for Indiana in 1816 was in no wise in- 
ferior to that of any other commonwealth in the Union to that date. 

The first state election was held the first Monday in August, 1816, and 
Jonathan Jennings was elected governor, Christopher Harrison, lieutenant 
governor, and William Hendricks, representative to Congress. 

The close of the war of 1812 and 1S14 was followed by a great rush of 
immigrants to the new state, and in 1820 the state had more than doubled its 
population, having at this time one hundred forty-seven thousand one hun- 
dred and seventy-eight. From 1825 to 1830 was one of prosperity in In- 
diana. Immigration continued to come in rapidly, the crops were excellent, 
and the hopes of the people raised higher than ever before. 

THE LAST OF THE INDIANS. 

In 1830 there still remained on Indiana soil two tribes of Indians, the 
Miamis and Pottawatomies. These were much opposed to moving to territory 
farther west. This condition of unrest was used by the celebrated warrior, 
Black Hawk, who, hoping to receive aid from the discontented tribes, in- 
vaded the frontier and slaughtered the settlers. Others fled from their homes 
and a vast amount of property was destroyed. This was in 1832 and was 
known as the Black Hawk war. The invaders were driven away with severe 
punishment and when those who had abandoned their homes were assured 
that the Miamis and Pottawatomies did not contemplate joining the invaders, 
they returned and again took up their peaceful vocations. In 1837-8 the 
Indians were all removed to a country west of the Mississippi, and very soon 
land speculations assumed large proportions. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 37 



INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. 



The matter of making public improvements in Indiana began to be freely 
talked of as early as 1818, and continued in favor until 1830, when the people 
became much excited over the question of railroads. 

In 1832 work on public roads and canals was really commenced, the 
Wabash and Erie canal being the greatest of such undertakings. Thirty-two 
miles of this canal were completed during that year. 

During 1836 many other projected works were started, and in 1837, 
when the governor took the executive chair, he found a reaction among the 
people in regard to the gigantic plans for public improvements. The fear 
that a state debt was being settled on their shoulders took hold of the people 
from which they could never free themselves. The state had borrowed 
$3,820,000 for internal works, of which $1,300,000 was for the construction 
of the Wabash and Erie canal, the state to pay annually $200,000 interest on 
her public debt, and the revenue derived which could be thus be applied 
amounted to only $45,000 in 1838. 

In 1839 all work ceased on these improvements with one or two excep- 
tions, and the contract surrendered to the state in consequence of the act of 
the Legislature providing for the compensation of contractors by the issue of 
treasury notes. 

In 1840 the system of improvements embraced ten different works, the 
most important of which was the Wabash and Erie canal. The aggregate 
length of this system was one thousand two hundred and eighty-nine miles. 
Of this only one hundred and forty were completed. In 1840 the state debt 
amounted to eighteen and one-half million dollars. In 1850 the state, having 
abandoned public improvement, private capital and enterprise pushed forward 
public work, and although the canal served its day and age, it was finally 
superseded by the railroads, which now form a network over the state. When 
water transportation was in vogue Indiana had one of the most extensive and 
complete systems in the Union. 



CHAPTER II. 

GEOLOGY, TOPOGRAPHY AND ZOOLOGY. 



The county of DeKalb is situated directly south of Steuben county, the 
northeastern corner county of the state of Indiana. DeKalb county is 
bounded on the east by Defiance county, Ohio; on the south by Allen county, 
Indiana ; on the west by Noble county, Indiana ; and on the north, as mentioned 
before, by Steuben county. The county is located in the basin drained by 
the tributaries of Lake Erie and the Mississippi river and is also drained bv the 
St. Joseph river, of the Maumee, including Cedar. Wells to twenty-five feet, 
reach a second stratum of clear, cold, and in some cases, chalybeate water. 
Tube wells forty-five feet deep, strike a thin stratum of clear and highly 
chalybeate water. Near Auburn the water of this stratum rises nearly to the 
surface and in cases becomes artesian. Typical of the section of the country, 
the surface of the county is rolling and undulating. The land was originally 
covered with the hard woods of northern Indiana, but has been cleared, and 
now is of great value for various agricultural pursuits. 

THE GEOLOGY. 

The history of DeKalb county, as read in the rock formation underlying 
the soil, proves conclusively that the county, or the land on which the county 
now rests, was raised out of the sea by the earth shrinkage some time imme- 
diately after the Devonian period. The carboniferous, the reptilian, and the 
tertiary rocks are not present in the underlying strata; the Devonian is the 
last, and it is in the short description of this strata that the geological history 
of DeKalb county may be related. 

The English scientists, Murchison and Sedgwick, named the rock forma- 
tion known as the Devonian. In this formation are found fossils of the first 
known fishes. The largest outcropping of this rock is in the region of 
Devonshire, England, but in Indiana, in DeKalb county, the rock is com- 



DEKALB COUNTV, INDIANA. 39 

pletely hidden from view, covered with drift, or disintegrated rocks. This 
soil was transported to this locaHty from other fields by the great glacier 
which swept down from the north ages ago. The soil is a mixture of clay, 
sand, gravel, pebbles, and all sorts and species of stones and boulders. These 
rocks have no sharp edges, but round ones, due to the wearing process of 
the glacial action. The scratches on their surfaces are from the same source. 
Rocks of foreign species are scattered over the county, from widely different 
localities, having been brought here by the glacier. The gently rolling 
mounds here and there over the surface of the county are deposits of glacial 
drift, formed the same as if one were rubbing a damp powdery substance over 
a surface. On the top of this drift there is a thin vegetable mould, which 
composes the rich soil of the county. 

PEAT DEPOSITS. 

DeKalb county ranks as one of the medium peat counties of Indiana in 
its amount of material, and among the first in its quality. The deposits are 
largely of the moss variety. 

Township 33 north, ranges 12, 13, 14 and part of 15 east, have little or 
no place left for the development of peat beds, due to the draining of the 
glacial lakes by the St. Joseph river and its tributaries. Jackson and Concord 
townships have a ten-acre peat deposit in the southwest quarter of section 3 
and the same of 4; the bed is comparatively shallow and of fair quality. On 
the place of S. Franks, in the southeast quarter of section i (^t, north, 13 
east), and the southwest of section 6 (33 north, 14 east), is a ten-acre bed of 
peat, which is shallow, but of good quality. Deposits of this extent are too 
small for a peat plant, being suitable for fuel only, where it is spaded out, 
stacked up to dry and used in the crude condition. 

In Jackson township, in the northwest quarters of section 22, the south- 
east of 15, and the northeast of 21, is located a peat bed one mile long and 
one-sixth of a mile wide. Five different soundings showed an excellent 
thickness and a stripping of about one and one-half feet. It is a dark choco- 
late brown in color, and the substratum is composed largely of clay. More or 
less high ground is scattered through this district and deposit. In an old 
glacial lake basin in the northeast quarter of section 4 and the northwest of 3, 
is a fair bed of peat of twenty or twenty-five acres. It has a stripping of 
about one foot, and is a dark brown in color. In the northwest and north- 
east quarters of section 4 are seventy acres of peat, on the Weimer and 
Barnhart farms. This is of fair quality, brown color, one foot stripping, and 



40 DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 

a sub-soil of clay. A deposit, similar in quality to this one, is in the south 
central part of section 4. This is a bed of forty acres, with a thickness 
varying between six and twenty feet. This is an excellent location for a peat 
plant, as there are three deposits in this section, totaling about one hundred 
and forty acres, with the Baltimore & Ohio railroad bisecting it. On the 
Buchanan and Weaver places, in the northeast and northwest quarters of 
section 8, is a thirty-five-acre peat deposit, of good quality, being derived 
from the Sphagnum mosses. The bed is from five to twenty-five feet in 
depth, and the stripping is very light. Almost all of the material is below 
the ground-water level, and consequently has not been oxidized in the presence 
of the air. The surface is largely covered from one-half to two feet with green 
mosses, which would be very valuable to nurserymen. Immediately beneath 
these mosses are several feet of a good quality of peat moss litter, of a light 
and dark brown color. Under this is medium brown peat. 

In Jackson and Butler townships peat beds, varying greatly in thick- 
ness and extent, are found in pockets in the muck area, which extends east 
and west, with a length of about two and three-quarter miles and a width of 
one-fifth of a mile. They are located in the northeast and northwest quarters 
of section 29, the northeast and northwest of 30, and the northeast and north- 
west of 23. The area covered by these beds will probably be more than one 
hundred and twenty-five acres. In the eastern portion of this area, just 
north of the center of section 29, is a fifteen-acre bed, which contains a good 
quality of peat, being derived from the sphagnum mosses. The stripping is 
about one-half foot, and the underlying formation is clay. The thickness of 
this deposit is from ten to twenty-five feet, with about one-sixth of its mate- 
rial above the le^'el of the ground-water. Advancing westward from this 
bed, in the muck area, there are numerous patches of two or four acres, 
where the peat is five or more feet in depth and of good quality. 

Around Duncan lake, in the southeast quarter of section 31 and the 
southwest of 32, are about twenty acres of peat, derived from the sphagnum 
mosses, and of good quality. The peat bed forms a belt about one hundred 
yards wide around the lake, occurring between it and the higher ground. It 
is almost all beneath the water level, and thus is in a very loose condition, and 
would shrink greatly if drained. The sub-soil is clay, and the stripping al- 
most nothing. 

On the land owned by J. Paulin and M. A. Carnahan, in the southeast 
quarter of section 36, is a peat bed ranging in thickness from six to twenty- 
five feet. Twenty acres of clayey peat occur in the north central part of 
section 14. The thickness of the bed is low and the stripping heavy. It is 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 4 1 

suitable for use only in the crude condition. A deposit similar in size, quality 
and thickness is located in the south central part of section lo and the north 
central part of 15. 

In the southwest quarter of section 10 are fifteen acres of peat, of vary- 
ing quality, derived from sphagnum mosses. A little more than one mile 
south of Garrett, in the northeast quarter of section g, is a peat bed of 
about seventy acres, where peat moss litter is taken out on a commercial 
scale. Ten or more acres of this deposit have been carefully sounded and are 
judged to have an average thickness of about forty-five feet. Several sound- 
ings in the remainder of the deposit show a thickness of two to twenty feet. 
This moss is spaded out for the market; after being dried and baled it is 
shipped to different points in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and Illinois, where it 
is used as a litter for stables, fowl-houses, kennels, etc. It will absorb eight 
to twelve times its own weight of water, while ordinary straw cannot absorb 
more than three times its own weight. The state geologist in his report for 
1906 on the peat deposits says : "In determining the value of peat as a ferti- 
lizer it is doubtful whether any of the analyses are of value, as the benefit 
derived from peat depends not so much on the chemical composition as on 
the mechanical effect of the peat on the soil, its effect in promoting disin- 
tegration and solution of mineral matters, and its property of absorbing 
ammonia. The value of peat as a direct fertilizer depends on the nitrogenous 
organic matter present and particularly upon the ammonia, potash, phosphoric 
acid and lime. As these direct fertilizing ingredients rarely form two per 
cent, of the mass free from water, it can not be a significant source of min- 
eral fertilizer. The quantity of potash (K'O) in the ash of the peats examined 
varies from 0.96 to 1.56% : the quantity of phosporic acid (P^O') from 1.17 
to 1.90%." Further description of peat as a product will be given later. 

Beginning at the west side of Garrett and extending west and north- 
west for one and one-half miles, is a peat bed of one hundred acres. The 
thickness ranges from four to twenty-five feet, and the stripping will average 
about one foot. Probably twenty acres of peat can be found around the 
small lakes in the southeast quarter of section 7. The topographical 
position is that of an old glacial lake basin. A peat bed extends east and 
west through or near the centers of sections 13, 14, 15 and 18, and has a 
length of three miles and a width of from one-ninth to one-third of a mile. 
This deposit is below the ground-water level, consequently has not been 
affected by oxidation in the air. The thickness varies greatly. 

In Union township there is an old glacial lake basin, which contains 
several acres of peat of varying quality. It occurs in the southeast quarter of 



42 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

section 33 and the southwest of 34. From about two and one-half miles 
northeast of Auburn to a point near Mooresville is a chain of peat beds, 
which will comprise several hundred acres of fair to good peat, found in the 
northeast quarter of section 27, the southwest and southeast of 23, and the 
southwest and southeast of 24. Individual deposits are from two to thirty- 
five acres in extent, with the thickness ranging from ten to twenty-five feet. 

In Wilmington township a bed of muck, one mile long and one-third of 
a mile wide, containing numerous pockets of peat, appears in the southeast 
quarter of section 20, the southwest and southeast of 21 and the northwest of 
28. The peat beds, from two to twenty acres in area, will likely aggregate 
two hundred acres, and have a thickness varying between four and twenty- 
five feet. The quality of the material is from fair to good, being partly from 
the sphagnum mosses and partly from the grasses and sedges. The stripping 
is from one-half to two feet. On the Gender farms, in an old glacial lake 
basin, in the southwest quarter of section 22 and the southeast of 21, are 
forty acres of peat, underlain by a clay sub-soil. The thickness of the bed 
will average five feet, and the stripping about one and one-half feet. In a 
twenty-five-acre muck bed in the northeast quarter of section 8 and the north- 
west of 7, are about forty acres of peat, more or less scattered in pockets of 
ten acres or less. It has clay underneath, and is derived from the sphagnum 
mosses. The stripping is one and one-half feet. 

Ten or fifteen acres of a fair quality of peat are found in the muck bed 
in the northwest quarter of section 7, and the northeast quarter of section 12. 
Another small deposit of ten acres occurs just west of the central part of 
section 2. An area similar in size and quality is found in the southwest 
quarter of section 4. 

In Troy township there is a peat deposit in the northeast and southeast 
quarters of section 8 and in parts of each of the quarters of section 9, which 
has a length of one-half of a mile and a width of one-quarter of a mile. It is 
of good quality. Near the top it is very fibrous and bladed, while deeper it 
becomes less fibrous and more compact. The very fibrous portion is a good 
quality of peat moss litter and occurs here in large quantities. An old glacial 
lake once occupied the same place that this peat bed now covers. About 
twenty-five acres of peat occur in the west central part of section 30, of poor 
quality and fair, and shallow thickness. A deposit of fifteen acres similar in 
quality and thickness, is found in the east central part of section 26, and the 
west central of 25. Another shallow bed of a rather poor quality is located 
in the northwest quarter of section 10. 

In Franklin and Smithfield townships, in an old lake basin in the north- 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 43 

east, soutliwest and southeast quarters of section 12, Smithfield, and the 
southwest, northwest and northeast quarters of 7, Franklin, are about two 
hundred and fifty acres of peat, in several large beds, separated by the higher 
ground and muck. The quality ranges between poor and fair, the derivation 
being, to a considerable extent, from the sphagnum mosses. About one-third 
of the material is above the ground-water level. Fair crops of onions and 
corn are raised on the more decomposed portions. 

Forty acres of a shallow deposit of peat are found along the Lake Shore 
railroad in the northeast and southeast quarters of section 3, Smithfield 
township. Another shallow deposit of fifteen acres is in the west central 
part of section 8 and the east central of 7. About four acres of fairly good 
peat is found around Cedar lake ; another around Indian lake. 

Other smaller deposits are found in divers places in the county, but 
are of little importance. 

DEFINITON OF PF.AT. 

Arthur E. Taylor, in the State Geological Report, describes peat thusly : 
"Peat is a moist, spongy and partially carbonized vegetable matter, ranging in 
color from a light chocolate brown to a black. When it has remained, for 
some time, in a state of imperfect decomposition in the presence of water, it 
forms a soft, slimy mass, which is sufficiently tenacious to be molded into 
almost any form. When dried this mass becomes hard and somewhat dark- 
ened on the surface, from oxidation. It shows an earthy fracture, and re- 
minds one of a black, carbonaceous clay. Where the peat has only been in 
this state of partial decay for a brief period it is very fibrous, incompact and 
often contains the roots of the plants which afford the material from which 
it is derived. It is lighter in color and has a lower specific gravity than the 
first variety. In any marsh where the process of peat formation is going on, 
we find these two varieties, the former comprising the lower and medium 
portions of the bed, while the latter lies near the surface. Between these two 
varieties the peat is found in various intermediate stages of incomplete pre- 
servation. Peat in many localities is commonly known by the terms 'muck,' 
'turf,' and 'bog.' " 

Peat is formed by the decaying of vegetable matter in the presence of 
water. Owing to the numerous lakes in the northern part of Indiana, the 
many peat beds are there found. Gradually, through the ages of time, lakes 
have been gradually filled up by vegetation. The mosses form around the 
edges of the lake, then spread out upon the surface. It slowly thickens, and 
the decaved matter falls from the sides and accumulates on the bottom of the 



44 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

lake. First this covering is very thin, but later becomes of sufficient srength 
for a man to place his weight thereon. Then it is called by the familiar term 
of "quaking bog." If the accumtilation continues for a long period the lake 
becomes filled completely, and if sufficient decomposition beneath the ground- 
water level had ensued, would become a "peat bed." 

The water, however, for the forming of peat beds does not have to lie in 
the form of a lake. In Indiana there are examples of peat having lieen formed 
above the ground-water level. In an ordinary dn- forest the vegetation soon 
becomes blackened and decomposed, the carbon passing off as carbon-dioxide 
and the inorganic matter being left as a residue. Xear water the vegetation 
decays more slowly and the accumulation gains on the decomposition. This is 
the result of the fact that where water is present the air cannot come into 
free contact with the carbon, and this element is largely retained, while much 
of the inflanmiable substance is given off. thus improving the fuel qualitv of 
the vegetation. 

ECONOMIC VALUE OF PE.\T. 

As a fuel, peat has served its purpose since a time prior to the Christian 
era. Pliny, in his natural history, speaks of it. In .America the exhaustion 
of coal fields and other causes has caused peat to be used very largely as fuel. 
Briquettes are oblong blocks of compressed peat, and are excellent sources of 
heat. The value of peat as a fertilizer is discussed fully elsewhere in this 
work. Peat charcoal is a \raluable filtering agent. Peat coke is also widely 
used, and the by-products from the coke are worth as much or more than the 
coke. As a source of producer gas, peat is of great economic worth. Peat 
gas is valued above coal gas in the steel industry on account of its greater 
freedom from sulphur and phosphorus. 

The chemical analysis of DeKalb county peat is as follows: Moisture, 
I05°C, 17.16; volatile, air dried. 73.31: fixed carbon, air dried, 22.53: coke, 
air dried. 26.67: ash, air dried, 4.14: nitrogen, air dried, 2.^6: sulphur, oven 
dried, 0.74: per cent, of P^O' in ash, i.go: per cent, of K'^O in ash. 1.56. 

THE FAUNA : PAST AND PRESENT. 

If one were in doubt of the existence at one time of many different 
species of wild animals in DeKalb county one has but to read of the days of 
the pioneer and Indian, when the streams were filled with fish, eager for the 
bait, and animals of all descriptions roamed the forest aisles, only waiting for 
the trapper's bullet. The pioneers' t.nblcs were well filled witli wild meats in 



DEKAI.Il COUNTY, INDIANA. 45 

those days, but ixnv tlic many beasts iiaLivi' u> tliis locality have disappeared, 
or at least are too feu to he of value. The IjiilTalo, elk and deer were the first 
to fall before the white man. Twenty years ago the last deer was shot. The 
panther and two species of the wildcat once snarled from the trees of DcKalb 
county and made traveling dangerous to the settler, but it has been fifty years 
since one of these felines has been seen. The porcupine, beaver and black bear 
have forsaken their haunts for even a longer period, and the minks, weasels, 
skunks, for whom a diligent search was once made on account of the value 
of their fur, have largely disappeared. The different squirrels remain so long 
as there are spots of forest land in the county, but with the diminishing 
trees they, too, go. Moles, rabbits and bats arc still e.xistent, also muskrats. 
Gray wolves are extinct, and also the fox family. Groundhogs, or wood- 
chucks, are occasionally discovered, but very rarely. Wild hogs are an ani- 
mal of the past, most of this valuable species being domesticated. 

The absence of large lakes and streams in DeKalb county has been a 
force to restrict the variety of fishes. There arc, however, some interesting 
families for the ichthyologist. 

The stickleback family are great game fish. There are many species in 
this family, and each has a popular name, such as black bass, green or Osage 
bass, big black sun-fish or rock bass, goggle-eye, and the common sun-fish. 
These fish have diminished greatly. There are no perch in the county, al- 
though at one time very common. Another fish that has largely disappeared 
is the pike, also the pickerel and gar pikes. The suckers, buffalo, red horse, 
and white are fish of the past. Fish of the cat-fish family are still common, 
but have deteriorated, the best one weighing not over a pound and a half. 
Among them are the channel, blue and yellow, bull-head. There are several 
varieties of chubs, silver sides, and minnows in the smaller streams. 

Reptiles have at one time been common to DeKalb county, some twenty- 
three species existing. The larger ones have been exterminated. Two species, 
the copperhead and massanger, are venomous. The smaller species, like 
toads, are useful to the country, for they prey on destroying animals like 
mice and moles. The lizard family is represented here by such animals as the 
salamander, which is a useful one, having as their prey flies and other pests. 
There have been eighteen species of these animals here. The largest attains a 
length of about eight inches, and is of a black color, with large, irregular black 
spots. Another species is wholly of a yellow color; and yet another is a bril- 
liant red and haunts cold springs. The second in size is the mud alligator, or 
water dog; and another has external gills for breathing in water. There are 
five species of frogs and five of toads. Four are tree toads. One species of 



46 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

frog is subterranean, digging backwards into the earth with its hind feet, 
which are shaped like a shovel. It appears on the surface of the ground in 
breeding time, after the thunder showers of April, and in the evening, and is 
recognized by the loud, discordant croak it emits. 

In DeKalb county are found over two hundred and fifty diiiferent species 
of the bird family. The singers outnumber the others, although the really good 
.singers are in the minority. 

The thrushes are the best singing birds of the county, namely, the 
wood-thrush. The song of the thrush has been the inspiration of the greatest 
poets of the world; the thrush's song is varied and tuneful, and is unequaled 
by that of any other bird. The olive-backed thrush, the brown thrush, and 
the robin are all migratory birds, and have songs second to the wood-thrush. 
The hermit and olive-backed thrushes are common to the spring of the year; 
the robins and cat-birds haunt the gardens and orchards, preferring civiliza- 
tion to the wildness of the woods, perhaps feeling more secure there from the 
preying birds. The brown thrush is ofttimes found in the thickets of the 
hazel-brush, and briers, which follow old fences and brush heaps ; in the latter 
place the nest is generally built. The food of this family consists of grass- 
hoppers, beetles, snails, spiders, caterpillars and small fruits and berries. 

The bluebird is the only species of that family in the county, and it stays 
from spring to fall, nesting in bird-houses, fence-posts, decayed trees and 
feeds on winged insects, worms, grasshoppers, spiders, and a few berries. It 
is a natural enemy to the song-birds, but is defeated bv the English sparrow, 
which attack in droves. 

The golden-crowned and ruby-crowned kinglets and the blue-gray gnat- 
snatcher are common during the spring and fall. The latter is often found in 
the winter, and the gnat-snatcher is here during the summer. The kinglets 
nest most often in the region of the lakes, but the gnat-snatcher nests here, 
usually building his nest high up in the oaks. 

The white-bellied and red-bellied nuthatch are very common to this 
locality, being found in woodlands and orchards, their nests built in holes in 
the trees. Their food consists of ants, eggs of insects, and seeds. 

The black-capped chickadee, or titmouse, the sole member of this fam- 
ily here, feeds upon insects, berries, seeds, crumbs and meat, and nests in the 
woods the whole year ; during the winter is found close to the house searching 
for sweepings. 

The Carolina wren is a rare bird, which occasionally gets this far north. 
Ho\\ever, the house wren is common. The winter wren, the long-billed 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 47 

marsh wren and the short-billed marsh wren are comn:on residents of this 
locality. They feed on insects alone. 

The horned lark is a winter resident, sometimes breeding here. Barren 
and gravelly fields are the abiding place of this bird, and it lives on insects 
and seeds. When the ground is hidden in snow these birds may be found feed- 
ing on the droppings of stock about the farm. The titlark is also a bird with 
similar habits to the above. 

The warblers are very numerous in this county. The black and white 
creeper resides here in the summer, nesting on the ground, preferably beside a 
fallen log. The blue yellow-backed warbler, a rare migratory bird, is some- 
times found in the tree-tops of the forest. The blue-winged yellow warbler 
is very uncommon, also the orange-crowned warbler. The blue golden- 
winged warbler is common, and the Nashville and Tennessee variety. The 
yellow, the black-throated green, the black-throated blue, the blue, the yellow- 
rumped, the blackburnian, the black-poll, the yellow red-poll, and the chest- 
nut-sided warblers are all common — some of them abundant; and all of them 
are migratory birds. The bay-breasted, the Cape May, the prairie, the yellow- 
throated and Kirtland's warblers are rare. The golden-crowned thrush is 
rare, but uses this locality as a breeding ground. The Connecticut warbler, a 
good singer, is rare here. The Maryland yellow-throat is occasionally seen, 
and the black-capped fly-catching warbler is common during the spring and 
fall. The Canada fly-catching warbler and the red start are very common. 

The scarlet tanager is common, but the summer red-bird is not so fre- 
quently seen. This is a large family, but little represented in this part of 
the country. 

The swallow is a very common bird in the county. There are several 
species, namely: the barn, clifif or cave, white-bellied, and the bank or sand 
swallow. The purple martin, a member of this family, has been driven out 
by the sparrow. The swallows feed exclusively on winged insects. 

The shrikes or butcher-birds are represented here. The great Northern 
shrike is rare, bvtt the logger-head shrike is common. They are a very 
quarrelsome bird, particularly among themselves. Their food consists of 
large insects, mice and small birds and snakes. One habit of theirs is to 
impale their prey on thorns or twigs and leave it there for future visits. 

The finch and sparrow family are very numerous. Among the species 
are pine grosbeak, purple finch, white-winged and red cross-bills, red-poll 
linnet, pine linnet, goldfinch, or yellow bird, snow-liunting, Laplong long- 
spur, Savannah sparrow, bay-winged bunting, yellow-winged, Henslow's and 
Lincoln's sparrows, swamp and song sparrows, snow-bird, mountain sparrow. 



48 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

chipping and field sparrows, white-throated and white-crowned sparrows, 
English sparrow, fox sparrow, black-throated bunting, rose-breasted grosbeak, 
indigo bird, towhee bunting or chewink. Except during the breeding season, 
birds of this family feed upon seeds, and those which are residents during 
the entire year eat very little during the breeding season, and feed their young 
almost entirely on insects. The rose-breasted grosbeak is the only bird 
known to feed on the potato bug and the white-crowned sparrow feeds on 
the grape-vine flea-beetle. The common yellow bird prefers the seeds of the 
thistle and lettuce. The chewee, or chewink, and the fox sparrow scratch 
for the hibernating insects and snails. The cross-bills feed on the seeds in 
the pine cones, and the English sparrow extracts the seeds contained in the 
droppings of animals. 

The blackbird family is represented by the following species : the bobo- 
link, a songster; the cow-bird, or cow black-bird, which frequents old pas- 
ture lands and wood edges in summer; this cow-bird builds no nest of its 
own, but invades the nests of smaller birds and there deposits its eggs. 
There is the red-winged blackbird, common in summer ; meadow lark ; or- 
chard and Baltimore orioles ; rusty blackbird, or grackle, is common for a few 
weeks in the spring; and the crow blackbird. Insects and grains constitute 
the food of these birds. The cow birds destroy the eggs and young of other 
birds, and the orioles feed on hairy caterpillars and some of the small fruits. 

The common crow is a migratory bird, flying to the southward at the 
first approach of winter. The birds of this family are omnivorous. 

Of the fly-catcher family, the king-bird is frequently seen in the sum- 
mer in orchards and in the edges of the woods. The great-crested fly-catcher 
is abundant in the forest, and uses snake-skins in the construction of its nest. 
The pewee, the wood pewee, the least fly-catcher, yellow-bellied fly catcher, 
are others of this family common to DeKalb county. They subsist on the 
winged insects. 

Other birds common to this locality, and of different families, are : The 
whippoorwill and night hawk, nocturnal birds ; chimney swallow ; humming- 
birds ; king-fishers ; black-billed cuckoos, or rain-crows ; hairy, downy, yellow- 
bellied, red-bellied, red-headed and golden-winged wood-peckers; great 
horned, mottled, screetch, long-eared, short-eared, barn, owls; hawks, in- 
cluding the marsh, sharp shinned. Cooper's sparrow, red-tailed, red shoulder- 
ed, broad-winged, rough-legged or black and fish. The white-tailed kite, the 
goshawk, the pigeon hawk, Swainson's hawk and the bald eagle are more rare. 
The turkey buzzard, pigeon family, wild turkey, grouse, plovers, sandpipers, 
herons, cranes, rails, gulls, loons, grebes are seen in this county. Ducks are 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 49 

represented here by the mallard type, the black, big black head, little black 
head, ring-necked, red-head, golden-eye, butter-ball, ruddy and fish ducks, 
brant and Canada geese, widgeon, golden-winged and blue-winged teal and 
the hooded merganser. The pintail, gadwall, shoveler, wood duck, canvas- 
back, long-tailed and red-breasted merganser are very rare. 

GAME PRESERVE. 

The game preserve in DeKalb county contains five thousand seven hun- 
dred and ninety-four acres of rolling and level land, lying in the southwestern 
part of Sniithfield township and extending into Grant township. One-tenth 
of the preserve is woodland and there is much copse and young wood through- 
out the remainder. The water supply consists of Cedar Lake and Cedar 
creek, with its tributaries. 



U) 



CHAPTER III. 



EARLY SETTLEMENT OF COUNTY. 



Pioneer history, at its best, is an elusi\'e subject. Records in the days 
when our fathers hewed their homes from the wilderness were not preserved, 
and consequently the few sources of information in regard to the faraway 
days are treasures which must be guarded zealously by the future men and 
women of the county, lest the tales and deeds of the sturdy settlers be lost 
from view. Pioneer history grows with the telling; there is glamour and 
interest centering around the hardships and hard-fought battles of the early 
day which will bear the retelling numberless times. What if bits of imagina- 
tion are introduced in the retelling? .\ny life is prosaic in the stern reality, 
and narrative beauty is added by the coloration of the pure facts: nf course, 
adherence to the facts is a prime requisite. 

Settlements were miles apart in the early nineteenth century, and social 
intercourse was difficult. Log rollings, husking bees, barbecues, cabin build- 
ings, and other pioneer entertainments afforded the only opportunities for the 
people to congregate together, and these periods were generally months 
apart. So the pioneer lived alone with his family, in the silent and mighty 
forest, sallying out before dawn to shoot the game for the day's food sup- 
ply or to cast a line in the stream nearby. The clothes were manufactured 
by the woman who sat for days before the loom: linsey-woolse}- and home- 
spun, adorned with skins of small animals, were the popular weaves. A 
hardiness of soul and bodv was the result of this life, and men were steel- 
cast. Today's civilization is deteriorating, but the effects of money and 
luxuries are too near to us to merit discussion in a work such as this volume. 
It is to the first men of the county and their influence upon the building up 
of the county, that this chapter must serve. 

FIRST SETTLERS. 

The first settler known to have entered the bounds of DeKall) county to 
make a permanent settlement was John Houlton. He was born in Highland 
countv. Ohio, on September 21, 1804. He built the first house in the county 
here on section i. Franklin township, where he resided until his death. June 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 5 1 

2, 1875. Having married JNliss Sarali Fee on February 5. 1833, Houlton, in 
September of the same year, took three hired men, a yoke of oxen, a cross- 
cut saw and a fro, came on to forty acres which he had entered and in four 
days had cut the logs for, and raised and covered a house. Settlers prior to 
1840 were presented with canes made from the timbers of this first cabin. 

Houlton hauled out and buried twenty bushels of potatoes, and left them 
until he moved on a month later, and the Indians, then numerous, left the 
vegetables undisturbed. Here, then, in 1833, we find the log cabin of John 
Houlton alone in the wilderness, its occupants ten miles from Denmark, the 
nearest settlement. Grain was brought from the prairies, ground at White 
Pidgeon, and then with many struggles in mire-holes, creeks and sloughs, 
this heroic i)ioneer journeyed homeward. Night after night passed at the 
little cabin, where devoted wife and sister and daughter awaited his return, 
the howling of the wolves and the half-human scream of the panther awak- 
ing their solicitude for the dear one absent. 

In 1834, John Fee entered land to the amount of over five hundred acres, 
partly in DeKalb and partly in Steuben. He was followed by Charles Boyer 
and later by Luther Keep, Charles Crain, and Peter Boyer. During the year 
1834, eight pioneers moved into the county by way of Fort Wayne. Their 
names are : Peter Fair, and his sons Al^ram and Charles : Charles F. Crouse, 
George Delong, and Andrus, Jacob and John Surface. On October ist, 
they entered Butler township, with a four-horse team and a wagon. They 
cut their road from Squire Caswell's in Allen county, beyond Huntertowti, 
five miles to the place where they settled, and also a good share of the way 
from Fort Wayne, as the track was too narrow and crooked for a four-horse 
team. Our plan, said Abram Fair, was to come out, build cabins, make a 
beginning, and then return to winter in our old homes in Montgomery county, 
Ohio, and bring on the families in the spring. Provisions for the trip were 
brought along, excepting meat which was expected to be obtained by killing 
deer, but deer were found quite scarce that season, and there was a consequent 
disappointment. One day Andrew Surface found a hollow tree on Black 
Creek ; a bear had gnawed a hole and helped himself to the store of honey, but 
upon chopping into the tree six gallons of honey were obtained. Bee trees 
were soon found afterwards, and a supply obtained to last the entire party 
twenty days, and on their return to Ohio, they took along twenty-one gallons 
of strained honey. The honey-bee is seen to have preceded the settlement 
of the county, and bee hunters were successful. Then the bee-moth threat- 
ened to exterminate the insect, but later S. Rogers and I. Dichl had large 
apiaries, and made bee culture a success. During the following year, settlers 



52 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

entered land in different parts of the county, and soon the work of brush 
burning, log rolling, rail splitting, and cabin raising was under headway- 
Clearings were met with at wide intervals, and the dense forest of the county 
re-echoed to the stroke of the ax, as trees came crashing and thundering down. 

In the early part of the year 1836 comparatively few settlers were located 
within the bounds of what is now DeKalb county. Homer Blake, below 
Spencerville ; David Butler; Samuel Wasson; John Mathews; Mr. Yates, near 
Spencerville ; Mr. Rhodes and sons; Jeremiah Rhodes; Mr. Brandt and Cran- 
nel Rood, also near Spencerville; William Mathews; George and David 
Mathews ; Mr. Lytle and Jared Ball, near Orangeville ; Washington Robinson, 
on the present site of Newville ; and William Rodgers and Jacob Platter, near 
Newville; were those who resided here before the year 1836, most of them 
in the southern part of the present area known as DeKalb county. This was 
before the formal organization of the county of DeKalb. A portion of the 
territory was attached to Lagrange and a portion to Allen county. 

Early in the year 1836, John Blair settled on a farm, on which place he 
lived his entire life. Charles Wilber, near Orangeville; William Burley, in 
the same locality; Joseph Lndwig; Judge Walden and Ariel Rood, farther up 
the river. Toward the end of the year Judge Samuel Widney located on the 
farm where he spent the rest of his days, and John P. Widney on the farm 
owned now by A. I. Richmond; Benjamin Alton on the farm which was 
later the Dr. Herrington place; Dr. Babcock on another farm; and Asher 
Coburn and relatives, in the Coburn settlement. During the same season 
Wesley Park settled on the site of .A.uburn, and laid out the town. 

EARLY LIFE. 

The pioneer, in his journey to the count)-, met with many reverses, in one 
form or another. He traveled through untrodden forests, poled and rowed 
his boat along swollen streams, and often was delayed for days by accidents. 
Roads had to be cut through the forest and improvised bridges constructed 
over the larger streams. A good illustration of the method of pioneer travel 
is the experience of Judge Widney, from central Pennsylvania. 

From his home in the last mentioned state, Judge Widney came by canal 
to the Allegheny mountains, over the mountains by steam road, then again 
by canal to Dayton, Ohio, thence by wagons through the black swamp to Fort 
Wayne, Indiana. On horseback he and his wife came up the Indian trail 
along the St. Joseph river, while his family, in care of John P. Widney and 
wife, came in the pirogue of Judge Walden and Thomas Gorrell. who had 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 53 

come down for provisions. The pirogue was "poled" along the river, and 
everything went well until they reached a ripple near David Butler's home, 
when the boat, having turned broadside against the current, was capsized, 
precipitating the occupants in the stream. The goods floated down stream 
and the people floundered around in the water which was, at that point, three 
or four feet deep. Some of the larger children succeeded in getting ashore, 
while the wife of John P. Widney grasped a five-year-old child (afterward 
Mr. Widney's second wife) and helped her to the bank. The men scattered 
down the river to retain the luggage which had floated down. One trunk 
containing a considerable sum of money, was recovered fullv a mile from 
the scene of the accident. 

Joseph Miller, the first surveyor of DeKalb county, and his father trans- 
ported their goods by way of Fort Wayne to Shryock's mill, and from thence 
to the farm about a mile below Auburn. They were forced to cut their path 
through the dense forest. They left the most of their goods and their families 
on the ]\Iaumee, and penetrated the woods, going east, by means of a small 
pocket compass, to the St. Joseph, circling the worst and impassable swamps. 
They cut a road back, a distance of twelve miles, in order that their wagons 
might pass, and also had to bridge a tamarack swamp on the route. This 
road was afterward known as "Miller's trace," and served as a highway for 
many emigrants. It was located where the road now runs westward from the 
St. Joseph river, at the place of Judge Widney's. 

The closest mill and market to the DeKalb county settlement was at Fort 
Wayne, about twenty-six miles from the center of the river colony by land, 
and nearlv as far by the meandering river. There were no wagon-roads then, 
consequently the river was mostly utilized as a highway. Pirogues — large 
canoes hollowed from a tree trunk, preferably the poplar — were used as 
vehicles of navigation. They were generally three or four feet wide, and 
seventy to eighty feet long, thus would carry quite an amount of merchandise 
and provisions. Poles and paddles furnished the motive power. The task 
of poling these cumbersome boats up the river, especially when the water was 
too high for the poles to touch bottom, can easily be imagined. 

Mr. Rhodes, of Newville, and Samuel Wasson, of Spencerville, were at 
one time compelled to pole, or pull, a loaded pirogue all the way from Fort 
Wayne to Spencerville by holding to the willows and other bushes along the 
river bank. Jt took them a full week to make the journey. Late in Novem- 
ber, 1836, John P. Widney and a party came up with a load of provisions. 
The river was swollen from the fall rains, and the "slush ice" was running. 
Whenever the men drew their poles from the water the water turned to ice 



54 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

on the poles, and these had to be handled with bare hands, as gloves or mittens 
could not be used. This journey also required a full week. 

Provisions at Fort Wayne at this time were not very plentiful. Flour 
sold for fourteen dollars per barrel, and was of an inferior grade at that. 
Corn in the ear was one dollar and fifty cents per bu.shel, and salt was two 
dollars and twenty-fi\e cents per bushel. Other necessities were correspond- 
ingly high in value. 

Thus, the early settlers of DeKalb county were frequently in a predica- 
ment in regard to their necessary provisions. The distance was great and the 
prices almost prohibitive. In fact, many families went hungry, with no 
means to supply themselves with adequate provisions. Potatoes \vere used 
for everything at times, even for bread, and then, some families considered 
themselves fortunate to get a few potatoes. Other families lived on wild 
vegetables gathered from the surrounding forest, and cooked as greens, with 
milk and beech bark. Fever and ague often visited one of these homes, and 
the utmost energy and strategy was required to prevent a complete loss of the 
home. 

THE LOG HOME. 

The log cabin of the early settler has practically disappeared from the 
state. It is interesting to note how these primitive homes were built, and the 
material used in their construction. The average cabin was about sixteen by 
eighteen feet in size, and just high enough for the joists below the first rib. 
The logs are cut one day and hauled to the site of the proposed cabin, where 
they are laid out. The next day the neighbors from miles around come in 
and assist in the work of throwing up the logs. Puncheons are split for the 
floors, one side being dressed off even with the axe, altogether about two 
inches thick. The heavy ribs are fastened to the logs, and clapboards put 
on the top, overlapping a third over each other. Heavy weight poles are laid 
along these clapboards to keep them in place. Butting poles are placed on the 
eave-bearer, projecting some two feet from the wall line of the cabin. A 
back wall is built of clay in the end of the cabin in which the owner intends 
to have his fireplace. The chimney, supported by sapling uprights, is built of 
alternate layers of mud and sticks. The windows are cut from the logs, and 
greased paper fastened over the aperture to permit light to enter. This con- 
stitutes the structure of the cabin itself, but there still remains the problem 
of furnishing the interior. Puncheons are used to make the tables, rough 
chairs, benches and beds. 



DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 55 



EARLY LABOR. 



Horses were very scarce in the early days, and consequently a great deal 
of the labor incident to farming had to be done by hand. Heavy timber was 
chopped, brush burned, logs rolled, rails split, and fields cleared without the 
aid of a team. The wife would often "pitch in" and help the husband, she 
clearing off the brush. The corn was planted, of course, by hand. William 
Mathews planted a fairly good crop of corn with a handspike, and tended it 
with a hoe. He inserted the sharp handspike diagonally into the soil, then 
dropped the seed into the aperture formed, and then pressed down the soil by 
stepping on it as he passed to the next hill. 

Often the crop planting season came before the settler had cleared the 
brush from his land, and then he planted between the log heaps, frequently 
arranging the logs in windrows and leaving them to be burned when the crop 
was gathered. 

FIRST EVENTS. 

The first wedding to occur among the residents of the DeKalb county 
settlement was that of Jared Ball and Melinda Slater. The wedding did not 
occur in the county, but in Williams county. Ohio, near Edgerton, the home 
of the bride's father. Ball paid the minister his fee in pumpkins. The first 
marriage to actually occur in DeKalb county, was that of Nelson Ulm and 
Elvira Lockwood, in the summer of 1837. The bride had to be assisted to 
the altar, and when there was too weak to stand up. The first marriage 
licenses taken out in the county were those of Francis Smith and Maria Gun- 
senhouser, and of John Platter and Ann Emmeline Walden. Both licenses 
were issued on September 5, 1837, and both marriages were performed by 
Washington Robinson, of Concord township, the first justice of the peace in 
the county. 

The first funeral in the county was that of a Mrs. Barker, who lived just 
above the present site of Newville. Judge Widney was sent to deliver the 
funeral oration, there being no minister close enough. The Judge sang some 
hymns, prayed and talked in general about the subject of death. 

The little village of Orangeville was the scene of the opening of the first 
store in DeKalb county, in the spring of 1837. John Platter, William Rogers, 
and a Mr. Savage and another man contributed two hundred dollars each, and 
put in a stock of merchandise, consisting of the articles most needed by the 
settlers at that time. John P. Widney was employed to cut logs for the store 
house, receiving the sum of two dollars for his services, performing the job 



56 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

in half a day. The house was sixteen by eighteen feet in size, and was built 
of round logs. 

The first grist mill, or corn cracker, in the county was built and owned 
by William Mathews, on Bear creek, in the east part of the school section of 
Concord township. The mill was a very small affair, the stones were about 
two feet in diameter, and were turned by means of a flutter-wheeel on an up- 
right post, set in a tub, through one side of which the water passed. The 
whole machinery was installed in a bare frame, without a semblance of 
weather-boarding or other protection. The corn dropped one grain at a time 
from the small hopper, and the best yield, when conditions were good, was 
eight bushels in twenty-four hours. Mr. \\^idney carried a half bushel of 
corn a distance of four miles to get it ground, and had to wait a half day. 

OTHER PIONEERS. 

Other prominent settlers along the St. Joseph river were : Solomon 
Delong, Daniel Strong, H. Fusselman, Christian and Samuel Wanemaker, 
Lott Herrick, who was the first probate judge of DeKalb county, Joseph E. 
Sawtell w^as the second merchant of the county. Rev. N. L. Thomas w-as the 
first to open a store in Newville, George Barney was one of the first justices 
of Concord, James Hadsell, Cornelius Woodcox, and Judge R. J. Dawson, 
who later filled many important positions in the county. 

Colin Robinson and his brother, Henry, came to the Maumee, near 
Brunersburg. in 1833, and soon after their arrival, journeyed up the Maumee 
to where William Rogers then lived, a little below the future site of the vil- 
lage of Antwerp. From there they struck across the woods, guided by a 
pocket-compass, some fifteen or twenty miles, through the forest, to the St. 
Joseph river. When in the midst of the wilderness they w'ere so unfortunate 
as to lose the needle from their small compass, and were forced to search for 
quite a time in the leaves before they found it. About dark they struck the 
bluff of the St. Joseph, and from there made their way, in the light of dusk, 
down the river for a mile. Mr. Lytle then lived in a cabin over the river, 
and the object of the Robinsons was to reach it and procure foor, for they had 
had nothing since early morning. The time was on the 24th of December, 
and upon reaching the river, they discovered that ice had formed about a 
quarter of the way across, making it necessary to camp immediately, and 
thus spend the night. By the side of a fallen walnut tree they "struck up" 
their fire and rested. 

The night was a very uncomfortable one to the travelers. On the next 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 57 

morning, which was Christmas day, 1833, they cut down a dry stump of a 
tree, which broke in twain when it fell. The men lashed the two pieces to- 
gether with basswood bark, and launched it, after breaking the ice at the 
margin of the river. On this crude buoy they crossed the river, expecting 
to find a warm fire at the cabin. No one was at home at the Lytle cabin but 
the children, and nothing to eat but a single rabbit, which the men devoured, 
after losing half of it to the family cat. The Rol>insons were there with 
the purpose of entering land, but finding provisions so scarce, returned to their 
starting point. 

In the summer of 1834 or 1835 Solomon Belong and John Platter crossed 
this same wilderness, and losing their way in the midst, without water, were 
forced to camp for the night. They dug a hole in the swamp with their axes 
and discovered water, but it had such a disagreeable taste that they could 
scarcely drink it. The mosquitoes descended upon them in droves, and made 
sleep an impossibility. Belong and Platter cut bushes and covered them with 
green leaves. The men then crawled under these, and were comfortable for 
the rest of the night. 

A PIONEER HONEYMOON. 

In the winter of 1836-7, in the month of January, Colin Robinson, re- 
cently married, started on a bridal tour from the Maumee to the cabin built on 
his land along the St. Joseph, the bride on horseback and Colin on foot. 
Arriving at the "Mer-del-arm," a large creek between the rivers, running 
through Cottonwood swamps, he found it swollen by rains and melted snow, 
until it had overflown the swamps for a mile on each side. He waded through 
the water, his wife following on horseback, until they came to the main 
channel of the creek which he found covered with thick ice, and raised up sev- 
eral feet by the high waters. Mr. Robinson persuaded his wife to dismount 
and stand upon a stump, while he made the horse mount the ice and cross to 
the other side. He then, by means of a pole placed from the stump to the ice, 
got Mrs. Robinson on the ice, and from the ice on the other side to her saddle 
again, he wading out as he had entered. The following summer Robinson 
and his brother went down the St. Joseph to Fort Wayne, and then down the 
Maumee to where Befiance now is, for the purpose of getting seed wheat, and 
corn to get ground. They traveled in a large pirogue; loaded it with sixty 
bushels of grain and started back, but, being green hands at piroguing, they 
had considerable difficulty. Reaching Bull Rapids, near the state line, about 
eight miles below Fort Wayne, they ran on the rocks and stuck fast. The 
wind had ruffled the water so that they could not see bottom, consequently 



58 DEKALB COrXTV, INDIANA. 

had impaled themselves on the rock shelf. They were forced to crawl out of 
the pirogue and push the boat from the rocks. Once more they started in the 
normal fashion, and succeeded very well until they reached Cole's dam, one 
mile below Fort Wayne. Here they had to unload the boat, and carry the 
grain on their shoulders up a steep bank about thirty feet high, go more than 
a half mile after a rope, and tying it to the boat, pulled it over the dam, very 
nearly losing it in the execution of the job. They reloaded, and again were 
on their way, but were halted again by the coming of night, at the mouth of 
the St. Joseph. From there to John's mill they had much trouble from the 
darkness and shallow water. They finally reached the mill, and unloaded 
their grain. Their lodging that night was made upon the bare ground, with 
no covering but the canopy of stars. On the final leg of the journey, to their 
home, they had to stop at every ripple and unload the boat, so that it would 
cross, then reload. Colin Robinson was seized with a violent sickness as the 
result of this hazardous trip. This was the pleasure of pioneering. 

FAMILY MILLS. 

An interesting feature of pioneer life, showing the versatility of the early 
settler, was the family mills. The regular grist mills were very far and with 
long distance between, so it behooved the settler to provide some way to grind 
his own corn. Every settler, in time, came to own a small family mill, which 
was built along the following lines : A log of beech or cedar, some twenty 
inches in diameter, was first secured. This log was sawed ofif to about three 
feet in length. The log was placed on end. and an inch augur bored diagonally 
from the circumference toward the center. This operation was continued 
around the circumference, with all the holes meeting in the center. With a 
chisel, the block bored under is pried out : it was shaped like a cone. The 
funnel-shaped hole was trimmed out with the chisel, and a fire of coals built 
therein to harden the wood. A thick stick, with an iron wedge inserted in 
the end, was used as a pestle. The corn was beaten until as fine as possible, 
and then was sifted, leaving corn-meal. The bran was blown out of tho 
balance, and then it was used as hominy. 

EXTRACTS ON EARLY HISTORY. 

J. E. Rose, one of the pioneers of DeKalb county, writes the following: 

"The pioneer merchants (store-keepers as we called them) were N. L. 

Thomas, of Newville, whom we familiarly called 'Uncle Ladd,' and Thomas 



DEKALB COUNTV, INDIANA. 59 

J. Freeman, of Auburn; liotli men, of some consequence in their time, liave 
long since gone to that country from which no traveler returns. * * * 
The pioneer store in the eastern part of the county, the one kept by Ladd 
Thomas, occupied a room about fifteen feet square, and two hundred dollars 
would have purchased every article he had to sell. He made his regular 
trips to Fort Wayne at stated periods, riding an old black horse, familiarly 
known as 'Old Jack' by all the early settlers, and carrv'ing with him his pur- 
chases of produce, consisting of deer and coon skins, beeswax and ginseng 
roots. These he exchanged for such articles as he kept for sale, and freighted 
Old Jack with his purchases on his return trip. 

"I said Old Jack was familiarly known to the settlers. Uncle Ladd, as 
he was called, was a Methodist preacher, and, in addition to his business as a 
merchant and his services in the pulpit, he preached funerals and solem- 
nized marriages for all the settlers in the east part of the county, and when he 
went from home to attend to these duties Old Jack was his only mode of 
conveyance. The old horse seemed to have the ability to determine the 
difference between a funeral and a wedding, and it is not strange that he had, 
when we consider the fact that when Uncle Ladd attended a funeral he went 
alone ; but when called to officiate at a wedding the whole family went with 
him, and Old Jack's burden, like Job's, was grievous to be borne, and like one 
of olden times, he might have exclaimed : 'It is better to go to the house 
of mourning than to the house of feasting.' I have often seen Old Jack, on 
Sunday mornings, passing my father's cabin home, on his way to a wedding, 
with the whole family, consisting of Uncle Ladd, his w-ife, two .sons (David, 
who died at early manhood, and Newton, afterward a prominent lawyer in 
a western city), all perched upon his back. Pardon my digression, but as the 
old horse will be remembered by so many persons, he deserves a passing 
notice. 

"The store-keepers in the pioneer days were required to procure a license 
from the county commissioners before commencing business, and in their 
applications for their license they w-ere required to enumerate the articles 
they proposed to sell, and state the amount of capital invested in the business. 
And in compliance with the law, Thomas J. Freeman, the first merchant of 
Auburn, on March 7, 1838, applied for a license to sell foreign merchandise 
and domestic groceries, with a capital of $175; and was required to pay for 
that privilege the sum of $5 ; and his traffic in time-pieces was restricted to 
one dozen for the year. The opinions of the people have changed greatly 
since then, for at that time Mr. Freeman was permitted to sell intoxicating 
liquor without a license, but was not allowed to sell tea, coffee and sugar with- 



60 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

out a permit. Now the dealer may sell the latter without a license, but must 
pay for the privilege of engaging in the liquor traffic. 

"Then the shoemaker, following the example of the itinerant preacher, 
went from house to house with his kit of tools and made the shoes for the 
several families comprising his list of patrons. The ladies had not then ac- 
quired the habit of crowding a number four foot into a number three French 
kid shoe; but the shoes were manufactured to fit the foot and not the eye, and 
were made of substantial material, impervious to wet and cold. And equipped 
with a pair of these shoes, the pioneer's wife could walk a mile through the 
snow without being placed under the doctor's care for weeks following. But 
these pioneer customs together with the log cabin homes and log school houses 
have passed away and now live only in the fond recollections of the few old 
settlers who survive. The wilderness we then loved for its native grandeur 
has disappeared, and in its stead the cultivated fields with their waving grain, 
the beautiful homes and pleasant little towns have sprung up. 

"The winding wagon road, meandering around the swamps and creeks, 
through the woods, can no longer be traced by the oldest inhabitant. The old 
Indian trail can be no longer found, but the commodious highways permeating 
every part of the county furnish a comfortable route for every man to travel 
u]jon. Th mail carrier, with his horn and saddle-bags, bringing us the news 
of important events, at the rate of three miles per hour, has been supplanted 
by the elegantly equipped mail coach, carrying the news of the world at the 
rate of sixty miles per hour. And not contented with even that rate of speed, 
science now supplies us with the telegraph; and later with the telephone, by 
which we may converse with our friends at a distance of what was in pioneer 
days, a four days' journey." 

JOHN HOULTON's tale. 

John Houlton was the first settler of Franklin township, and accredited 
with being the first in the county. He penned a series of reminiscences in 
1859, for Mr. Widney. Houlton was a fine type of the hardy pioneer, and 
naturally was not a literateur, but his significant and poignant manner of 
stating the facts lends unusual interest to the reading of them. The following 
is a portion of his memoir: 

"Mr. Widney: Since you are writing sketches concerning the early 
settlers of the various townships of this county, for the benefit of posterity, 
I feel it a duty to add my mite ; so please have patience as I must go out of 
the bounds of the county, and also note some things that happened before any 



DEKALB COrNTY. INDIANA. 61 

settlement of DeKalb, though they are inseparably connectetl with its settle- 
ment. 

"Samuel Houlton, my oldest brother, and Isaach Hughes, went into co- 
partnership to build a saw mill in the wilderness of Fish creek in February, 
1827'. The firm hired David Williamson, John Kilgore, Francis A. Blair and 
myself to w-ork for them. They gave us axes, a little provision, and fire- 
works, and started us where Brunersburg later stood, to cut a road through 
northwest to the Indian village on the St. Joseph (the present site of Den- 
mark). We started and the firm was to follow with the team the next day. 
We cut on till dark ; and when we stopped to build a fire, behold the flint which 
I had put in my pocket to strike a fire was not to be found. We were all wet 
to our knees, and it being very cold, we all expected to perish without fire. 

A DANGEROUS PREDICAMENT. 

"The boys threatened to whip me, as they said it was my d — — d care- 
lessness for losing the flint. Said I, "The night will be dark as Egypt; we 
must make our fire or perish. Let us all hunt and if possible find a stone to 
strike fire with.' They said I w'as a fool to think of finding flint in those 
swamps. We had worked hard all day and were tired and hungry, but I well 
knew that there was not a moment to be lost ; so I started to hunt for a stone 
while they went to eating. It was growing dark rapidly. 

"I struck a small ravine, followed it and at last found a little stone near 
the ground, with no sharp edge. Feeling along awhile and finding no other, 
I went back, got the spunk, and knife, and after a few strokes, had the satis- 
faction to see it take fire; and soon we had a good blazing fire. The boys 
who cursed me and were almost ready to kill me for losing the flint, now with 
tears rolling down their cheeks, asked my pardon. Such is the instability of 
poor feeble man. 

LACK OF PROVISIONS. 

"We cut the road to the mouth of Fish creek and the team came on. 
We then went to work and made a pirogue of about two tons' burden, and, 
crossing the river, built a cabin of about twenty feet square. When our pro- 
visions began to fail, Samuel Floulton took Blair and went down the river 
in the pirogue. They started to go east of the state line on the Maumee. 
Hughes, Williamson, Kilgore and myself stayed. The boat was to be back 
in eight days. Twelve days passed and no boat appeared. It had rained 
heavily; the river rose high, the weather turned quite cold, and our provisions 
entirely failed, except a half bushel of dried peaches. 



62 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

"Williamson and Kilgore concluded to leave for the settlement. We all 
made a raft of logs for the boys to cross the river, and the next morning they 
started with empty stomachs. Hughes and I went to see them cross. They 
went aboard the raft and started across the river, the water being high and the 
slush ice running. At first the raft bore them up; but before they got across, 
they were three feet deep in the freezing water. They had flint and spunk, 
but the latter getting wet in their pockets, was of course useless. They 
scrambled up the other bank, and there they were, their clothes freezing in 
two minutes, twenty-seven miles from the settlement, without food in their 
stomachs, without any means to strike fire, and the snow four inches deep. 
I shuddered for their fate, and told them to start at a good "turkey trot," so 
as not to freeze, and not too fast, lest they should tire out before getting 
through ; and on the peril of their lives not to sit down. They got through, 
but so exhausted that Judge Perkins had to help them into his door. 

"Hughes and I stayed fourteen days after the boys left, during which 
time wc had nothing under the heaxens to eat but a few dried peaches. We 
had a gun and went out often with it, to try to kill something; but there was 
neither animal mir liird to be seen: im. not e\en so much as an Indian. On 
the morning of the fourteenth day, I told Hughes that I would make a raft 
of logs that day and leave the next morning. 1 did so. Next morning 
Hughes accompanied me to the river to see me start. We both felt sure that 
Houlton and Blair were coming up the ri\-er with the pirogue, and I was in 
great hopes to meet them in two or three hours. The river was yet high, and 
the slush ice running very thickly. 

"T got some fire and wood on the raft. Hughes loosed the cable and was 
in the act of handing it to me when lo! my brother, Samuel Houlton, called 
to us from about a hundred yards up the ri\-cr. He knew we must be starv- 
ing and came across from the Maumee with a yoke of oxen and sled. He 
tried hard to reach us the day before, but lacked five miles when darkness over- 
took him. He drove on until he could follow the road no longer and then 
struck fire and camped for the night. It was fortunate for me, indeed, that 
he came just when he did, for if I had got one hour's start, I should as surely 
have lost mv life as I now live. For there was no human habitation till within 
four miles of Fort Wavne. The slush ice would have so adhered to the raft 
as soon to render it unmanageable: so that it must have stove, and I would 
have l)een compelled to swim or drown. Had I swam out 1 must have frozen 
to death veiy soon. 

"Now, kind reader, you would think it pretlv hard fare to lia\e nothing 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 63 

to eat for fourteen days hut dried jjeaches. I tell ynu it kept body and soul 
together and that was all it did. 

"Hughes, Samuel Houlton and myself stayed about two weeks, then 
Samuel took an Indian canoe and went down the river to get his pirogue load 
of pork, flour, potatoes, corn and whiskey (for Hughes must have his dram). 
At Fort Wayne, Samuel hired a man by the name of Avery and went a little 
below where Antwerp now is, where they loaded the pirogue and returned 
without anything happening worthy of note. We four worked on some time. 
and in May got the mill ready to raise. Without any further help we went 
to putting it up, without ropes or tackle. The size was eighteen bv fort\-five 
feet. There were five swamp-oak sills, forty-five feet long. ;ind thirteen 
inches square, and two plates ten inches square: but the middle btni with the 
fender beam, fourteen inches square, was the heaviest. 

UNWELCOME visrroRS. 

"At that time there was a large In(Han \illage where Denmark now is, 
and some traders came among them with whiskey, and matle then drunk, so 
they came to rob us. We had worked hard all daw until nearly sundown, 
when we went to the house to eat supper. The Indians came yelling and 
soon filled the house. They then drew their kni\-es. bows and arrows, and 
tomahawks, stuck their hands into our supper pot, and our sujiper was gone 
in a trice. Samuel Houlton drew a large poker, and was about to strike 
when Avery exclaimed, 'Don't strike, Sam, or they will kill us all!" Hughes 
also told him not strike, but let them take what the)- wanted, and he would go 
to the Indian agent at Fort W'ayne and make tlicm pay for it. They then acted 
as true lords of the soil. 

'They poured out their whiskey into their camj) kettles, knocked in the 
head of a flour barrel, and also of a pork liarrel, and in fifteen minutes flour, 
pork and whiskey were gone. They crossed the creek about twelve rods off, 
and camped for the night. While they were making their fires and drinking 
the whiskey, we rolled out our last barrel of flour and hid it in a brush heap. 
We had also about thirty pounds of pork up in the chamber, they did not 
get, and that was all that saved us from starvation. The tw o lumdred Indians 
fought and screamed all night. A better .sam])le of the infernal regions never 
could be gotten up in this world. 

"As soon as we had secured our barrel of flour, we next resolved that 
when they had generally got drunk, wc would alight on them with' a vengeance, 
and kill the last one of them. So we loaded our four giiu"- w ith slugs and then 



64 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

got two tomahawks and two hand-axes, and waited until they would become 
more drunk. In this, however, we were disappointed. They did not seem 
to get more intoxicated. After drinking twenty gallons of whiskey, eating 
two hundred and thirty pounds of pork, and using up two hundred and fifty 
pounds of flour, with several bushels of potatoes, they started off about eight 
in the morning, well satisfied with what they had done. 

"We made application to the Indian agent at Fort Wayne, but never got 
any compensation for the articles taken. Every time I think of Indian 
tragedy, I feel thankful that we were pre\-ented from imbruing our hands in 
their life blood. It was the traders, with their whiskey, that made all this 
trouble. 

"Whiskey, whiskey, bane of life, — 

Spring of tumult, — source of strife; — 

Could I but half thy curses tell. 

The wise would wish thee safe in hell. 

TRIP TO THE PRAIRIES. 

"I will now give you the narrative of a danger that I and three others 
passed through. The escape was almost miraculous ; and do not forget that 
all this has something to do with the settlement of DeKalb county. 

"In the summer of 1831, Samuel Holton sent me and the widow Fee sent 
her son, John Fee, with me, out to the prairies with two yoke of oxen and a 
large Pennsylvania wagon, to buy a load of provisions. They let Aloses Fee, 
a boy seven or eight years old, go with us. Before this Sarah and Cynthia 
Fee were working on the prairies to help support the family, and the old lady 
sent word for the girls to come home. So we went out and got our load 
ready to return, when John Fee got a good chance to work awhile, and ac- 
cordingly stayed, leaving me and the girls and the little boy to get home 
through the woods and swamps with the team and wagon as best we could. 

"We were three days and a half getting home, miring down several times 
on the way. The road being narrow and very crooked, I got fast frequently 
against the trees, and finally told the girls that one of them would have to 
drive the forward cattle, so Sarah came and dro\e the team. As we were 
thus driving along, we came to a dead cherry tree, that had partly fallen and 
lodged on another tree. The wagon ran over one of the large roots of this 
dead tree, and it broke suddenly about fifty feet from the root. The top part 
fell back on the wagon within about six inches of the heads of Cynthia and 
the bov. smashing the boy's hand severely. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 65 

"The body of the tree fell along the road in the direction in which we 
were driving. By suddenly throwing myself back, I got barely out of its way, 
and having screamed to Sarah when I first saw it coming, to run for life, she 
ran with all her speed, the top of the broken tree just brushing her head and 
clothes. Cynthia Fee later married William Bender. I married Sarah, the 
girl that drove the oxen and outran the falling tree, on the 5th of February, 
1833- 

"In September of the same year, I took three hired men, a yoke of oxen, 
a cross cut saw and fro, and came on to forty acres I had entered, and in four 
days, we four cut the logs for, and raised and covered the house where I yet 
live in Franklin township, DeKalb county. I also hauled out and buried 
twenty bushels of potatoes on my land, and left them until we moved on, 
about a month later, and though the Indians were thick around, my potatoes 
were not disturbed — proving that they were more honest than some of their 
white brethren. 

"And now I want to show how the Hughes and Houlton mill, though in 
Williams county, Ohio, had a bearing on the settlement of DeKalb county. 
When the mill had been in operation some years, the people had begun to 
settle on the St. Joseph, and would come and get lumber, often on credit, to 
build with, and thus the mill aided greatly the settlement of this county, 
though a few miles over the county and state line. 

JOHN fee's track. 

"In 1834 John Fee entered the large and excellent farm of 500 or 600 
acres on which he later lived, and which lies on each side of the line between 
Steuben and DeKalb counties. Indulge me in telling an anecdote of him. 
He had been out to the prairies for grain, and froze his feet badly, so that for 
a long time he could not wear boots or shoes. So he got the Indians to make 
him a very large pair of moccasins which he wore. One day, after his feet 
got better, he went out hunting, and after sauntering through the woods 
awhile, he crossed the largest moccasin track he ever saw. He looked with 
astonishment at the monster track, and said to himself : 'What an almighty 

big Indian has been along here ! It's the d dest big Indian that has ever 

been in these woods.' About the time that his astonishment and curiosity 
got to its highest, he chanced to look behind him, and lo! it zvas his own track! 
(n) 



<56 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 



INCIDENTS OF HUMOR. 

"We had a large fireplace in one end of our cabin and the main thing 
for us in the winter was to get in a big, back log every evening to last all 
night and the next day, and then make a big fire. After the rest of the folks 
had gone to bed I would stay up and parch about a peck of corn in the big 
skillet for the next day. I could live on it, honey and jerked venison, and 
call it 'high life' in America. A hunter can live longer on parched corn without 
water than anything else. Sometimes when parching corn or baking Johnny- 
cakes, on a smooth clapboard, I would play Daniel Boone and imagine myself 
camped out in the woods by a l)ig fire, and living on roasted corn. We moved 
to this country in a covered wagon, and camped out, and then is when I first 
fell in love with camping out and running wild ; and it is hard for me now to 
go back on my first love and keep from following off every covered wagon 
that comes along. 

"We had a newcomer who had moved so often that he declared that 
whenever a covered wagon drove up or passed his cabin his chickens would 
fall in line, march over the fence, lay down and cross their legs ready to be 
tied, thinking that they were going to move again. 

"At night, after we had gone to bed, the ground squirrels would come up 
through the puncheon floor, and it was fun to see them play hide and go-seek, 
blindman's buff, or whatever their innocent games are in their language. 
They were so plentiful that we had to watch our corn patch when it was first 
planted, or they would dig it all up and eat it. 

"One night I woke up and saw something lying on the floor by the 
fire that looked very bright and glistening. I thought perhaps I was dream- 
ing about Aladdin and the wonderful lamp, or Cinderella and the glass 
slipper, but come to look closer it was a huge rattlesnake that had come up 
through the floor to warm himself. The gun stood within reach and was al- 
ways loaded, and I drew a bead on him, fired, and shot his head off. A gun 
shot off in a room makes an awful noise, and it scared the rest of the folks 
almost to death. Father wanted to know what in the world was the matter, 
and I told him that I had killed a boa constrictor, or an anaconda, and that I 
had saved the whole family. The snake was very fat, and we saved the oil 
for rheumatism and weak back, and always found it a sure cure. 

"One day Tom and George Hollenback, father and myself were out 
hunting, and the dogs made a big fuss in the thicket, and we rushed in to see 
what was the matter, and found that they had come across the den of young 



DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 67 

wolves and the old one was not at home. There were si.x of tlieni, about a 
quarter grown, but very active and ferocious : and we had hard work to catch 
them, as they had such a careless way of feeling around for a fellow's fingers 
and would snap at you like a steel trap. At last we got a forked stick and 
held their necks down while we tied them. One of the boys had a big pocket 
in his coat, and concluded to carry one in it. We got ready and started home 
with our menagerie, when all at once the wolf in the pocket grabbed the boy 
by the hind part of his leg and held on like grim death. The poor fellow ran 
around and howled. We tried to break the animal's hold, but it would not let 
go. We could not beat or choke it ofif, and we had to cut its head off. 

"That made the boys so mad that they killed all the wolves but one, 
which I took home and tied by a chain to a stake in the yard. In five min- 
utes he could dig a hole in the sand big enough to hide himself, and then he 
would lay with his nose sticking out and let on that he was asleep; and the 
chickens would come around to investigate the subject, and woe unto the 
chickens that came within the length of his chain. He could figure on it to 
an inch ; and then when they got within reach he went for them like lightning, 
and would gobble them up, pick them and eat them before >'ou could say, 
'Jack Robinson.' 

"One morning he came up missing. He was out and gone, chain and all. 
I did not care anything about him, as he had eaten most all of our chickens, 
except an old setting hen that he did not relish ; but I did not like to lose my 
chain. In the fall, while out hunting in the woods, and the wind was blowing 
very hard, I heard a rattling noise like a horse-fiddle and went to see what it 
was ; and lo and behold, there was my chain hanging to the limb of a tree with 
a bunch of bones to it and the wind was making music on them. It was the 
remains of my wolf; but I could ne\er tell if it was a case of intentional 
suicide or he had got fast and hung himself accidentally. As he was already 
dead, I cut him down, took my chain, and left him for the wild winds to 
mourn his requiem. 

A SEARCHING PARTY. 

"It was in the spring, the time to plow for corn, and in the dark of the 
moon, when you could not see your nose before you. One evening some of the 
neighbor boys saw a big black bear going north. They came down with dogs 
to stay all night with me. and get an early start in the morning after the bear. 
We had camped out on the floor, and in the night we heard a rattle at our 
clapboard door, and I asked, 'Who goes there?' An answer, in a musical 
voice, said, 'Mingo.' On opening the door in stepped an Indian boy well 



68 DEKAI.B COUNTY. INDIANA. 

known to us. He said that a little girl seven or eight years old, who belonged 
to Mr. Tobby, living about eight miles north of us, had gotten lost in the 
morning, and that they had hunted for her all day and had not found her; 
and that they wanted us to go over and help hunt for her. 

"I told the boys that was our best hold and that vv'e would let the bear 
go until we had found the little girl. We got up long before day and made 
our breakfast off of a wild goose and a sand-hill crane, that we had killed the 
day before, and barbecued them by the fire. We were off earlv on a trail, 
and arrived at Tobby's about nine o'clock in the morning; and oh, such a sight. 
There was the mother crying and weeping, nearly heart-broken, and calling 
for Mary, the lost child. 

"There were two or three women with her, trying to console her. The 
men were all out looking for Mary, and nothing had been heard from the 
child up to this time, one day and one night out. They had an old-fashioned 
dinner horn four or five feet long and as big as a saucer at the lower end, and 
it could be heard for miles. It was understood that when anyone brought in 
any news or found the child the horn should be sounded. It appears that on 
the morning that little Mary was lost her father was plowing a piece of 
ground for corn, and she started to go to him, but never reached him ; and 
that Obbenobbe, an old Indian from the Tippecanoe, and Mingo, his grand- 
son, had come over to Mr. Tobby's, and while he went out to hunt for the 
child sent Mingo over after us. 

"Just then Obbenobbe came in with a little piece of yellow calico that 
he said he had found on a bush about three miles east of there. Mrs. Tobby 
said at once that it was a piece of the dress that Mary had worn, and it had 
been torn off by the bush. That gave her some hopes; but the terrible 
thought was whether she was alive or not. The country was then full of 
wolves and the chances were against her, but we hoped and hoped ever. We 
then made the woods and prairies ring with the old horn, and then we agreed 
that not a gun should be fired until Mary was found, dead or alive, and 
broke for the place where Obbenobbe had found the piece of her dress. We 
made good time and soon reached the spot, and began to look for more signs. 
After looking around for a long time we found her little footprints in the 
sand and also in the mud, going from home. She was barefooted and from 
that day to this I have never forgotten those little tracks in the sand and mud. 
We hunted all day and found no other trace and our hearts began to sink. 
We were tired and hungry, having had nothing to eat all day. We could have 
killed deer, but had resolved not to fire our guns off. ^^'e had a large grey- 
hound that could catch a deer any time and two coon dogs. As night was 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 69 

coming on we prepared to camp, ^^'hile we were fixing our camp two dogs 
barked up a hollow tree and we supposed there was a coon in it. We made 
an Indian ladder and Obbenobbe climbed up and put some fire in the tree 
and came down. As the tree was dry it soon began to burn, and made a 
bright light from the top. 

"At last two coons rolled out, pretty well singed. We killed and skinned 
them and were getting ready to roast them. It was not dark yet and we 
heard a noise, and looking up we found that something had scared two deer, 
and they came running right to camp. We put the dogs after them and a 
short distance from us was the creek. In jumping in, one of the deer fell back 
in the creek ; in a minute the dogs were on him, and we ran in and pulled him 
out and killed him, and in fifteen minutes from the time we first drew blood 
everyone of us had a piece of the meat on a stick and roasting it, and such a 
feast we did have. The body wanted more food than the soul did. and for the 
time being we forgot our troubles. 

"Night came on and a dark one it was and the wolves were howling 
around us. The worst of all, it began to rain, and our only thought was, 
'Where was Mary Tobby?' We had listened all day for the big horn or the 
report of a gun, but all in vain. Remember, my dear friends, that this is a 
true story. Remember, too, that this was the second day and second night 
that she was lost, and how could the heroine live so long among the wolves 
with nothing to eat and nothing to protect her from the weather but a little 
calico dress. We did not sleep much that night, and were up early and started 
on our search. We hunted all day up and down, backward and forward, as 
the grasses and bushes were very thick, calling and listening, but all in vain. 
"At last, about three o'clock, we gave it up and hope died within us, and 
we turned out faces homeward with heavy hearts. There is something in 
man called the dormant or latent powers or energies. For instance, I had 
been hunting all day and was returning tired and weary, hardly able to lift 
one foot before the other, and game would start up before me, and I could run 
for hours and forget that I was tired. Now hold your breath. We had given 
up and started for home, and away off north of us we heard a gun's discharge. 
So then our dormant powers and hope went up. and we all broke and ran, 
and reaching the edge of a prairie we saw a man on horseback in his shirt 
sleeves with something wrapped up in his coat Ijefore him. It was Bridge 
Ward, and he had found Marv- Tobby in this way: He, too had given up 
and started home in despair. As he was riding along he saw a grove nortli of 
him, in the bend of the creek, and somthing told him or influenced him to take 
a last look there. He turned his hnrse to tlie riglit and through the grove, and 



/O DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

then on the edge of the creek, and there he found Mary Tobbv, who had lain 
down for her last sleep ; but thank God, she was still alive. 

"Her little feet, limbs and hands were all torn and bleeding from the 
briars and grass, and her golden hair was all matted together. He picked her 
up gently and wrapped her in his coat and started for home. But how had 
she lived and escaped so long- from wild animals ? Although Obbenobbe was 
the oldest, he was still the best runner, and we started him on the wings of 
wind to carry the glorious news to Mary's home, that she was found and still 
alive. It was not long before we heard the guns firing and the horn blowing, 
as the rest of them had all given up and retired to the house. As Mary was 
weak we had to go slow, and as we neared the house they all came out to 
meet us, and the mother was frantic with joy. I thought she would kill the 
child by hugging and kissing it. Mary was very weak, but after careful 
nursing soon got strong again, grew to womanhood, married and raised a 
family. 

BEAR HUNT RESUMED. 

"Now for the bear. After going north, we turned east, and killed a 
couple of hogs in the neighborhood of Brunks and then turned northwest and 
killed a calf near Stephen Jons's, the bee hunter. We sounded the tocsin, 
called in our forces, and with the Forrence and Hollenback boys, started on 
the warpath, resolved to do or die for the rising generation. We were pro- 
vided with guns and five dogs, including the big greyhound given to my 
father by Samuel Matlock, of Lancaster, Ohio, which money could not buy. 
•We soon got on the bear's track, crossing the sand ridges and soft places in the 
prairie. He was a smasher, and made a track more like the human family 
than any animal we had ever seen. We were almost led to believe in Darwin, 
who teaches that man came up from the lower orders of animals, and this 
bear's track did look as if he might be a connecting link between man and the 
monkey. The bear had a kind of elephant trot and traveletl fast. The dogs 
would run way ahead of him for miles and then come back pretty well 
'chawed up.' They at last became frightened and would not follow him. The 
greyhound was game and wanted to pitch in, but we kept him back, as we did 
not want him to get hurt. Several times we got sight of the old fellow cross- 
ing the prairie, from one side ridge to another. He made good time and we 
had hard work to keep anywhere near him. 



DEKALB COUNTY, 



A DIVERSION. 



"While crossing a ridge we saw a deer coming right toward us, with 
tongue out and very tired. One of the boys was going to shoot, but I told him 
to hold on as there was something the matter with it. We kept the dogs in 
and it came right up to us. Just then five or six big grey wolves, and a big 
black one, the only one we ever saw, came running after it. We opened 
fire on them and killed the black and one grey one, and wounded another, 
which got away with the rest. As we had heard that a black wolf skin was 
very valuable, we skinned them. While doing so we heard a noise, and 
looking around, saw an old she-wolf and four young ones coming in on the 
home stretch, to be at the death and feast of the deer. We fired at them, but 
without efifect, and they ran one way and the deer another without saying 
good-bye. 

"We hung up the wolf skins in a safe place and followed up bruin, who 
had gotten the start of us and had come across bees in an old hollow tree and 
tore the honey out ; he had made a mess of it, but had left enough for us. 
Bears are great for honey or anything sweet, and do not mind the sting of 
bees more than we would a mosquito bite. Along toward night his tracks 
became most too fresh, and we were afraid; so we concluded to camp on his 
track. While preparing to camp a couple of the boys went out to get some 
game for supper, and in about an hour came in with a fine, fat buck, from 
which we had a feast. W'e sat by the camp fire and ate roasted ribs and 
broiled venison, and thought how the old fellows who dressed in purple and 
fine linen and fared sumptuously every day, but had lost their appetite and 
digestive powers and got the gout and dyspepsia, would give a million if they 
could eat just such a meal as we did. There are some who live only to eat, 
but in those days we ate to live and keep soul and body together and were 
happy. I long for those days again. The night was dark and we made two 
big fires, one on each side of us, as we had heard that wild animals would not 
go through fire for a meal of victuals. Several times we were badly fright- 
ened in the night and even our dogs were afraid. We kept out a picket guard, 
but it was hard to get anyone to leave the fire \ery far, as we were afraid that 
the bear would make a raid and gobble us up before we could say our jirayers. 

"The morning came and found us with our scalps all right, and we 
were soon off on the trail. He had turned east and gone north of Fletcher's 
Lake, and by Mud Lake, and then west near the Indian camp, where Obbe- 
nobbe and Mingo were. Through the day we found where he had made a 



"^2 DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. 

meal off a dead or wounded deer, as bear cannot catch a sound deer. As it 
was nearly night we concluded to stay with the Indians, and they agreed to 
go with us in the morning. After a good night's sleep w-e were off early, 
with Indians, guns, and a new supply of dogs, and with their aid soon found 
the trail. After following him until almost noon we saw him go into a sw'amp 
filled with thick elbow brush. The Indians said he would make his last fight 
there. We prepared to give battle, surrounded the swamp, and then sent the 
dogs in. 

"One of the Indians who had a rifle that carried an ounce ball got sight 
of him, fired, and broke one of his fore legs and that brought him to bay. 
He stood up on his hind legs and looked like a big gorilla, and I 
almost thought that Darwin was right. We all closed in on him, but could 
not fire for fear of killing the dogs, they were so close around him. After he 
had killed or wounded four or five dogs the greyhound broke loose and went 
in. The bear grabbed him w ith his well fore leg and was about to crush and 
kill him when Obbenobbe rushed in with a big knife and struck the bear 
ander the shoulder, and that settled his case. He let the dog go and gave up 
the ghost. 

"The Indians said he was the largest they had seen fur many years. 
They supposed that he was a wanderer from the far north on an exploring 
expedition. We skinned him and gave the hide to Obbenobbe, as it was he 
who struck the fatal blow, and saved my father's dog. He was not very fat, 
and tasted like a mixture of coon, pork, shad and codfish. \\^e took a scout 
around and got our wolf skins and returned home well satisfied with our 
bear hunt, which was the last and only one in my life." 

PIONEER SOCIETY. 

In those pioneer days when settlements were far apart and neighbors 
distant, acquaintance was widespread and neighborly offices cheerfully Iiestow- 
ed. The latch-string was always hung out and the rough cabin could always 
accommodate the stray traveler and the family of a settler moving to his 
entry. The pioneer was prompt to help in peril or need, and none so heartily 
enjoyed a good joke as he. While the settlers, like Isaac B. Smith and We.sley 
Park, kept emigrants' hotel, and the right hand of fellowship was extended 
to all, vet the regulators were not slow to punish the thief and blackleg who 
found their wav into the communit\-. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 73 



MILLS AND MILL TRIPS. 



Prominent in the history of early settlement appears the erection of 
mills and the trials of their patrons. Mill builders were recognized as men of 
prominence, and first roads were cut to the mills which were scarce and dis- 
tant. Primarily, the pioneers were compelled to use the family hand mill. In 
brief, this was a three foot piece of log from a beech or a maple, hollowed 
from one end by chisel and augur, in form of a cone. This hollow made 
smooth and hard by a fire of coals kindled therein, is scraped clean and the 
mortar prepared. A stick, wrist thick, split at one end, holding an iron 
wedge, with edge to the slit, and kept in place by an iron ring, is the pestle. 
Corn is placed in the mortar and beaten by the pestle. The finest sifted is 
corn meal ; the balance, minus the bran, is hominy. 

Amos Stearns, a settler in Troy township, went thirty miles to the Union 
mills in Lagrange county, and there are those whose experience exceeded this 
distance. On Fish creek, a stream second to Cedar in the county, were built 
several grist mills, one by A. S. Casebeer; another higher up by Samuel Kep- 
ler. In time water mills at Orangeville and Spencerville, and later steam 
mills at Auburn, Butler and Waterloo and other points have so improved upon 
the olden times that a single instance of many, of hard times, in going to mill. 
will show a truth stranger than fiction. 

PUBLIC LANDS. 

The lands of which DeKalb county was formed w^ere regularly surveyed 
at national expense into townships six miles square. The office for the sale of 
lands was located at Fort Wayne, and purchasers obtained their title direct 
from the general government. Much of the land was taken up by speculators, 
and this, for some years, operated to delay actual settlement. As a measure 
of justice a system of taxation was adopted by the early settlers which com- 
pelled a sale of land to actual settlers and a clearing o-f the dense forest and a 
utilization of the fertile soil. 

LAND HUNTINO. 

Isaac B. Smith ranged the woods of Smithfield township to find vacant 
land for a home. Three times he had made a selection and gone afoot to 
Fort Wayne, about thirty-two miles distant, and there found his pieces en- 
tered. A fourth time he reached the land ofiice only to be disappointed. 



74 DEKAI.B COUNTY. INDIANA. 

\\'eary and nearly despairing, he made another fruitless journev to an entry 
which he found to be in a swamp, boot-deep in water. Returning to Fort 
Wayne, he secured as a witness to the unfitness of the entry for settlement, 
Wilber Powell, with whom he traced the lines of the quarter section. A sixth 
time at the land office he secured a new plat of the township, and with two 
others had just found a good tract, when they met three other men on the 
same quest. A race ensued between the parties. Thirty miles were traveled 
on a trot, and reaching the office. Smith's party found their pieces entered, 
but enjoyed the satisfaction of knowing that their competitors, who arrived 
an hour later, had raced in vain. Assisted by Wesley Park, Smith at last 
found vacant land, and hastened to Fort Wayne finally, after eight journeys, 
and secured his future home. 



In the summer or fall of 1841 a dark, swift-moving, wildly-confused 
mass of clouds sped over the country. The wind accompanying demolished 
houses, scattered fences like feathers, and le\eled the forests, rushing forward 
with demoniac fury, laying devastation in its course. Limbs of trees dark- 
ened the air; the timber fell with a continual roar, and lied clothing from 
Henry Brown's house was carried two miles. The pathway of this tornado 
was a half mile wide and three miles long, and passed mostly along the road 
from Auburn to Spencerville. 

HYDROPHOBIA. 

During 1838 hydrophobia alarmingly prevailed, and cattle, hogs and 
even wild foxes "went mad." In this connection it is related that Daniel 
Coats, of Wilmington, was attacked by a rabid fox while passing through the 
woods and succeeded, after a well-contested race, in securing a club and slay- 
ing his pursuer. A drop of blood from the head of the fox alighting on 
Coats' cheek burned like fire. Such is the power of imagination, and the in- 
terest of the old tales that enlivened the pioneer firesides. 

PT0NEi:i< FARK. 

Food in the early day was neither abundant nor of high (piality. Appe- 
tite controlled and made edible a fare which, in these days would seem im- 
possible. The families of Daniel Altenburg and W'alsworth, while en route 
to Auburn, regaled themselves for a breakfast in the new count>- upon the 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 75 

flesh of a raccoon whicli they liad cau.t^ht on the previous day. Wesley Park 
and Joseph ]\Iiller, passing a rainy night in the woods of Butler township, 
made a meal upon "new milk fresh from the cow," and the pioneers of that 
locality in 1834 ate heartily of "coon steak" prepared by their cook, Charley 
Crouse. not even John Surface being excepted since he, ini])elled by hunger, 
finished what the others had left over after breakfast. 

MOUND BUILDERS. 

The presence, in the valleys of the Ohio and Mississippi, of numerous 
earthen tumuli — the memorials of an age long past — indicates the existence 
of a pre-historic race. There are claimed to i^e several moimds in this county, 
but the facts have not been learned, yet the presence of stont axes, flint arrow- 
heads, spear-points and other mementoes of this singular people, prove that at 
least they were accustomed to traverse this section. 



The lands of which DeKalb county forms a part originally belonged to 
the Pottawatomies, whose title was procured by treaties made with them from 
time to time by officers of the United States government. The energetic 
Jesuit came among them towards the commencement of the eighteenth cen- 
tury, and found plastic material. The Pottawatomies of Northern Indiana 
numbered about four thousand. The Catholic priest who first came among 
them paid the price for his temerity with his life, but when finally converted, 
these Indians became firm Christians. In compliance with an order from the 
general government, the tribe was removed to the Indian territory beyond the 
Mississippi. With a grief akin to despair they took their melancholy journey 
and many deaths along the route pr()\ed their Io\e of the home of their 
fathers. By 1840 most had departed, and sa\e a few who lingered, their 
lands were left to the incoming whites. 

AN EXPENSIVE 'cOON. 

In an early day 'coon hunts were numerous, but later, after the lands of 
the county were all under priwUe ownership, it was sometimes a hazardous 
pastime. /\ crowd of young fellows near New\'ille in 1876 engaged in one of 
these 'coon hunts. They "treed" an animal in a dry oak tree on the premises 
of Dr. Emanuel, and, in customarv fashion, cut down the tree. The doctor 



yt DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

immediately entered suit in the circuit court for satisfaction and damages. 
The defendants compromised during the trial by the payment of seventy-five 
dollars in the way of costs, lawyers' fees and damages. 

FOX HUNTS. 

In the early part of 1875 for hunts became the vogue, and many were 
organized among the citizens of the county. Marshals and other field ofiicers 
were chosen, hunters were detailed on the dififerent lines prescribed, no fire 
arms were allowed, and all dogs were loosed at the appointed time. One of 
the first hunts was held at Corunna on Saturday, January 23. 1875, and six 
foxes were caught. An immense crowd was present. February 6th, follow- 
ing, another hunt was held in Richland and Fairfield townships. Only three 
foxes were caught, but a number escaped from the lines. The trophies were 
sold at auction, and the proceeds given to the poor. 

THE LAST BEAR. 

As late as October, 1874, a bear was killed in Richland township. The 
following account is from the Waterloo Press of October 29, 1874: "On 
Sunday last a black bear was seen coming out of the Baughman marshes, 
southeast of town. It was fired upon by several parties, but none of them 
seem to have injured it. Monday morning early large parties of men, with 
dogs and guns, turned out to hunt the game. The animal was followed to the 
swamps south of Sedan, where the dogs brought it to bay, and it was shot to 
death by Messrs. Charles Rempis, James Booth and others." 



CHAPTER IV. 



ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT OF COUNTY. 



ORGANIZATION. 

In the winter of 1836-7 the act was passed by the Legislature organizing 
DeKalb county and immediately a strenuous competition began for the loca- 
tion of the county seat. The legislative act named the boundaries of the 
county as follows : "Beginning at the southwest corner of township 33 north 
of range 12 east, thence east to the east line of the state, thence north with 
the state line dividing townships 35 and 36, hence west to the line dividing 
ranges 11 and 12, thence south to the place of beginning." The county was 
named DeKalb in honor of Baron DeKalb, a German noble, who espoused the 
cause of colonial independence, joined the American army, and was commis- 
sioned a general. He fell at the battle of Camden, fought near Sanders creek. 
South Carolina, on August 6, 1780. 

DeKalb county is a part of the thirteenth congressional district. In the 
state Legislature DeKalb and Steuben counties constitute the tenth judicial 
district. The length of DeKalb county from east to west is twenty and one- 
half miles, comprising an area of three thousand six hundred and ninety 
acres. The length from north to south is eighteen miles. When organized 
the county had a population of nearly one thousand. 

LOCATION OF COUNTY SEAT. 

As mentioned before, the competition for the location of a county seat 
grew very strong. Messrs. Rogers and Hamilton, on one side, and Park and 
Howe, on the other, were the contending forces. The former bought up land, 
laid out a town plat, staked off lots and named the site Centerville. The site 
laid out by Park and Howe was on the west bank of Cedar creek, two miles 
south and three miles west of the center of the new county. This location 
seemed to carry the most favor, and when Littlefield, of Lagrange, Gilmore, 
of Steuben, and Robert Work, of Allen, were appointed commissioners to 



70 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

select the site of the new county seat. Auburn was promptly chosen. Center- 
\ille passed to her death after the defeat. 

FIRST ELECTION. 

The first election in DeKalb county was held in July, 1837'. The river 
settlers voted at the home of Washington Robinson, at Vienna, or later called 
Newville. Three county commissioners, two associate judges, and a clerk 
and a recorder were to be elected. A bit of humor came to the surface when 
the ballots were being counted out. One \oter, evidently of poetic propensi- 
ties, had cast his ballot thusly : 

"For Commissioners 

I'll tell you,sirs; 

The old Major— 

Or Johnny Blair ; 

William Roger 

And Peter Fair. 

For Clerk and Recorder, too, 

John F. Coburn, sure, will do ; 

Arial Waldon for a judge. 

And James Bowman for a drudge." 

FIRST commissioners' MEETINGS. 

On July 25, 1837, the first meeting of the board of commissioners of 
DeKalb county, consisting of Peter Fair and Samuel Widney, was held at 
the house of Wesley Park at Auburn. The meetings were held at this place 
for several years afterward. The first oflficial step of the board was to ap- 
point Wesley Park clerk pro tern, also county treasurer for a year. Byron 
Bunnel was selected as county agent; John Blair was made assessor: and 
Lanslot Ingman was named collector of taxes. The first legislative act was 
then executed, naming the boundaries of Franklin township, as follows: 
"Commencing at the northeast comer of said county (DeKalb) ; thence west 
to the corners of ranges 13 and 14 east, townships 35 and 36 north; then 
south six miles to township 34 north, ranges 13 and 14 east; thence east on 
the town line to the east line of the said county; thence north to the place 
of beginning: the above shall constitute the first township in DeKalb county." 
Provision was made for organizing the township by an election to be held the 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 79 

first Monday in August following, and Peter Boyer was appointed inspector 
of elections, Isaac T. Aldrich, constable, and John Holton, supervisor. 

The office of judge was a singular one. Some of the judges of the day 
could not carry on court unless they had, at stated intervals, a little dram of 
whiskey. The drudge acted as an accommodation : he kept the judge sup- 
plied with the spirits. Samuel Widney, Peter Fair and Isaac F. Beecher 
were elected county commissioners ; Arial Waldon and Thomas L. Yates, 
judges of the court; and John F. Coburn, clerk and recorder. John P. 
Widney carried the returns of the election to Auburn, as the cabins of Wes- 
ley Park and others were called. The journey was made on foot, following 
an old Indian trail, as there was no road. En route all the swamps were 
waded. Thomas L. Yates, one of the judges elected, was a very peculiar 
character. He wore a coarse huntin'-shirt and fox-skin cap when he took 
his seat on the bench, but for all his eccentricities, made an excellent judge. 

The "second session but first regular" was held at the same place, Sep- 
tember 4, 1837. A full board was present, including Peter Fair, Samuel 
Widney and Isaac F. Beecher. John F. Coburn was clerk and Wesley Park 
sherifif. "Being detained by unavoidable circumstances from transacting 
business," they adjourned until the next day. On reassembling Samuel Eak- 
right was chosen road commissioner for the county: after which an order 
was passed "that the congressional township 34 north, range 13 east, be or- 
ganized as a township for judicial purposes, to be known as the name of 
Union township, and that townships 34 and 35 north, range 12 east, and 
townships 33 and 35 north, range 13 east, be attached thereto." It was also 
"ordered that Wesley Park be appointed supervisor for the road district No. 
I, comprising the whole of Union township, and all the lands lying within 
said township are allotted to said district." 

Further, it was "ordered that the congressional township 34 north, 
range 14 east, be, and it is hereby organized as a civil township, to be known 
by the name of Wilmington township." Byron Bunnel was appointed super- 
visor. 

And again it was "ordered that the congressional township 33 north, 
range 12 east, be, and it is hereby organized as a civil township, to be known 
by the name of Butler township." Andrew Surface was appointed supen^isor. 

It was at this meeting that money was first appropriated for current ex- 
penses of the county. The first order drawn was for $50.84, in favor of 
Wesley Park, and was to pay for these items: $8.00 for services as sheriff 
previous to the first session of the board, and as clerk during that session; 
$16.69 for services as commissioner in laying out the Fort Wayne and Cold- 



80 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

water state road, and $26.15 for services as commissioner in laying out the 
Goshen and Deliance state road. Wesley McCan was allowed $2.96 for 
services as axman in laying out the road : Martin Van Fleet, $2.96 for acting 
as chairman at the same time; Lanslot Ingman, 31^4 cents for similar work; 
William Park, t,i]4 cents as chainm.an, and $4.75 for laying out the Goshen 
and Defiance state road; Seth W. Murray, $7.23 for service as commissioner in 
laying out the Fort Wa3'ne and Coldwater state road; and Joseph Miller, 
$26.2 1 J/2 for surveying both the above mentioned roads. Joseph Miller was 
appointed the first county surveyor. 

The only other business transacted at this first regular meeting was the 
allowance of the commissioners per diem, an item which comes up as regu- 
larly as the board meetings, several times each year. While the present sys- 
tem seems to cost quite a sum in the course of a year, it nevertheless is much 
less expensive than that in practice in Michigan, Illinois and other states, 
where, instead of three commissioners, there are from fifteen to twenty-five 
supervisors to draw mileage and pay. 

The second regular session of the board was held in November, and. the 
governmental machinery of the county being now fairly set in motion, was 
pretty much like the sessions that have since been held at the appointed times 
for the transactions of routine business. At this second meeting Wesley Park 
was appointed school commissioner for the county. 

At the January session, 1838, Jackson township was erected out of 
township T,;^ north, range 13 east, and John Watson was named as inspector 
of elections. An unique scale of licenses was adopted, fixing a tavern license 
at $20.00; each license to vend wooden clocks, $60; each license to exhibit a 
caravan, menagerie or other collection of animals, or show of wax figures or 
circus for each day, $40. The license of $60 for selling wooden clocks seems 
strangely large to us, who can go to any jewelry store and buy a clock for a 
dollar and a half, as far superior in value as inferior in price to the sort dis- 
tributed by the shrewd Yankee peddler of three-quarters of a century ago. 

During the latter part of 1837 DeKalb county was organized, including 
the present township of Concord, and the fractional townships of Stafford 
and Newville. In March, 1838, the fractional township 34 north, range 15 
east (now Stafford), was detached from DeKalb and annexed to Wilming- 
ton for civil purposes, and the name of DeKalb was changed to Concord. 

In those days nearly all business men were obliged to pay licenses of 
various amounts, in addition to their ordinary taxes. Grocers, even, were 
laid under contribution, for March 7, 1838, in the commissioners' record an 
order was entered that the tax assessed to Thomas J. Freeman, for a license 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. SI 

to vend foreign merchandise and foreign and domestic groceries for the cur- 
rent year be 85 cents, it appearing that the amount of his capital employed 
therein is $170. 

Wesley Park, resigning the office of school commissioner, Robert Work 
was appointed his successor. 

At the May session, 1838, the amount of bond for each constable in the 
county was fixed at five hundred dollars. The sum of two thousand dollars 
was also appropriated from the three per cent, fund for roads, as follows : 
Eight hundred dollars for the Goshen and Defiance state road ; eight hundred 
dollars for the Fort Wayne and Coldwater state road; and four hundred 
dollars for the state road on the northwest side of the St. Joseph river. 
Several bridges were also ordered built. At the same session the commis- 
sioners fixed the poll tax for 1838 at seventy-five cents, and the property tax 
at a dollar thirty-five on each one hundred dollar valuation. Of this one 
dollar and thirty-five cents, eighty-five cents was for county revenue, and 
fifty cents for road purposes. 

COUNTY JAIL. 

Byron Bunnel, county agent, on May 9, 1838, was authorized by the 
commissioners to contract for the building of a jail at Auburn, if he could 
sell enough of the county lots, which had been deeded to the county by 
Wesley Park, to pay for the work. The following is the plan of the pro- 
posed jail : "Said jail to consist of one ground room, sixteen feet square in- 
side of the walls. The upper soil where the jail stands shall be removed and 
three sticks of timber one foot square and twenty feet long shall be bedded 
ten inches into the ground, twenty feet apart from the outside of the two 
extremes, upon which a floor shall be laid of timber, a foot thick and eight 
to sixteen inches wide, making a floor twenty feet square, upon which said 
jail shall be built of double walls on each side two feet thick. The inside 
wall shall be eight feet high between floors." The jail was to have a shingle 
roof and be lighted by one four-light window of eight by ten glass. It was 
to be secured by iron grates of inch-square bars running at right angles, 
three inches apart. 

Bunnel proceeded to erect a jail, but he did not please the board by his 

methods. He was accused of selling the town lots at too low prices, and 

contracting debts before having the money to settle them. So, in March. 

1839, he was summarilv dismissed, and Thomas J. Freeman appointed in his 

(6) 



82 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

place. All orders for selling town lots and for building a jail were rescinded, 
although Bunnel was paid for what he had done. Freeman, Wesley Park 
and Nelson Payne were appointed as a building committee for the jail. This 
jail was completed on time, and was used by the county authorities for about 
twelve years. 

On December 5, 1851, Jefferson Wallace contracted to build a county 
jail, gave bond, and was authorized to draw on the county funds to the 
extent of one thousand dollars. B. G. Cosgrove was the architect, and was 
allowed thirty dollars for his plan. In December, 1852, the board of com- 
missioners examined the completed building and accepted it. W. K. Streight, 
then sheriff, was instructed to bank the jail. Joshua R. Steves, later a resi- 
dent of Auburn, acting for Wallace, did the painting required and the county 
had a fairlv secure place. Many notorious criminals were confined in this 
building, such as Mrs. Knapp, who murdered her husband, and while in jail 
attempted to kill herself by the "hara kari" method: "Michigan Bill." who 
made good his escape from the jail. 

When the next jail was contracted for in 1S75, the old building was 
moved east to the northeast corner of Cedar and Ninth streets, and was fitted 
np for fire quarters, and a meeting place for the town board. 

The next jail was contracted for on January 16, 1875, by William Crane, 
James R. Duncan and Harmon Lydecker. T. J. Tolan & Son, of Toledo, 
were the architects. The structure was completed at a total cost of S28,- 
647.78, and was equipped with triple grates, and the most modern Scandi- 
navian locks. Twenty-nine thousand dollars worth of ten per cent, short 
time bonds were issued by the county, to cover the expense of building. The 
first man imprisoned in this jail was George Hobnich. then serving a term 
of ninety days for larceny. Lewis Abbott, who murdered Francis Houlton 
on March 18, 1878. was incarcerated here prior to his trial, and conviction, 
and sentence for life in prison. Levi Kessler. who murdered Alexius T. 
Harner on December 14. 1885 was also kept here. 

Upon the erection of the new DeKalb county court house, arrangements 
are being made to remove the old jail from the court yard, and on the lot 
just north of the new city hall to construct a new and modern jail. Ap- 
propriations have not yet been made, but plans have been asked for, and 
active work will soon begin. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 83 



COURT HOUSE HISTORY. 

The first court of DeKalb county has already been described as being 
held in the cabin owned by Wesley Park, the pioneer of the town of Auburn. 
A schoolhouse was afterward erected, and for a time court was held in this 
building. A dilapidated stove in this place supplied the heat, and a rough 
platform of boards was built at one end, and given the name of the "bar."' 

FIRST COURT HOUSE. 

At the May session, 1840, of the commissioners court, the county 
officials having detennined to build a court house on the public square, 
Thomas J. Freeman, Wesley Park and Nelson Payne were appointed super- 
intendents for the construction of such a building. Its dimensions were 
to be "thirty feet north and south, and forty feet east and west, six feet of 
which shall be a portico, four feet to stairs and wood rooms, leaving court 
house thirty feet long. Two front doors and an alley from each to circle 
fronting the judge's bench which was to be elevated a few feet above the 
floor. The clerk's seat and table to be in front of the bench. The criminal's 
box also to be in front of the bench. The rooms to be lighted by eleven 
twenty-four-light windows above and below. The front of the portico to 
be supported by four turned pillars fifteen inches in diameter." The cost 
of this building was to be defrayed by the sale of lots belonging to the 
county, excepting those required to pay for the jail or set aside for other 
reasons. In the commissioners session, 1841, the plan of the court house 
was received, entered into detail of structure, and date of July i, 1842, 
selected as the time to begin work on the structure. Bids were called for, 
and James Hite, a carpenter, living southeast of Auburn, took the contract 
for eight hundred dollars. He was assisted by Lyman Chidsey to put up the 
frame. The work seems to have dragged, as Judge Mott said that when 
he came here, in the summer of 1843, the public square around the court 
house was partially logged, but burned off, and the frame of the court house 
was up, but not inclosed. In the fall of this year the frame was completed, 
and on .A.pril 29, 1844, the court held their first session in the new structure. 

SECOND COURT HOUSE. 

On June 4, 1863, the contract for the second court house was awarded 
to A. Wheelock, William ^^alleau and Tohn A. McKay. The consideration 



84 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

was $23,372, half in cash and the balance in county orders, and it was to be 
completed December i, 1864. 

Nothing much was done until the spring of 1864, at which time work 
on the building was resumed, and was pushed forward rapidly. On July 
1st, the bell, weighing six hundred pounds, was brought by rail to Waterloo, 
thence by team to Auburn. It was manufactured by B. W. Coffin & Com- 
pany, at the Buckeye Bell Foundry, Cincinnati, Ohio. By the last of July, 
the dome of the court house neared completion, and on contract time the 
work was finished and accepted by the county commissioners. The building 
completed, contained six hundred thousand brick, three thousand perch of 
field stone, or boulders, one thousand superficial feet of cut stone, thirty- 
three thousand six hundred pounds of iron joists. The foundation was laid 
to the top of the ground with common field stone, and faced with Sandusky 
limestone. The building was divided on the first floor into four offices, 
twenty-one by twenty-four feet, each with fireproof vaults. The court- 
room was in the second story. The tower was eighty feet high, and sur- 
mounted by a flagstaff, supporting a metallic eagle at one hundred and fifteen 
feet above the sidewalk. 

THE NEW COURT HOUSE. 

Now in the process of erection, and to be finished during the early 
months of 19 14, the county of DeKalb has a truly magnificent court house. 
The building, architecturally, is worthy of the ancient Greek and Roman art. 
The beauty of design, richness of ornament, and quality of material, is un- 
surpassed in the state of Indiana. 

The old court house had been for many years deemed unfit for use, and 
the floor space inadequate for the increasing need. In 1910, the subject of 
a new court house, one that might stand for decade after decade, combining 
the most modern and efficient features, was talked of by the county officials 
and inhabitants. 

The first appropriation for the new structure was made on September 
9, 1910, when two hundred dollars was set aside for use in inspecting build- 
ings in other counties of the state, with the view that a court house best suited 
to the needs of DeKalb county might be secured. The county commission- 
ers duly set forth on a tour of inspection through Indiana. Several of the 
leading cities were visited on the trip. On February 13th, the board met 
with several architects, and after thoroughly going over with them the 
proposed plans, Mahurin & Mahurin, of Fort Wayne, were decided on for 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 85 

the drafting of the plan. On February 15, 1910, the plans were formally 
accepted, and filed with the county auditor. At the August meeting, 1910, a 
requisition for two hundred and fifty thousand dollars was made for the con- 
struction of the new court house. Bids were asked for on May 4, 191 1, and 
there were ten different bidders for the work. J. B. Goodall, of Peru, was 
successful, having bid one hundred and eighty-five thousand seven hundred 
and fifty-seven dollars, with an allowance of three hundred dollars for the old 
court house. 

On May 8th, the workmen began to raze the old court house, using 
dynamite in places. This work of destruction was completed in two weeks. 

The corner-stone was laid with fitting ceremonies on July 27, 191 1. 
Thomas R. Marshall, then governor of the state, delivered a pleasing address. 

The court house dimensions are: North and south, one hundred and 
forty-six feet ; east and west, one hundred and thirty-two feet ; height, eighty 
feet. The stone used in the construction of the building is Bedford oolitic 
limestone, quarried near the city of Bloomington, Indiana. The handsome 
marble used in the interior of the structure is Vermont marble of number one 
quality, not a slab of number two being in use. Grenito floors, composed of 
cement and marble chips, are laid and in the lobbies and rotundas there is a 
well designed tile floor. The court room, commissioners' room, and 
libraries, are laid with a cork floor, to heighten the accoustic properties, and 
at the same time insure silence. The dome is capped with art glass, illum- 
inated by sixty electric lights in a surrounding trough at the base. The 
woodwork in the building is all of quarter-sawed oak; this includes the 
paneling in the courtroom. The court room is decorated with pure leaf 
gold, and is constructed with the aid of the most modern accoustic arrange- 
ments with a minimum of silence. Electric light, gas. water, and the latest 
vacuum cleaning apparatus are installed. Lavatories are on each floor, and 
washstands in every room of the building. 

There are forty-six rooms in the court house, exclusive of lobbies, cor- 
ridors, and rotunda. On the third floor are: two waiting-rooms for wit- 
nesses: attorney's consultation room, large court room, jury room, court 
stenographer's room, judge's private room, law libran--, attorneys' second 
consultation room, grand jury room, ladies' witness room, gentlemens' wit- 
ness room. Grand Army of the Republic and relic room, small court room, 
judges' consultation room, county superintendent's examination room, also 
his office; on the second floor are the officers' toilet, recorder's record room, 
office, and workroom, clerk's record room, office, and workroom, commission- 
ers' room, also a private room, auditor's two rooms, auditor's and treasurer's 



80 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

room with metal grill between, treasurer's office, ladies' toilet; the basement 
or first floor has ladies' and gentlemen's toilet, mothers' room, ladies' rest 
room, surveyor's office, also workroom, sheriff's office, prisoner's cage, stale 
record room, county assessor's office, assembly room, and two annexes. 

Two beautiful mural paintings form a part of the decoration, placed on 
the walls adjoining the stairway at the third floor. One represents "The 
Spirit of Industry" and inscribed in gold letters below the painting are the 
words : "The center group, a sitting female figure, allegorical of the state 
of Indiana, her right hand resting upon the constitution and her left hand 
holding the great seal of the state, giving protection to the agricultural and 
industrial endeavors of the county, assisted and counselled by a male figure, 
allegorical of the finest spiritual qualities of the human mind. At the base 
of the center group a figure symbolic of education, a woman teacher instruct- 
ing a future citizen, on the left different manufactures are portrayed and on 
the right agriculture is represented by a great field of golden wheat, with 
harvesters in the distance, and in the foreground, cows and sheep, implying 
domestic industries of the county." The painting on the opposite wall 
represents "The Spirit of Progress," with the following inscription below : 
"The center group represents a monumental figure of Baron DeKalb, being 
crowned by the Goddess of "V^ictory as one of the bravest heroes of the 
Revolution. His horse being killed under him, he has regained his feet and 
although badly wounded, is setting a fine example to his soldiers in attacking 
the enemy again and again, until mortally wounded. To the left in the back- 
ground scenes from the wars with the Indians, which were unavoidable 
before a final peaceful settlement of the country was possible. At the right, 
Columbia is proclaiming Peace and Liberty to the country. In the fore- 
ground, starting on the trail, is one of the earliest pathfinders, and in the 
distance, a settler with his family, tilling the soil of the county." 

These paintings were executed by Arthur Thomas, an artist of New 
York City, and were submitted by the William F. Behreng Company, of 
Cincinnati, and were approved by the commissioners on May 30, 1913. 

The superior system of natural lighting in the DeKalb county court 
house is unsurpassed in the state, and is a model of twentieth century prog- 
ress in designing. 

The total cost of the structure will fall close to the sum of three hun- 
dred thousand dollars. A bond issue of one hundred and sixt}' thousand 
dollars has been made. 

Plans are made to beautify the extensive lawn surrounding the structure, 
which occupies the space of a city block, and the many shade trees are being 



DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. 8/ 

carefully preserved. Cement walks and arc lights will decorate the court 
yard, and at each of four entrances has been placed a sanitary drinking- 
fountain. 

The citizens' committee for the erection of the court house is composed 
of Rev. Augustus Young of Garrett, Sam G. Stone of Butler, and Albert W. 
Howalter of Helmer, 

THE DEKALB COUNTY ASYLUM. 

The DeKalb County Asylum is one of the best in the state, in equip- 
ment, space, methods, and as a comfortable home for the unfortunate people 
who are compelled to seek refuge there. The establishment of a home such 
as this one is charity and humanity of the highest. A man has a right to 
be protected by his fellows, and he has the right to demand it, but pride and 
dread of dependence together prevent him from doing so in almost every 
instance. In the case of the county asylum, the individual does not have 
to seek help, the county seeks him who needs it, and gives it with open hand. 
Such is the beneficence of this institution. 

The present asylum is a magnificent structure of brick and stone, con- 
taining in the main building sixty-four rooms for the inmates. The former 
asylum was a two-story frame building, and, although adequate to the im- 
mediate needs, was supplanted by the present building. The farm belonging 
to the institution contains three hundred and twenty acres, and active farm- 
ing is conducted thereon by the inmates who are able and qualified to work. 
Steam heat from a private plant is supplied to all of the buildings, and the 
place is wired for electricity, although at this date the current has not been 
sent out from Auburn. There are commodious barns, out houses, store 
houses, bakery, and shops connected, and a diversity of labor may be given 
to the inmate. Three girls and two men are employed on the farm besides 
the proprietor, Alva Grogg, and his wife. Good, substantial food is ob- 
tained, and comfortable living quarters are furnished. The building was 
constructed in 1908. At this date there are forty-one inmates, eleven of 
whom are women. The county supports the institution, although the farm 
itself brings in some revenue. 

ASSESSMENT FOR DEKALB COUNTY, I9I3. 

The following list shows the value of the lands, lots and improvements; 
the value of personal and corporation property; and total net value of tax- 



88 DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. 

ables in the townships, and larger towns; for the year 1913, prepared from 
the county auditor's tax duplicates : 

The town of Butler: value of lands, lots and improvements, $4,565.30; 
value personal and corporation property, $3,788.50; total net value of tax- 
ables, $8,133.90. Using this same system of listing, the town of Waterloo 
presents the following figures: $1,702.80; $2,753.10; $4,382.70. Richland 
township, $5,201.20; $6,224.80; $11,063.10. The town of Corunna: 
$538-50; $1,173.60; $1,694.50. Fairfield township: $7,211.80; $2,617.10; 
$9,410.00. Smithfield township: $6,988.90; $3,278.50; $9,947.60. Ashley 
township: $964.50; $42470; $1,328.20. Franklin township, $7,382.30; 
$2,208.50; $9,193.70. Troy township: $3,053.70; $2,056.90; $4,850.30. 
Grant township: $3,759.70; $5,576.90; $9,161.50. Butler township, 
$5,005.60; $2,401.50; $7,061.30. Jackson township: $7,311.80; $5,149.30; 
$12,002.70. Concord township: $3,630.50; $4,178.80; $7,566.50. The 
town of St. Joe: $694.30; $1,366.60; $2,047.90. Spencer township: $3,- 
728.80; $2,651.70; $6,218.00. Newville township: $2,949.08; $1,848.20; 
$4.57570. Stafford township: $3,017.40; $868.90; $3,761.10. Wilming- 
ton township: $7,432.40; $8,136.10; $15,140.90. Union township: $4,788.60; 
$2,385.80; $6,891.70. The city of Auburn: $12,452.00; $9,875.30; $21,- 
240.70. Keyser township: $3,016.40; $3,192.00; $6,084.20. City of Gar- 
rett: $9,337.90; $4,710.50; $12,488.90. 

COUNTY OFFICERS. 

The officers of the county of DeKalb for the year of 1913 are as follows : 
Glen Van Auken, joint senator ; E. M. McKennan, representative ; Frank A. 
Powers, judge circuit court; Hubert Hartman, prosecuting attorney; John 
Hebel, clerk circuit court; A. W. Madden, auditor; Warren McNabb (de- 
ceased), Harvey O. Williams, recorder; J. J. Oberlin, treasurer; John Hoff, 
sheriff ; Alva L. Link, surveyor ; Lida Leasure, county school superintendent ; 
Alva Grogg, superintendent of county asylum; Ed. Kelham, E. A. Bordner, 
W. A. Dannels, commissioners; Leonard Shipe, ditch commissioner. The 
county council is composed of Luther Knisely, Charles Arford, Wesley D. 
Miller, Charles Eckhart, John S. Potts, William Mercia and Gustave D. 
Beeber. The trustees are: George W. Burtzner, Butler; S. H. Nugen, 
Jackson; Samuel Mumaw, Concord; John Whitehurst, Newville; C. W. 
Webster, Stafford; F. W. Nimmons, Wilmington; Frank Pyle, Union; 
George Shaffer, Richland; Clark Hemstreet, Fairfield; Jerry Mortorff, 
Smithfield; Oliver Oberlin, Franklin: Daniel Burkhart, Troy; S. H. Down- 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 89 

end, Keyser; J. H. Reed, Grant; William Erick, Spencer. The assessors are 
as follows: David Heitz, Butler; A. E. Culbertson, Jackson; John Smith, 
Concord ; Neff Cullers, Newville ; Henry Shaffer, Stafford ; Henry A. Wins- 
low, Union ; A. D. Brunson, Wilmington ; Frank Devinney, Richland ; Henry 
Deetz, Fairfield; Brown Albright, Smithfield; Benjamin Lowe, Franklin; 
Frank Gunsenhouser, Troy; D. S. Haag, Keyser; D. E. Newcomer, Grant; 
George W. Wade, Spencer; George Scattergood, county assessor. County 
attorneys are : Daniel M. Link and Edgar W. Atkinson. 

FINANCES OF COUNTY, I913. 

The last financial exhibit by the county auditor, showing receipts and 
disbursements to county fund is : Receipts, $282,720.65 ; disbursements, 
$177,979.85; balance in county fund, $104,740.80; balance in county bond 
fund, $22,789.37, making a total balance of $127,530.17. 

The statement of the county including receipts and disbursements of 
several funds is: receipts, $643,990.63; disbursements, $495,062.92; balance, 
$148,927.71. The latter figure is the balance in the county treasury. 



CHAPTER V 



MILITARY HISTORY. 



The county of DeKalb, like all other counties, is justly proud of the 
heroic part played by her sons in the great drama of the sixties. Enshrined 
in the hearts of the people, these men who resolutely faced the terrors of the 
South, risking life, home, health, and everything that was dear to them, in 
order that a Union might be preserved, truly desei-\'e more than a few 
scattering words to their memory. It is true that monuments may be erected, 
the deeds of the brave sung in immortal verse and ennobled in the national 
literature, but yet the true memorial, the sanctity of the heart will enfold, 
and by word of mouth from generation to generation will the courage, 
fortitude, and sublime self-sacrifice of the "boys in blue" be transmitted in 
enduring form. History has a purpose : it is to preserve, fairly and justly, 
the records of the past, so that a guide may be supplied to the thoughts and 
conceptions of future men and women who live when these white pages have 
grown sear and yellow with age. Simple statement of fact is far better 
than fulsome encomium in the narration of the big story of fifty years' ago; 
it is by these direct, forceful means, that history will serve its true purpose. 

DeKalb county people at the beginning, when the first dark mutterings 
of war were heard, held dififerent opinions, and so did other parts of the 
North. There were many who believed that war was needless, and conse- 
quently refused to take one side or the other. Others were frankly of the 
"butter-nut" tinge, but they were in the minority. The big mass of the 
citizens favored a suppression of the iniquitous South and her dreaded insti- 
tution of slavery. The twentieth century reader does not know the scope 
of that word "slavery," that is, the general reader. The true meaning has 
merciful!)- been expurgated from the pages of modern literature. We have 
the term "white slavery" today, and the meaning of the expression brings 
to us a feeling of loathing and indignation, that a country should have indi- 
viduals who veritably fight the growth of civilization. The slavery of the 
South was little better. In the main, different in character, it yet embodied 
deeds and motives similar to the modern slavery. Rome and the Latin 
countries had their slavery, and their ideas of that institution are not written 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 91 

in disguised form. So, in America during the later fifties, there was a need, 
a pressing one, that coercive measures be taken to exterminate the "terror of 
the South." 

Notwithstanding the various causes that have been attributed to the 
outbreak of the Civil war, the sole cause was slavery. In reading this deduc- 
tion, many will disagree, for even at this late day there is incontrovertible 
argument on each sicje of the question. Slavery was distinctly out of tune 
with the times; the attitude of the Southern people was falsely artistocratic ; 
and the North, with saner customs, resolved itself into a unit. The stirring 
times that followed the Mexican territory acquisition, the fugitive slave law, 
the Missouri Compromise, the struggle in congress, the Lincoln-Douglas de- 
bates, and Lincoln's election to the presidency, cannot be detailed in a work 
of this scope, but a discussion is worthy as a preface to the part DeKalb 
county played later. 

A greater appreciation of Abraham Lincoln's worth is gained when we 
comprehend the arena into which he was forced to step in i860. The utter 
confusion, the threatening war clouds, and the attitude of the people, who 
spoke silently, "Let's see what you can do," supplied a stern test for the 
"backwoods lawyer." The opportunity was provided for him, and his ac- 
complishments are history. 

War might have been avoided had the North recognized the slaves upon 
the same basis as cattle or any other common property, or, on the other hand, 
had the South reverted to the sentiment of the North, and pronounced 
slavery an evil. It is evident, however, when the tenor of the day is con- 
sidered, that these two theories were impossible. The mass of people, of 
both sides, were eager for the actual conflict; mob spirit prevailed; but the 
greater minds, the leaders, entered the struggle with heavy hearts. Lincoln, 
Grant, Lee, Jackson, Meade and Longstreet, and other of the great minds of 
the conflict, were sad with the weight of unjust and useless carnage. The 
four years' strife, the early success of the Confederate host, the high tide at 
Gettysburg, and then the slow, merciless pounding of Grant's machine on the 
depleted Army of Northern Virginia, and the final chapter at Appomattox, 
cannot be more than mentioned, but this is appropriate and adequate. 

Lincoln's nomination. 

The news of Lincoln's nomination by the Republican party for the 
presidency of the United States was received with great rejoicing in DeKalb, 
and particularly in Auburn, the county seat. Processions, music and meet- 



92 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

ings were the order of the day, and the people were very enthusiastic and — 
noisy. Samuel W. Widney and S. B. Ward were the chief orators of the 
day, and their stirring- sentences served to increase the loyalty and patriotism 
of those assembled. 

THE FIRST CALL. 

When Abraham Lincoln first sent forth his call for seventy-five thousand 
men, many volunteers from DeKalb county offered their ser\nces. How- 
ever, they were not organized into companies, but those who were accepted 
for the service were assigned to other commands, and many were thus 
credited to other counties of the state. The number of men at this period 
was sufficient for two full companies. The first company to receive a large 
number of DeKalb men was G, of the Nineteenth Indiana Volunteer In- 
fantry. People in various parts of the county held celebrations in honor of 
the men who were leaving to join this company and others. At Waterloo, 
on July TO, 1861, a very sad incident occurred, which dimmed the ardor 
of the people. 

THE WATERLOO TRAGEDY. 

A cannon belonging to the citizens of Waterloo was being fired in honor 
of the volunteers belonging to Captain Clark's company who were leaving on 
the express train at 3:55. Two rounds had been fired, and the third and 
fatal one was reserved until the departure of the troop train. The gun had 
been heavily charged, and was wadded with green leather shavings from the 
tannery, to within a few inches of the muzzle, and as the train pulled out, 
the gun was discharged. The result was a terrific explosion, bursting the 
gtin to atoms and scattering the fragments of iron in all directions, over 
houses and tree tops, carrying some pieces a distance of eighty rods. 

J. H. Shoemaker, who had assisted in loading the gun and who applied 
the match, was struck by a piece of iron, and a frightful gash cut in his side, 
near the lower ribs, and completely severing the spinal column. He died 
instantly. About to fire the piece, he was heard to remark that "those boys 
over there," pointing to the crowd at the depot, "said they would not touch 
it off for five hundred dollars" ; another instant and he was dead. 

Singularly, not another person in the crowd was injured, although the 
narrow escapes were many. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 93 

DEKALB COUNTY GUARDS. 

The first company to be raised in this county entirely, and officered by 
DeKalb men, was Captain Hawley's, which company entered the Thirtieth 
Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Some of the best citizens of the county joined 
this regiment. After the organization, the ladies of Auburn met together 
and evolved plans for showing their admiration of the men, and decided 
upon a banner. Accordingly, one was made of silk, and presented it to the 
company. The men were overjoyed by the tribute, and wrote a letter to 
the editor of the New Era, to be published. The letter was as follows : 

"Camp Allen, Fort Wayne, Ind., Sept. 9, 1861. 

"Editor- Era — At a meeting of the DeKalb County Guards, while on 
duty in company drill, in Camp Allen, the following preamble and resolutions 
were adopted: 

"Whereas, The citizens of DeKalb County have, by their energetic efforts, 
been instrumental in effecting the organization of the DeKalb County Guards, 
and in contributing to their aid and comfort, in both physical and social 
wants, therefore be it resolved, 

"i. That we tender to the citizens of said county, one and all, who 
have so contributed to our wants, our heartfelt thanks, as a testimonial on 
our part for their kind aid and sympathy. 

"2. That words fail to give expression to the feelings we experienced 
on receiving the warm and kind pressure of the hand, in seeing the eyes of 
our friends dimmed with the tear of regret, and in hearing the fervent 'God 
bless you,' at our departure from our homes, to join in sustaining the Govern- 
ment from foes without and traitors within. 

"3. That the ladies of Auburn are particularly entitled to our thanks 
for the bountiful collation prepared by them for us on the day of our de- 
parture from that place; and we also owe our grateful thanks to those who 
accompanied to this camp. 

"4. That as it would be impossible to specify all the acts of indi- 
vidual kindness which have helped to contribute to our relief, we will only 
say, with true feeling, that they are all duly appreciated, and will never be 
forgotten. 

"5. That the flag we have received will not be disgraced by any act of 
ours, but that in its defense we will imperil our lives, and never bring re- 
proach upon the name of DeKalb. 

"6. That the foregoing preamble and resolutions be signed by the com- 



94 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

missioned officers of our company, a copy be forwarded to the Era at Auburn 

and the Press at Waterloo, for publication. 

"Capt. Cyrus Hawley, 

"First Lieut. W. W. Griswold, 

"Second Lieut. J- C. Smith." 

NEWSPAPER EDITORIALS OF 1 86 1. 

The general preparedness of the country is evidenced by the following 
editorial from the Waterloo Press of September 20, 1861 : 

"Two special trains, laden with cannon, powder, balls, shells, etc., have 
passed here this week. The cannon were of large size, and destined for 
fortifying the Mississippi Valley. The following is the 'bill of goods': Ten 
64-pounders; twenty 32-pounders; 2,467 32-pound balls; 147 64-pound balls; 
and sixty- four 96-pound balls; and aggregate of 91,840 pounds of shot, shell 
and ball." 

The Waterloo Press, one of the loyal Union papers in the county, in 
the issue of October 4, 1861, publishes the following: 

"The instrinsic value of virtue is measured by the effort made to acquire 
and maintain it. Probably there is no county in the north half of the state 
where so much opposition of various characters has been met as in this goodly 
county of ours. From the first many manly and brave hearts have been 
ready to respond to the call to defend our government. Our citizens have 
gone forth in twos, fives, tens, twenties and forties to fill up vacant places 
in other counties and states ; then came one full company. Captain Hawley's, 
and it is so written on the pages of histoiy and tablets of many observers. 

"Now two more companies are being formed, already in camp. Captain 
Merrill's and Captain Park's. The latter is too favorably known in this 
county to add to his character by further notice here; it commends itself; but 
the former is not so well known. But he has recommendations from those 
who are acquainted and qualified to judge, which command a favorable con- 
sideration. He has been a military man for a number of years, and was 
once elected captain of Company A, Toledo Guards, which post he resigned 
when he came among us. 

"Patriots, will vou at once heed the call, and within four days fill up 
these companies? You may still be further called upon to place more men 
in the field. Tlie prompt response to the calls already made upon you is a 
sure gfiiarantee tliat your patriotism is equal to the demand. These com- 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 95 

panics cannot fail of being filled by the brave boys of Delvalb. Do I over- 
estimate your patriotism? Time will tell. 

"Newville is thus the banner tov^^nship. The voters of that town num- 
ber one hundred and seventy, arid forty of them are volunteers in the govern- 
ment service. What township speaks for the banner next? 

"Everything for the cause." 

The New Era of March, 1861, just before the breaking out of hostilities, 
prints the following, which shows plainly the position of the peace advocates : 

"Coercion stands boldly out in the inaugural, and coercion carried into 
effect will no doubt lead to war. The Southern Confederacy has thirty 
thousand troops encamped in the field ready to resist coercion. Virginia and 
Kentucky declare that if the President sends an army South to take the forts, 
and compel submission to the laws, that they will join the seceded states and 
resist such coercion; and the remainder of the border slave states would in 
all probability do the same, and tiien we will have war, but Mr. Lincoln 
would not be to blame; he is bound by his official oath to sustain the Consti- 
tution and execute the laws, and we would not give a straw for a President 
who does not regard the sacred obligations of his oath, and who will not do 
his duty. If we get into trouble, simply by the chief magistrate discharging 
his duty, the fault will not attach to him, but to those Republican and seces- 
sion members of Congress who, in defiance of the will of the people, refuse 
to vote for compromises that would have given peace to the country." 
This same paper, in August, 1861, said: 

"What we most wish is the present and future sacred observance of the 
Constitution. We are strong enough to maintain the Union and the Consti- 
tution, too. What is past cannot be remedied, and we need not stop at pres- 
ent to discuss. We are in the midst of war — a war begun by reckless rebels 
at Charleston. The President had lawful power to call out troops to serve 
until thirty days after the meeting of Congress. He did so, and we urged 
the enlistment of troops. The capital was in danger, and its capture by the 
Confederates would ha\e curtailed on us everlasting di.sgrace and incalculable 
evils. 

"Since then other acts have been done 1>y the Executive, which we could 
not approve. But let them pass, and let us look at matters as they now stand. 
Congress has authorized the raising of troops, and the capital is probably 
at this moment in greater danger than ever before. What is to be done? 
Why, troops must be raised at once for its defense and for the preservation 
of the Union. We hold it to be the duty of every loyal citizen to do all in 
his power to aid the s])cecly enlistment of troops, and accordingly we have 



90 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

exerted all our influence to this end, although bitterly denounced therefor 
by some misguided friend. But at the same time that we would do all in 
our power to increase our power to meet the present exigency — and while 
we invoke all patriotic young men who can possibly leave home to enlist at 
once in some of the regiments now recruiting, and to rush to the rescue of 
our country's flag, we also would extend the olive branch with one hand, 
while keeping the sword firmly grasped in the other." 

Thus, the newspaper seemed to have an indefinite opinion of affairs in 
general. From the tone of their editorials printed above, one is lead to 
believe that they were against war, but afraid to say so. When the struggle 
was on in full force it thus spoke : 

"Our nation is now passing its fiery ordeal. It will come from the con- 
test a power among the nations, or it will sink to a disunited conglommera- 
tion of petty states. Nothing so vital to every citizen can be conceived as 
the decision of the question. Have we a government? Shall we maintain it 
despite domestic dissension and foreign intervention? To fail would be to 
sink millions of property as well as to co\er the face of each patriot with 
chagrin, and to ruin the hope of a government like ours ever becoming 
permanent. 

"But we know no such word as fail. Sooner than this, the loyal states 
would see twice five hundred thousand more brave men spring to the aid of 
the gallant army who are now winning laurels upon the field, and who are 
fast regaining our soil from the grasp of the traitors." 

In August, 1862, came the following in the same paper: 

"It is truly gratifying to know that this county can show so proud a 
record — prouder than any other county of its size and population in the 
state — in the cause of the government. Her page in the history of this revo- 
lution will shine bright among the brighest, her name live forever. When 
the present companies forming under the late calls go into camp, which they 
will have done before this item reaches our readers, DeKalb county will have 
sent out six full companies, and enough men have gone out of the county and 
enlisted to number at least two more, making in all eight companies, or eight 
hundred and eight men. The fact is, the people of little DeKalb are a union, 
a loyal people. They desire to see the rebellion put down, the Constitution 
preserved and the glorious old Union restored. For this purpose they are 
sacrificing their lives and their means, and for this o])ject they will toil, if 
necessary, to the bitter end." 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 97 

MASS MEETINGS. 

For the first few years of the war, enthusiasm did not abate in DeKalb 
county, and frequent meetings were held, resulting in added enlistments and 
more interest in the success of the Union. Even in the fateful year of 1863, 
when the gray host seemed to have the upper hand and the cause of the 
Union lost, the people of the county maintained their hearty spirit, and the 
meetings increased in number, every village and town in the county pro- 
claiming their loyalty, holding assemblies in school houses, churches and resi- 
dences, anywhere that the people might congregate and conduct a celebra- 
tion. 

On February 20, 1863, at the Methodist church in .Vuburn, a meeting 
was held. The meeting was called to order by Rev. S. W. Widney, and 
Capt. L. J. Blair, of the Eighty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, was 
chosen president ; Capt. F. F. Smith, of the United States Navy, was selected 
as secretary, and the following were named as vice-presidents : Capt. Cyrus 
Hawley, Corp. J. McMillen, and Lieut. James McKay, of the Thirtieth Indi- 
ana : Solomon Belong, R. Lockwood, L. Hoodlemire, I. Ditmars, J. Hofifman, 
and J. Link of the Forty-fourth Indiana; C. Carr, of the Forty-eighth Indi- 
ana; A. McClellan, of the Fifty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry; and 
William Fisher, of the Seventeenth Michigan. Dr. J. N. Chamberlain, 
Rev. Widney, and John McCune were appointed as a committee on resolu- 
tions, and while they were forming a report, W. S. Smith, of Fort Wayne, 
addressed the audience in stirring words. The committee brought in a 
series of resolutions commending the action of the government in using 
every available means of suppressing the seceding states, and expressed them- 
selves as willing to make every sacrifice to maintain the armies in the field, 
praising the boys of the state of Indiana, mourning the ones whose lives 
had been sacrificed on the field of battle, and thanking those at home who 
gave up their loved ones for the cause. These resolutions were published in 
the Chicago Tribune, Indiana State Journal, and the Waterloo Press. They 
were also adopted verbatim by subsequent meetings in the county. Demo- 
crats joined with Republicans in supporting the party of the North, and 
there was but one party, the Union. 

The citizens of Concord township held a meeting at Spencerville, to 
take into consideration the state of the country and to express their opinions. 
George Barney was in the chair, and John F. Coburn was chosen secretary. 
(7) 



98 DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 

John P. Widney, Newton Thomas and Newton Arkew were named as a 
committee to draw up a set of resolutions, which they did, while Robert 
Johnson addressed the crowd. The resolutions drawn up, favored each 
state and neighborhood as well should define their exact position, that the 
Union should be maintained at any cost, that if necessary every citizen would 
offer his life in battle, and repudiating the right of seccession. After the pro- 
ceedings, a roll of minute-men was presented, and the people called upon to 
enlist in their country's cause. 

ENLISTMENTS. 

At Auburn. Marquis L. Rhodes, using his little red brick store on the 
southeast corner of ■Main and Ninth streets, opened a recruiting office. He 
succeeded in raising a full company and was chosen captain himself. They 
were mustered in as Company A, One Hundredth Indiana Volunteer In- 
fantry, and on September 10, 1862, left Fort Waj^ne for Memphis, Tennessee. 
With this regiment went Rev. Charles A. Munn, as chaplain, and David J. 
S warts as assistant surgeon. The former resigned on August 10, 1863, and 
the latter served until his command was mustered from the service. During 
its service, Company A had five captains, namely : Captain Rhodes. Ezra D. 
Hartman, Lucius Barney, John H. Moore, and Eli J. Sherlock. Moore died 
of wounds received in the Atlanta, campaign. 

DRAFTING. 

Not until the last two vears of the war was the draft resorted to in this 
county. Enlistments had fallen short of the quotas demanded at that time, 
and the draft was necessary, but taken in good spirit by the people, despite the 
hardship wrought in many families. The following quotation from the Nezv 
Era of August. 1863, portrays one of the drafting scenes, and shows the 
humorous side : 

"Late Tuesday was the day appointed by the militia enrolling com- 
missioner for this county 'to hear and determine the excuses of persons claim- 
ing to be exempt from military duty.' The morning opened out brightly, 
and at an early hour in the day the debilitated came pouring into town in 
wagons, on horse-back, and by every conceivable mode of conveyance, until 
the streets were literally packed with the lame, the halt and the blind. To 
the eye of the stranger, it would seem that the government had located a 
militarv hospital at this point, and that the battle-scarred veterans of the 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 99 

present crisis had come here to receive the care and attention due the brave 
soldier of the bloody field. The sight was painful to behold, and the most 
hardened wretch could not do otherwise than blow his nose and weep. We 
passed more than one philanthropic 'cuss' on the street that day, with eyes 
swollen from excessive weeping, and out from beneath whose coat there 
plainly protuded the neck of a bottle. It would not have taken long to have 
recruited men enough for the Crutch Brigade out of the crowd, and officered 
the same b_\- Old Age and General Debility. The 'menagerie' will be con- 
tinued on next Monday." 

Wilmington, Stafford and New\ille townships were never brought under 
the draft, as they always furnished their full quotas when demanded. Troy 
township had eight men drafted; Franklin, twenty-two; Richland, forty-one; 
Union, two; Jackson, twelve; Butler, eight; Concord, one; Smithfield, 
hventy-five; and Fairfield, thirty, making a total for DeKalb county, of one 
hundred and forty-nine. 

BIG CELEBRATION. 

In June of the year 1865, most of the veterans of the regiments and 
batteries, who were from DeKalb comity, returned home, and a big celebra- 
tion was held in the town of Auburn. Feasting, a monster parade, and 
speech-making occupied the day. This was a gala day for people and 
soldiers alike, and precluded the joyful and successful reunions held after- 
ward in the county. 

OFFICI.AL REPORT. 

On October 6, 1862 the number of volunteers credited to DeKalb county 
was seven hundred and fifty-eight. Under the call of October 17, 1863, the 
quota of the county was one hundred and fifty-five, which was filled by re- 
cruiting. Under the calls of 1864, there were sixty veterans and six hun- 
dred new recruits credited to the county, and fifty-four men were drafted, 
making a total of seven hundred and fourteen, a greater number of whom 
were three years' men. The last call of December 19, 1864 supplied sixty- 
three enlistments and one hundred and seventy-two conscripts, or two hun- 
dred and thirty-five men, for periods of one and two years. A summary of 
the preceding, making no allowance for reenlistments, credits this county 
with a total of eighteen hundred and sixty-two men. 



DEKALB COUNTV, INDIANA. 



BOUNTY AND RELIEF. 



The county of DeKalb not only sent her sons to the field in the war for 
the Union, but those who remained at home did not forget their share in the 
struggle. Necessities and little luxuries were sent to the men of the army, in 
order that the hardships might be mitigated slightly. Women met in clubs 
and formed plans for procuring foods, hospital supplies, clothing, shoes, 
and every article necessary. Many a housewife's needle was busy during the 
four years, that a son or husband might be eased and comforted. Meetings 
were held in public, fairs and festivals were held, entertainments, and private 
donations, all the profits going into a common fund for the relief of the 
soldiers. The families at home who were dependent upon some brave fellow 
in the field were also supplied with necessities, and not a one was allowed to 
sufYer during those trying times. The total amount subscribed for bounty in 
DeKalb was $139,250; the amount for relief was $24,481.63: making a total 
of $163,731.63. 

NINTH INDIANA \'OLUNTEEK INFANTRY. 

Company A and Company E of this regiment were represented in 
DeKalb county by James Brownlee and David Culver in the fomier company 
and John W. Butcher, David H. Renner and Orin Stansbro. These men 
served until the later years of the war, with the exception of Brownlee, who 
died; and Culver, who deserted. 

ELEVENTH INDIANA VOLUNTEER INF.ANTRY. 

Three men from DeKalb, John B. Knight, Elijah Rhodes, and Hiram 
Zimmerman, were in Company E of this regiment. Robert Lock was a 
member of Company A of the Twelfth Indiana Infantry. 

THIRTEENTH IND'IANA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

Company A of this regiment had the following men from DeKalb: 
Benjamin Alton, Alvin D. Beggs, Frederick D. Carr, Edward Casebeer, 
Daniel M. Faunce, Benjamin Hamilton, Harvey D. Hathaway, Benjamin 
Hoyt, George H. Huffman, Nathan Johnson, Thomas Johnson, died May 27, 
1865, from wounds received at Fort Fisher; Isaac N. Snively, and James 
Stafford. Company B had Henry Hull, William Noles. Isaiah Overhalzer, 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. lOI 

Daniel Reisner, Gilbert Rodensbaugh, Israel Shearer and James L. Stewart. 
Company C had Oscar Smith. Charles Tousley and Nathan Wyatt. Com- 
pany D liad Frederick Horney: George C. Ferguson was killed by an ex- 
plosion at Fort Fisher. Others in this regiment were Luther St. Clair, 
Frederick Craw. George Inghuni. This regiment saw much hard service in 
the war, and the ranks were thinned many times by Confederate bullets. 
The regiment campaigned mostly in the South. 

NINETEENTH INDIANA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

The following men served in Compan\- G of this regiment: Charles K. 
Baxter; Johnston D. Curd, Elias Fisk. \\'arren Fisk, .\lvin Serry, Michael 
Shirts and Moses Smith. Baxter A\as mustered in as first sergeant, commis- 
sioned second lieutenant, and afterward lieutenant. The last five men named 
were afterward transferred to the Twentieth Indiana. 

TWENTIETH INDIANA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

Ithamar Hague, William L. Balsch. John A. Burn was captured at the 
Wilderness, Benjamin Turner, and tho.se mentioned as being transferred 
from the Nineteenth. This regiment took part in all of the engagements on 
the left of the Army of the Potomac, from Hatcher's Run to the fall of 
Richmond, and took part in all the battles up to the surrender of the Army 
of Northern Virginia. Its last engagement with the enemy was at Clover 
Hill on April 9, 1865. 

TWENTY-FIRST INDIANA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

Company .\ had ui)on its roll the following men from DeKalb county : 
David Smith, Caspar Altenburg, Isaiah Baughman, Lewis Brown, James K. 
Culbertson, James Draggoo, Owen Dixon, George Hay, John Jones, John 
W. Jones, Osborn Knight, John C. Reed and Burton Smith. Company M 
had Daniel \V. and Isaac L. Altenburg. John T. Rush was unassigned. This 
regiment was with Buell in the South, took pari in tlie siege of Corinth, and 
otherwise campaigned in the southern territor}-. 

TWENTY-NINTH INDIANA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

Company A of the Twenty-ninth enrolled Robert H. Garrett. Stephen 
E. Healy, Frederick High. James McXalib, X'oah Martorff. Lewis Y. New- 



I02 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

house, Henry Snook, William C. Sweeney. David Smith belonged to Com- 
pany H. Nathan Watson and Jeremiah Walker joined Company I. Ed. A. 
Stone was a member of Company K. 

The Twenty-ninth was organized at Laporte, Indiana, for the three 
years' service. As a member of General Rousseau's brigade the regiment 
was assigned McCook's division, in Buell's army, and marched to the Ten- 
nessee river. At Shiloh the regiment suffered heavily. The men were in the 
siege of Corinth, pursued Bragg through Kentucky into Tennessee, partici- 
pated in the battle of Stone's River, Tullahoma. At Chickamauga the regi- 
nient was a part of the Second brigade, under Col. Joseph B. Dodge. At 
Chickamauga the regiment took an active part and bore her share of the 
tremendous losses. After tliis battle the regiment was sent to Alaljama, 
where it remained until 1864, when it veteranized and returned to Indiana 
on furlough. After the return to service, Decatur, Alabama, was the first 
battle, next Dalton, Georgia, and on Decemlier 2. 1865, was mustered from 
the service at Marietta, Georgia. 

THIRTIETH INDIANA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

Company H of this regiment was composed almost wholly of DeKalb 
county men, and was captained by Cyrus Hawley. W. W. Griswold was 
commissioned first lieutenant, then captain, transferred to Company C, Resi- 
duary Battalion, commissioned major on December 3, 1864. colonel One 
Hundred and Fifty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry on March 9, 1865. 
Joshua Eberly was mustered in as first sergeant and reached the rank of 
first lieutenant, and was killed at Chickamauga. Leander F. W'elden was 
mustered in as sergeant and reached the rank of major. Job C. Smith, 
Joseph ^TcKav, Jeremiah D. Likens were second lieutenants during the 
service. Perrv Hodges was sergeant and discharged for disability. Cyrus 
C. Hodges, William H. Phelps, Lorenzo D. Conner, Philip Noel, William 
Miller, Henry M. Stoner, John C. \Miysong, Martin V. Snyder were cor- 
porals. Other members of the company follow : William Feagler was cap- 
tured at Chickamauga: James F. Johnson, Joseph S. Murry, David S. Ar- 
thur, Caspar Altenburg, Isaiah Baughman, Peter Barnhart died from 
wounds at Stone River, William H. H. Beard, Adna Brown, Florence Buch- 
anan, Henry Bolinger, George Baltsley, Israel Church, George Cole, Alvin 
Collar, Zephania B. Culbertson, William Connaway, William Crusan, Abel 
Crusan, William H. Cox, Mathew Crooks. Ebenezer Delong, Charles De- 
long, Lester Dilno. Colvert J. Drury, John N. Eberly. Robert Feagler, Leslie 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. lOJ 

Fisher, Lewis Fisher. John Furney, Samuel Ford, William C. Ford, Nathan 
Frederick-son. William Freeman, William Franks, William Fike, Jesse Gin- 
gerick. Samuel George, George W. Hamilton, Marquis L. Hoose, John High, 
Henry Healey, Peleg Hull, Amos Htill, Isaac Hornberger, James S. Hughey, 
David Highes, Benton Hoover, Robert H. Johnson, David Knowderer, Philip 
Kennedy, St. George Lightner, John Lawrence, Asbury J. Long, Joseph 
Lockmire, John P. McMillen, Perry Mullen, John Marcum, James C. Myers. 
Dexter Munger, Reason McCush, Samuel L. Musser, Nathaniel Osburn, 
Henry J. Park, Hezekiah Plummer, John A. Provines, David Rigby. Eli 
Rigby, Riley Rickles, Albert Reed, Levi Rutan, Benjamin F. Sponhower, 
Alfred G. Showers, Nathan M. Showers, Ephraini Shull, Ephraim Shaff- 
stall, Alexander Skinner, James Skinner, Samuel Ulem, John W. Watson, 
Jesse ^^'allace, John C. Weeks, Henry Wagner, James Weir and Jonas Zim- 
merman, Joseph Teegarden, Jacob Kyle, Abraham Weaver, Charles Roberts, 
Robert H. Johnston were members of Companies D, E, F and G. Charles W. 
Campbell was a member of Company D, Thirty-fourth Indiana Volunteer 
Infantry. 

The Thirtieth Indiana \'olunteer Infantry was organized at Fort Wayne, 
Indiana, for the three years' service. With McCook's division in Buell's 
army, the regiment fought bravely at Shiloh, where it lost its colonel. Bass; 
siege of Corinth, the pursuit of Bragg into Tennessee, was with Rosecran's 
army in the movement from Nashville to Murfreesboro. battle of Tullahoma, 
and as a part of the Second brigade, participated in the sanguinary conflict at 
Chickamauga. In the battle of Chickamauga this regiment came on to the 
field about noon of September 19, 1863, and went into action first at the 
Brock field east of the Brotherton house, and was engaged all afternoon in 
assisting in driving the enemy the distance of about a mile east of where they 
first went into action, and was there on the afternoon and again in the night 
fight with Dodge's brigade, on the Alexander and Reed's Bridge road imme- 
diately south of the Winfrey field line. After the battle of Chickamauga 
and the return of the army to Chattanooga, the regiment remainecl at dif- 
ferent stations in Tennessee, and a portion of the regiment re-enlisted as 
veterans at Blue Springs, that state, in January, 1864. The non-veterans 
remained at Blue Springs until April, 1864, the veterans having returned to 
the field, the entire regiment rejoining the Army of the Cumberland under 
command of ISIajor-General George H. Thomas, and took part in the fol- 
lowing battles: Catoosa Springs, Tunnel Hill. Buzzard Roost, Oostenaula 
River, Kingston, Pumpkin Vine Creek, New Hope Church, Kenesaw Moun- 
tain. Marietta. Peach Tree Creek, siege of Atlanta, Jonesboro, and Lovejoy's 



I04 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Station. After the fall of Atlanta the non-veterans were sent home to In- 
diana and mustered out, while the veterans and recruits were attached to the 
Fourth Army Corps and engaged in the battles of Columbia, Spring Hill and 
Franklin. The regiment fought Hood at Nashville, joined in the pursuit of 
him, and after the surrender at .\ppomattox was a patt of the armv of occu- 
pation which was sent to Texas. 

THIRTY-FIFTH INDIANA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

James Abel, Uriah Blue, John Bloomfield, Isaac Farver. Israel Horn, 
Henry M. Horner, Joseph Koch, Richard Kester, Daniel S. Kimes, Henry 
J. Kline, John Leighty, William Monroe, David A. Miller, Judson S. Miller, 
Byron Woodcock, and Jacob Yarnell were members of Company C of this 
regiment. This regiment campaigned through the South about the same as 
the Thirtieth. The regiment was in the battle of Chickamauga, and sustained 
unusually heavy losses. At Kenesaw Mountain later, the regiment again 
imderwent a baptism of fire, and a hand-to-hand conflict \\ith the enemy. 
Many others gave up their lives here, including Major John P. DuiTicy. 

THIRTY-EIGHTH INDIANA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

In Company D of this regiment were the following men from DeKalb 
county: George H. Burns, Jacob Brown, John Bruner, William Bryan, 
James C. Carrell, James C. Delong. Alex. Fountain, Noah Miller and Alex- 
ander Shanks. In Company E were Robert Cochran, George Delano, 
Daniel F. Hammond, Joseph Hose. Solomon Hose, Elijah Imhoff, Thomas 
J. Jones, Adolphus G. Jones, Stephen Larkens, Joseph Pennick. Frank B. 
Sandy, Henry J. Sandy, Silas W. Sinclair. In Company F were Henrj' 
Crooks, Alonzo Concklin, Erastus Finney. Henry Milleman, Francis M. 
Stout. John Freeman, John W. Wood. 

The Thirty-eighth was mustered into the three >-ears' service at New 
Albany, Indiana, on September iS, 1861. with Benjamin F. Scribner, of 
New All-)any, as colonel. The regiment was assigned with Buell's division, 
and campaigned through Kentucky and Tennessee in pursuit of Bragg and 
his Confederates. In the battle of Perryville the regiment took a conspicu- 
ous part, and lost twenty-se\-en men, besides those wounded and made prison- 
ers. 

The regiment was \vith Rosecrans in the Murfreesboro campaign and 
participated in the engagement at Stone's River, losing one hundred men in 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. IO5 

killed and wounded. The regiment was at Hoover's Gap and also at Chicka- 
mauga, where it took part in the engagement at Lookout Mountain and 
Missionary Ridge. In December, 1863, many of the men veteranized, and 
returned to Indiana on veteran furloughs. At the opening of the Atlanta 
campaign, May 7, 1864, this regiment marched with Sherman's army, and 
was engaged in all of the skirmishes and battles of the campaign, namelv : 
Buzzard Roost, Snake Creek Gap, New Hope Church or Pickett's Mills, 
Pine Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain, Marietta, Charrahoochie River, Peach 
Tree Creek, siege of Atlanta, Jonesboro and Lovejoy's Station, and entered 
Atlanta with Sherman's troops. The regiment was mustered out in Tulv. 
1865. 

FORTY-FOURTH INDIANA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

In Company P> of this regiment were the following from this county: 
William Gobal, Ralph Goodrich, Isaac Harrison, Peter Huffman, Clinton 
Scobey, John H. Barnes, James W. Briggs, Joshua Ballinger, Samuel Cum- 
mins, Joseph H. Corder, Francis M. Cox, Isaac R. Gary, Isaac C. Havens, 
John L. Walters. In Company D were Joshua Lounsberry, Francis Bartlett, 
Frederick Bruner, Henry I. Collier, Jacob H. McClellan. David McCord, 
Norman Luce and Henry Luce. In Company F were Captain George W. 
Merrill. Captain Thomas C. Kinmont, Captain John Gunsenhouser. Captain 
Irvin N. Thomas, Captain George H. Casper, Lieutenant James Colgrove, 
Lieutenant .Alexander Kinmont, Lieutenant James AI. Thomas, Captain Solo- 
mon Delong, Lieutenant .Vlfred Rose, James H. Obeli, Wilson Nichols, 
Nathan P. Fuller were sergeants ; James G. Dirrim, Willis Andrews, Francis 
S. Chandler, Andrew J. Stole, Marshall Hadsell, James M. Williman were 
corporals ; Simeon .\ldrick and Trusterman B. Tottcn were musicians : 
Nathan Mathews was wagoner: Henry J. Aliell, David .Andrews, Hollis B. 
Aikens, Michael Brubaker, Otis Blood, Lewis Baird, Wilson S. Barden, 
Isaac Brubaker, William Collier, Joseph Craig, Edward R. Coburn, Daniel 
W. Cole, Calvin Caseber, John G. Casebeer, Oscar 1. CraiiL Peter Country- 
man, Ludwig Countryman, George H. Casper, William Cochran, ^^'illiam 
Diehil, Ezra Dickinson. Richard Dirrim, Isaac Ditmar, Charles O. Danks, 
James Flora, William Friend, Daniel Greenwalt, Hiram Gaff, Frederick 
Ginter, Henrv Gunsenhouser, Chester D. Greemyer, Alexander Hart, John 
H. Hart, David N. Hart, Jacob Hoffman, Allen S. Headley, John Hunbarger. 
Samuel Jacques, Leonard Kirby. Jacob Myers, Heniy Milliman, Warren 
Milliman, Henry L. Monroe, Robert Matthews, Harvey Nichols, .Alexander 
L. Nichols, Orlando Oherlin. George W. Palmer, Henry C. Pryor, Bennett 



lOD ni:K.\I.B COUNTY, INDIANA. 

S. Robe, James Revett. George E. Revett, Samuel R. Rickell. ^^'illiam M. 
Smith, Robert S. Schamp, Thomas O. Sloan, John M. Scott, Nathan Stock- 
well. Lewis R. Tiffany, Albert P. Totten, Henry L. Wallace. John H. Wel> 
ster. Hiram B. ^^'illiams, George W. \\'allace. George W. Weeks, David N. 
Yarrell, Samuel Anderson, INIumford Ashley, James S. Ashley, John Brown, 
James Brubaker, Usury Bowlan, John C. Baum, Henry A. Bailey, Hiram 
Bright, Abraham T. Banta, Andrew J. Banta. George W'. Brown, Seth C. 
Burris, James Carnahan. AA'illiam J. Carr, Amos Camfeld, Nelson Cobell, 
\\'illiam H. Carr, ^^'illiam A. Deihl, Robert W. Ewbanks, Rawlin E. Ford, 
^^'illiam Fisher, John ^^^ Forbes. Samuel Goodman, David and Alonzo E. 
Goff, George W. Groves, George W. Goff, William R. Goff, Benjamin 
Gilley, Robert Gilley, John W. Goldsmith, John W. Gibson, William F. 
Green, Michael Gibbons, Wilson Hyatt, Asoph Harwood, John Harris, Ros- 
well Hunter, Thomas Hendrickson, Anthony Hamm, Alexander C. Huffman. 
George G. Hopkins, Jacob Hicks. James \\'. Hyatt. Jerritt W. Hall, William 

A. Hood. John Hall. William H. H. Joy. Julius Johann. David Jacques, 
Charles Kooster, \\'illiam B. Knowles. Wesley W. Lowry, John Livingstone. 
Covert Lucas. Joseph E. Lough, Basil Lamb, Stephen McCurdy, Resin 
^Maples, William W. McClintock, A\'illiam Moixis, George Mayers, Ezekiel 
Marquis, \\"illiam E. McFarlan, John Xoatestine, Samuel Oberlin, Adam 
Oberlin, Thomas Overton. \\'i]liam H. Potts. David G. Robinson, Franklin 
J. Ritsell, Isaac Rumble. Henry S. Reid. William P. Robb. Jacob Sleutz, 
Henr\- Sleutz Frederick Shock. George T. Shick, John H. Smith, Taylor 
Stewart, Charles Stanke, Alexander Sloan. John C. Smith. John L. Smith. 
John Smith, William C. Spaulding, George P. Sharp, \\'illiam F. Stewart, 
Lorenzo Syphert. William H. Stoy, Simon H. Stewart. George W. Stallings, 
\\'illiam Straine, John Shroder. Jason H. Thruston. William H. Thomas, 
Isom Tull. George W. Townsend. Leander ^"ale. Sidney N. Welch. Henry 
C. \\"hite. David Weather ford. Thomas \\'akeman, Caswell York. In Com- 
pany K were Captain \\'esley Park, Captain John H. Wilson, Captain Moses 

B. A\'illis, Lieutenant Nicholas Ensley, Corporals Hiram Smith, W. H. H. 
Cornell, Cabb Clark. Musicians John M. Kimsey and William T. Kimsey, 
Privates Benjamin F. Cornell. John M. Chilcoat. James M. Chilcoat. Jacob 
Casebeer, Samuel Ensley, John J. Frampton. ^^"illiam Greenamyer, Jerad F. 
Housel. Robert Hall. John H. C. Hoffman. Leonard Hudlemyer. Reuben 
Lockwood. Charles Lockwood. Elijah Lock. Jacob Link. \\'illiam :Middleton. 
Samuel E. Mease. George W. McDorman, Philip Parnell. James E. Pearse. 
Lemuel Rickey. Daniel W. Squier. David Smith. John L. Shatto, Colfenous 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. IO7 

Surface, Joseph Thompson, George F. Wilson, O. A. Whipple, Isaac M. 
Wood, James G. Wiseman, Franklin W. Willis, Levi Wallack, James Ar- 
nold, Fearless Arnold, Samuel E. Anderson, James C. Benson, Shurban 
Bullard, Henry I. Barekman, William H. Boran, John Barnes, John Chilcoat, 
Daniel G. Cook, Joseph Connell, Archibald Curn,-. John ^^'. Chance, Francis 
M. Chamberlin, William H. Clark, Jeremiah Cullison, William Cannon, 
William Qark, Fielding Catt, John Diersch, Andrew F. Dull, Isaac Dun- 
widdie, John D. Elliott, John Englebright. Andrew Ernst. Isaac Ebert, James 
A. Fair, David Frazer, James Foster, Richard Foster, Hiram L. Fanning, 
Levi Guthrie, Alexander D. Green. James Glass, Simon Gerard, Martin L. 
Holcomb, James H. Harkrader. John Hay, \\'illiam A. Harris, Irwin C. 
Harroll. Leonard Hoodlemeyer, Albert Hensler. Charles Hickson, Victor D. 
Hodshire, Abraham W. Hooker, Henrys J. Imboden. James Jones, William 
M. Jordan, Milton Jackson, William H. Javins. Jediah Killum. George W. H. 
Keith, William H. Kynett, August Koehler. L}Tnan Lockwood. ^^'illiam 
Lynch, David C. Lorch, Jerome ilorse. John A. J. Michael. James Montgom- 
ery, Joab Moflfatt. Silas Morehouse. William H. Malott. Samuel Moore, 
Thomas J. Moore, Joseph Muckenstrom, Jacob Xewman. George F. O'Byrne, 
Albert Pepple. DeForrest Parker, Isaac F. Purcell. William A. Ross. Reuben 
E. Re}Tiolds. Matt. Rustan, Francis M. Rust. John M. Ryan, Zachariah 
Rosell, Emmanuel Rex, Joel Smith, Benjamin Sodder. Ambrose Smith, 
Isaiah Smith. Christopher C. Simon, Isaac Snyder, John L. Stacy, George 
Segur. William F. Smart, Adam Stutsman, David R. Thompson. Samuel 
Thomas, Dillard White, Robert White, Charles Westfall. Andrew Welton, 
John Witman, Martin Whittig. David Williams, James E. Washington. Isaac 
Washington, Rufus Webb, Moses B. \\'illis. 

The Forty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry was organized at Fort 
Wayne and was mustered in on October 24. 1861, with Hugh B. Reed as 
colonel. In December it was sent to Henderson, Kentucky, and reported to 
Gen. Thomas L. Crittenden, and by him assigned to Cruft's brigade. The 
regiment participated in the siege of Fort Donelson. where it suffered heavy 
loss. It was engaged both days at Shiloh, losing thirty-three killed and one 
hundred and seventy-seven wounded. The Confederate general. Albert Sid- 
ney Johnson, was killed in front of this regiment at Shiloh. The regiment 
next marched to Corinth, participated in Buell's pursuit of Bragg, engaging 
in the conflict at Perr>ville. Returning with the army through Kentuck->-. it 
again marched into Tennessee and was in the battle of Silver Spring. When 
the Armv of the Cumberland entered upon the Murfreesboro campaign, un- 



I08 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

der Rosecrans, this regiment participated in the battle of Stone's River, 
losing heavily. This was on December 31, 1862, and January i, 2 and 3, 
1863. The regiment was actively engaged in the battle at Chickamauga. On 
the afternoon of the first day in this battle, the regiment supported Wilder's 
brigade ; on the second day, after having assisted in meeting one of the sever- 
est charges of Stewart's divisions, the regiment retired and held off the 
enemy until four o'clock, when a flanking movement compelled their further 
retirement. On the third and last day the regiment fought in line with its 
division until the break in the center of the Union lines, when it repaired to 
Thomas' line and fought against Harker's brigade until ordered from the 
field at five o'clock. Later it engaged at Missionary Ridge. In October, 
1863, the regiment was assigned to provost duty, re-enlisting as veterans. 
On September 14, 1865, the regiment was mustered out. During the war 
the regiment lost by death, wounds and disease, four hundred and eight men. 

EIGHTY-EIGHTH IXr)I.\X.\ \"OLl'NTEER INF.\NTRY. 

With the Eighty-eighth were \\'illiam D. ATyers as surgeon and Henry 
W. Willard, hospital steward. Captains Jensen P. Beers, James H. Steele and 
Elam B. Cutter, Lieutenants Samuel L. Stough, Walter E. Boley, Royal H. 
Edgerly andWilliam A. Fisher. Sergeants George Sharp, David Woods, Jo- 
siah C. Smith, Corporals Calvin W. McQueen, George Jones, Matthew E. 
Rathbum, George W. Sanders, Josiah Baughman, Musicians George W. 
Edinger and Franklin N. Beidler, Wagoner Thomas H. Rogers. Recruits as 
follows: Charles Bowman, Ira S. Bailey, Lewis Brown, Thomas Brown, 
George W. Baughman, John Bromley, George E. Blaker, Harvey D. Bigelow, 
John Bruner, Emanuel Beck, John L. Cotrill, Ezra Grain, John V. Collins, 
Charles H. Chittenden, Abram L. Canon, George Daniels, Archibald Dan- 
iels, William Duck, Kinsey Daniels, Samuel Day, George W. Everett, John 
Ferriman, Henry Frick, Lawrence Fetters, John H. Franks, \\''illiam H. 
Gonser, George Gundrum, David Goodrich, William Hornberger, Franklin 
B. Hendricks, Jacob Humbarger, Jesse Hively, Daniel F. Hamon, Simeon F. 
Hammon, John P. Hale, Allen Johnson Levi Ingle, Daniel B. Keller, Alonzo 
A. Kester, William Krontz, John P. Kester, George J. Link, Amos Lower, 
Isaiah Lykins, Daniel Lidy, Robert A. Matthews, Sheridan E. Mott, Elijah 
Mudge, James G. Morrow. John T. McAdanis. Francis Mills, Joseph T. Mar- 
tin, Jacob North, Christopher Nugen, Seneca Nodine. Truman J. Needham, 
John Packer, Thomas J. Reynolds, Frank W. Railing. Jonathan Steward, 
Tohn M. Steward. Uriah Smith. Park Seberts, George R. Smith, Jacob She- 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. lOQ 

waiter, William Shoup, John K. Sinn, Thomas Tomlinson, George Teutsch, 
Lemonsky R. Willard. Henry L. Williams, James D. Woods, Henry W. 
Willard, Israel Yoh, John A. Zimmerman, Jacob Brown, John Bruner, 
George W. Burns, William A. Bryan, Oscar P. Carver, Charles C. Corill. 
James C. Belong, Joseph C. Dickson, Alexander Fountain, Daniel F. Ham- 
mond, Marcus L. Hoose, Benjamin F. Leasure, Noah Miller, John H. Reese, 
Emile Sholtze, Albert B. Shirts, Andrew E. Shanks, Silas K. Sinclair, John 
H. Smith, David Woods. In Company C was Philip W. Silver. In Com- 
pany D there were Milton Horn, William Johnson. George Keith, John C. 
Stafford. In Company E was John R. Lyon ; in Company G, William A. 
Goodrich. 

In Company H were Captain Lewis J. Blair, afterward major, lieuten- 
ant-colonel and brigadier-general ; Captain Dexter L. Thomas ; Lieutenants 
Philander Smith, Joseph Rainer, William Dillworth, Andrew Yeagley, 
George F. Delong; Sergeants Hiram W. Hatch, Samuel Headley, William 
A. Rex ; Corporals Alexander Bailey, Washington Testison, Harvey C. Plat- 
ter, Joseph A. Coats. William Robertson, Alanzo Conklin, John Hull, Thomas 
F. Benjamin; Musicians Edwin M. Smurr, Jacob Danor; Wagoner Henry 
May. Recruits were : James Armstrong, Stillman Akins, William A. Boyer, 
Alvin D. Beggs, William Brownlee, Leroy Blood, Elias Blood, Austin Conk- 
lin, Wesley V. Cosper, Andrew Cole, William Crooks, William Deemes, 
Daniel D. Diehl, Samuel Duck, Abraham Emminger, William Evey, Michael 
Fusselman, David Franks. Robert Goodwin, Lawrence Gibson, John Hamil- 
ton, Joseph M. Hart, Isaac Hart, z\lbert Henry, George Henry, Michael 
Johnson, Thomas Krise, Daniel Krise, David Lee, Heni-y K. Lawrence, Isaac 
Meese, Albin Melton, Dyer R. Mathews, William Meek, John Melton, Sam- 
uel C. Osborn, John Packer, William O. Packer, Charles S. Piyor, Ira W. 
Pryor, Jacob Pressler, Simeon Rose, Samuel R. Stanfer, Jacob S. Stout, 
Benjamin Suly, William Sawyer, Henry Saylor, Francis Shrull, John Swan- 
good, Levi Stoy, Jonathan Snively, Isaac Seely, Levi Smith, Franklin Stout, 
Chockly W. Thomas, Henry S. Vestal. Walter T. Watkins, Oliver H. Wid- 
ney, Jacob Wineland, Joseph Widney, Edwin D. White, Eli M. Welch, 
Elmore Wyatt, Philip Yarnell, Christopher Yader, John H. Yohe, William 
Yeagley, John Yocum, Benjamin F. Zigler, John Bills, Alonzo Conklin, 
Robert Cochran, Henry Crooks, George Delano. Isaac G. Dohner, Joseph 
Hose, Solomon Hose, Dewitt C. Headley, Elijah Imhoff, Thomas I. Jones. 
Stephen Likens, Henry Milliman, Daniel S. McNabb, Henry M. Rockwell, 
Joseph Penicks, Frank B. Sandy, Henry J. Sandy. Francis M. Stout, Luther 
Smith, Thomas Stafford, John Treman, John W. Woods. 



no DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

The Eighty-eightli Indiana Volunteer Infantry was rendez\-oused at 
Fort Wayne, Indiana, mustered in on August 29. 1862, with George Humph- 
rey as colonel. Immediately the regiment was ordered to Louisville to de- 
fend that city against the supposed advance of General Kirhy Smith. The 
regiment next was assigned to the Seventeenth brigade, Rousseau's division, 
and marched in pursuit of Bragg. At Perryville the regiment won their 
colors by meritorious conduct and underwent heavv losses. The regiment 
moved with Rosecrans' army in the campaign against Murfreesboro, cul- 
minating in the battle of Stone's River. Fifty-six men were lost in this fatter 
engagement. The regiment next, as a part of the Army of the Cumberland, 
went through middle Tennessee, participating in the battles of Hoover's 
Gap, TuHahoma, Hillsboro and Elk River. On September 19 and 20, 1863, 
the regiment took part in the bloody engagement at Chickamauga, being on 
the first day in the vicinity of Glass Mill, where, with its brigade, it supported 
Bridge's and a part of Shultz's batteries in an engagement with tlie enemy. 
In the evening it moved to the Brotherton place and bivouacked. On Sunday 
morning, September 20, it moved to position on the west side of the La- 
fayette and Chattanooga road, south of the McDonald house, where its 
brigade, being assailed by the brigades of Adams and Stovall, was broken, 
and the regiment forced southwestward toward Snodgrass Hill. It there 
took position in support of General Negley's artillery, and afterward accom- 
panied this officer to Rossville. With Hooker, on the night of November 
24, this regiment took part in the scaling of Lookout Mountain and the "Bat- 
tle Among the Clouds." On the 25th it was in the charge on Missionary 
Ridge. Later tlie men fought at Graysville and Ringgold. Georgia. When 
Sherman started his campaign against Atlanta this regiment was a part of 
the troops and was notably engaged at Buzzard Roost, Resaca, Dallas, Kene- 
saw. Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta and Utoy Creek. The regiment continued 
with Sherman's long campaign, performing well the various duties imposed; 
it fought at the bloody conflict of Bentonville on March ig. 1865. After the 
surrender of the Confederate armies the regiment was transported to Wash- 
ington, D. C, and marched in the grand review at that place. The regiment 
was mustered out on Jnne 7. 1865. 

ONE HUNDREDTH INDI.\NA VOLUNTEER INF.\NTRY. 

Charles A. ]\lunn was a chaplain, and David J. Swartz an assistant .sur- 
geon in this regiment. In Company A were: Captains r^Iarquis L. Rhodes, 
Ezra D. Hartman, Lucius Barnev, John H. Moore and Eli J. Sherlock; 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. Ill 

Lieutenants David J. Swartz and Albeit A. Waters; Sergeants John S. 
Kindell, William C. Lockhart; Corporals Cleveland A. Klien, Daniel DeWitt, 
John M. Hall, Albert Robbins, Allen Devilbiss, James P. Walker; Musicians 
David C. Bodine, George Shuman, Joseph C. Durbin. Recruits were; Ab- 
raham Anthony, Martin Arthur, George Beams, John W. Boren, Irving 
Butler, Artemus Boyles, Reason Buchanan, George Buchanan, John A. Bu- 
chanan, Harrison Culver, Jonathan Critchet, William H. Dimmitt, James 
Davis, John Da\is, William H. Fair, Samuel Frees, Hammond Frees, John 
Fiant. Henry Friedt, Lemuel Farver, William H. Graham, Simeon Guthrie, 
Abel R. Goodenough, John Grubb, Napoleon A. Haines, Jonathan Houser, 
Gideon Houser, Jolin Flursh, Benjamin Hursh, James Hammond, Samuel 
Holden, Wesley J. Jones, Harrison Long, William Likens, John McNabb, 
William B. Maxwell, George W. Melvin, Wallace J. Melvin, John R. Mohler. 
Benjamin P. McGoon, John McConnell, Silas C. Miller, George Noel, Enos 
Osburn, John S. dinger, Daniel Olinger, Lewis F. Penry, Daniel Piffer, 
Joseph Piffer, Levi B. Powell, Hiram Palmer, Joseph C. Prosser, Charles T. 
Rogers, John B. Raub, John C. Symonds, John Sevander, Asher Squires, 
Nathan Squires, Ansel M. Shaw, Isaac Smith, Orlander Skinner, Jeremiah 
Ulm. John D. Vanlier, Benjamin S. Wiltrout, Calvin J. Wearley, Henry 
Wolf, Richard Wyatt, Walter Cordery, Alden Nickerson, Moses Whit- 
comb was in Company E. In Company K were Louis B. Burdick, George J. 
Haswell, Andrew Haynes, Frank Haynes, Jacob D. Jackson, Benjamin Phil- 
lips, John T. Stouffer, William A. Vanwormer, George Barntrager, Lewis 
R. Haswell, George Simons. 

The One Hundredth Indiana Volunteer Infantr)- was recruited from 
the eighth and tenth congressional districts, under Col. Sandford J. Stough- 
ton, and mustered into the service on the loth of September, 1862, left for 
the front on the nth of November and became attached to the Army of the 
Tennessee on the 26th. The regiment participated in as many as twenty- 
five battles, together with skirmishes during fully one-third of its term of 
service, and claimed a list of casualties mounting up to four hundred and 
sixty-four. It was mustered out of ser\n"ce at Washington on the 9th of 
Tune and reported at Indianapolis for discharge on the 14th of June, 1865. 

ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTEENTH INDIANA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY 

SIX MONTHS. 

In Company F of this regiment were : Captain Manius Buchanan ; Lieu- 
tenants Cyms F. Mosier and George L. Farnum ; Sergeants Chalon D. Cogs- 



112 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

well, Oliver H. Widney, George N. Cornell, Henry S. Hartley, Amos R. 
Walters, Erastus Pyle; Corporals John T. Fickas, Samuel Tanner, George 
Beckley, Alvin Campbell, Howard S. McNabb, Albert M. Alton, Erastus 
Finney; Musician Leander J. Diehl; Wagoner Ethan Anderson. Recruits in 
this company were: Squire Admire, Jesse F. Atcheson, Elzy Andrews, 
William B. Brown, Benjamin C. Bohn, Charles Bohn, Thomas W. Baker, 
Jasper Barmour, Martin Castleman, Robert E. Cherry, Loudon Cronk, Will- 
iam Crain, Thomas Campbell, William Campbell, Humphrey E. Chilcoat, 
Henry Crooks, John E. Chasey, Robert Cochran, Oscar P. Carver, James 
Belong, Philip E. Emery, Joseph W. Franklin, James Fike, Abraham Fike, 
William F"isher, Augustus C. Fisher, Franklin C. Finch, David Fry, Jere- 
miah Goodwell, William Guirer, Anthony Grite, David E. Hardin, John 
Hillis, Ami Higby, Jacob Huffman, Thomas Hefflinger, Stephen Hughey, 
Solomon Hartman, Francis Hart, Lewis Imhoff, David Jacques, James John- 
son, Alexander Jarvis, George Kreger, John Kreger, Augustus C. Kane, John 
W. Kane, James Louthan, James McCool, William IMcClure, Thomas Moore, 
Josephus Oliver, Cyrus OHnger, Thomas Rawson, Henry Rich, F"rancis M. 
Remington, Wallace Robbins, William H. Richardson, Elias Shull, Leonard 
Shull, Isaiah Smith, William Stafford, James H. Sandy, David A. Stone, 
Rufus Taylor, Jonathan J. Totten, Amos R. Walters, David K. Williams, 
Emanuel Wright, James Woods, Sidney Welch, Alson Woodward. Irvin 
Waters, John Wallace, Almond Wilkinson, John T. Young. 

The One Hundred and Eighteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, whose 
organization was completed on the 3d of September, 1863, under Col. George 
W. Jackson, joined the One Hundred and Sixteenth at Nicholasville, and 
sharing in its fortunes, being in the movement on Cumberland Gap, returning 
to the state capital on the fourteenth of February, 1864. The casualties were 
comprised of a list of fifteen killed and wounded. 

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-NINTH INDIANA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY 

SIX MONTHS. 

Solomon Delong was a major, afterward lieutenant-colonel, in this regi- 
ment. In Company A were: Lewis Dunn, Thaddeus S. Bonney, John A. 
Mason, William Brown, George Casebeer, Ephraim Enzer, William Fisher, 
Alonzo Lower, James Myers, Ira Nelson, Charles Nelson, Daniel Nelson, 
John C. Steeley, William H. Taylor, Josiah B. Veley. In Company C were : 
Hiram Baer, John W. Cordry, Noah Hively, Cyrus Martin, Jacob Swartz, 
Amos Swartz. In Company F were: Solomon DeLong, Obadiah Baer, 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. II3 

Philander Sniitli, Henry C. Beckley, John O. McNabb, Gideon Cogsdill, 
Samuel WilHams, Alva Brown, Thomas O. Sloan, John Clark, Uriah J. 
Shirts, Alexander B. Dowell, Newton M. Adams, Edward Rupert, Milo F. 
Calkins, Leslie Knaff, Walter Abel, David W. Adams, John M. Amrine, 
George A. Bishop, Cyrus Beard, John Brubaker, John Crouse, Madison I. 
Chilson, Chalon D. Cogsdill, George Cole, Daniel Chilcoat, David Delong, 
Henry Delong, Alfred Delong, Samuel Depew, Manlius E. Dyke, Abraham 
Erl, William N. Faurot, Nelson Fusselman, Samuel A. Fowler, Gustin Flint, 
Clark W. Griffith, Lorenzo Haynes, David J. Hively, Henry Herman, John 

B. Hawkins, Wilson S. Headley, Joseph Hosier, Daniel, John and Samuel 
Hosier. Lewis D. Hosier. Henry W. Hobnic, Alexander Hart. J. H. Houser. 
Paul A. Joray, Andrew L Kimes. David Kroh. Drayton Loomis, ]\Iartin 
Luttman, Henry P. McConnell, Judson S. Moody, Jacob S. Morrow, Joel A. 
Milliman, Edward Mathews, Volney F. Mathews, Charles Proctor, Edward 
Rawson, Isaac Reed, Henry Revert, Jacob Revert, George Smith, David A. 
Sloan, Abraham Staley, John W. Squires, Samuel G. Shook, Horace Shoe- 
maker, Peter Shirey, David Williams, James Weir, John C. Wilson, Abra- 
ham H. Whirley, David A. Wiley, John R. Wendell. William Wert, William 
R. Wiltrout, Newman Whiffle, Moses Yater, Frederick Zubrook. In Company 
H were Jacob North. John H. Freeby. John K. Sleutz. In Company I were 
Delos Lockwood, Francis B. Shaver, Harrison ^^^ellington. 

The One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry was 
mustered in at Michigan City in March, 1864, under Col. Charles Case. The 
regiment moved to the front on April 7', 1864. and was assigned to Schofield's 
division. The battles of Resaca, Dallas, New Hope Church, Lost Mountain. 
Kenesaw, Atlanta, Jonesboro. Dalton, Brentwood Hills, Nashville, and the 
six days' skirmish of Columbia were all participated in by this regiment. 
On August 29. 1865. the men were disbanded at Charlotte. North Carolina. 

ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-SECOND INDIANA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY 

HUNDRED D.\YS. 

In Company A of this short term regiment were : Henry Frick. James 

C. Mills, Emmett Baxter. George Baxter, William Campbell, Abraham Gin- 
dlesparger, William Gindlesparger, George Kreger, John Kreger, Aaron 
Rigby. David Rigby, Eli Rigby, Elzie Speer, Robinson E. Speer, Isaac 
Treesh, Levi. Treesh, Jacob Vail and Albertus Widener. In Company D 

(8) 



114 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

were : John W. Bowman, James Balenline. John Debelbus, Benjamin Funk, 
Anthony Palmer, John Pifer, John Worden. In Company F was Samuel 
Oberholtzer. In Company G were : John Hettinger and George H. Points. 
This regiment was recruited at Fort Wayne under Col. I. M. Comparet, 
and was mustered into service at Indianapolis in November, 1864. After a 
steadv and effective service it returned to Indianapolis on the i6th of July, 
1865. 

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-SECOND INDIAN \ VOLUNTEER INFANTRY 

HUNDRED DAYS. 

In this regiment Whedon W. Griswold was commissioned a colonel. 
James N. Chamberlain was a surgeon and \\'illiam M. Mercer assistant sur- 
geon with the troops. In Company B were : J. O. Casebeer, Jacob W. Case- 
beer, Albert M. Casebeer, Andrew C. Fuller, William M. Fuller, John G. 
McClellan. In Company C were : William Lemasters, Humphrey E. Chil- 
coat, Loami C. Bair, William H. Coats, Edward C. Drowley, David Jen- 
nings, David McGrady, Henry H. Rheineohl, Uriah Swager, James W. 
Wycoff. William Wycoff. George Wanemaker. In Company H were : Hol- 
land K. Moss. Riley Rickets, Newton Boyles, James Bryan, Albert Crooks, 
Abraham Fike, Jacob Furney, Calvin P. Houser, Edward Jones, Uriah E. 
Johnson, James Knight, George Michaels, Philip Nussdorfer, Owen W. Rum- 
mell, Hiram Summerlot. John W. Shore. In Company K Orville Squires 
was enrolled. 

This regiment was recruited at Indianapolis under Col. W. W. Gris- 
wold, and left for Harper's Ferry on the i8th of March, 1865. It was at- 
tached to the provisional divisions of the Shenandoah army, and engaged 
until the first of September, when it was discharged at Indianapolis. 

OTHER ENLISTMENTS. 

Robert Lock was enrolled in the Twelfth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. 
Orville Stout was in the Seventeenth. Henrx- Bungard and Samuel Hart 
were in Company C of the Forty-second. Joseph Hacker was in the Forty- 
eighth. John R. Hamacher, Isaac Ball, Henry Mills, .^sa Carter, Pleasant 
R. Cravens, Pleasant A. Cravens, John A. Cravens, William ,\. Whitson. 
"William H. Cravens, George F. McClough, William U. Fitch were in the 
Forty-ninth. Hamacher was a major. Thomas Lypselt, Joseph G. Chacey. 
William Seberts, Edward Boren, Philip Cobler, lolin Link, Preston Raw- 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. II5 

son, Samuel J. Tarney, Curtis Lochemeyer were in the Seventy- fourth. 
William Wernce, Marcus M. Baird, Benjamin Ensign and John Presler were 
in the Eighty-seventh. Zyra H. Conley was in the Ninety-first. In the One 
Hundred and Nineteenth, Seventli Cavalry, were: Eli Dahuff, Moses Fost- 
naucht, John Fitch, Richard Guthrie, Samuel D. Hoffman, George Hamlin 
and Robert E. Cherry. In the One Hundred and Twenty-seventh, Twelfth 
Cavalry, were: George Austin, Alexander Bailey, John H. Boley, Israel 
Church, John Deetz, John W. Griffith, Sidney P. Jones, Franklin T. Johnson, 
Milton C. Jones, George Kirkendall, Joseph Myers, David Nounnem, Joseph 
Roberts, John Shaw, Joseph Werrich, Samuel Cramer, Isaac C. Dirrim, Sam- 
uel Duck, Henry W. Gondy, Albert J. Gondy, Clement Gillespie, William 
Wilkins, Alfred J. Britton, Alva N. Carpenter, Jacob Finch, Charles H. Hay- 
wood, Hugh McClelian, Joseph Pulver, Charles Swan, Willard G. Story. 
Isaac Wright was in the One Hundred and Fortieth. 

SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. 

At the beginning of the fiscal year. r-SgS, the National Guard of Indiana 
consisted of forty-one companies of infantry and three batteries of artillery, 
with an aggregate of twenty-eight hundred and twenty-two men. On or 
about April i, 1898. war between the United States and Spain being immi- 
nent, company commanders were instructed to recruit their companies up 
to the maximum number of eighty-four. Meanwhile the clouds of war were 
growing darker and darker, until April 19th, when Congress passed resolu- 
tions of intervention, which were approved on the 22d, and on the 23d the 
President issued his proclamation, calling for one hundred and twenty-five 
thousand volunteers to serve in the army of the United States for two years. 

On April 25, 1898, the declaration of war was passed by Congress and 
the President empowered tn use the full land and na\-al forces of the United 
States to carrv the declaration into effect. At 6:15 p. m. on April 25, the 
following telegram was recei\ed from the secretary of war to the governor 
of Indiana, James A. Mount: 

"Washington, D. C, April 25, 1898. 
"The Governor of Indiana, Indianapolis, Ind. 

"The number of troops from your state under the call of the President 
dated April 23, 1898. will be four (4) regiments of infantry and two (2) 
light batteries of artillery. It is the wish of the President that the regiments 
of the National Guard or state militia shall be used as far as their numbers 
will permit, for the reason that they are armed, equipped and drilled. Please 



Il6 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

wire as early as possible what equipments, ammunition, arms, blankets, tents, 
etc., you will require. 

"Please also state what troops will be ready for muster into United 
States service. Details to follow by mail. 

"R. A. Alger, 
"Secretary of War." 

Immediately Governor Mount issued his call for the required quota. In 
numbering the regiments after being mustered into the United States service 
it was determined to begin the numbers where the war of the rebellion left 
ofif. The Third Regiment, being the first ready to be mustered, was desig- 
nated as the One Hundred and Fifty-seventh. The Second was next, and 
was made the One Hundred and Fifth-eighth. The First came third, and 
the Fourth, fourth. This system has again reverted to the primal numbers 
at present. 

DEKALB COUNTY MILITIA. 

Company K, of the Third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, was raised in 
Auburn, DeKalb county, on January 12, 1892, and on the outbreak of war 
was assigned as K, of the Third Infantry. James F. Lahnum was captain; 
Othello B. Rufner, first lieutenant; John J. Wolf, second lieutenant; Morton 
Hilkey, first sergeant; John W. Brown, quartermaster-sergeant; Irwin E. 
Rader, Benjamin F. Jolliff, Worthy E. Keller, Charles A. Picker, sergeants ; 
Phillip Holman, Charles T. Elson, Alexander McDonald, James Williamson, 
George W. Wolf, Charles Martin, corporals; Dick McNany and John R. 
McDowell, musicians; Wilson Feagler, artificer, and William O. Leighty, 
wagoner. There were eighty-four privates in this company from this county. 

Company I was organized at Waterloo, DeKalb county, on September 
15, 1879, and was assigned as Company A, Third Infantry, afterward as 
Company I. Third Infantry, Indiana National Guard. Levi L. Denison was 
captain; Charles V. Barr, first lieutenant; Wilson H. Denison, second lieuten- 
ant; Daniel W. Rohrbough, first sergeant: Freeman Moore, quartermaster- 
sergeant; Charles A. McCague, Pearl J. Greeting, sergeants: Maynard F. 
Hine, Harry W. Beidler, Frederick G. Beidler, corporals; also Edward D. 
Willis and George W. Getts : Dell B. Ackley and William A. Beecher, musi- 
cians; Harley Thomas, artificer; Peter F. Ankney. wagoner. There were 
fifty recniits from this county and many from outside territory. 

A. L. Kuhlman was a major of the Third, or One Hundred and Fifty- 
seventh, and Clvde L. Hine was a sergeant-major. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 117 



PERIOD OF SERVICE. 



The One Hundred and Fifty-seventh Regiment, Indiana Volunteer In- 
fantry, arrived at Camp Mount, Indianapolis, on April 26, 1898, under 
orders from the governor, for the purpose of being mustered into the service 
of the United States. Companies of this regiment came from Knox, Fort 
Wayne, Goshen, North Manchester, Elkhart, South Bend, Angola, Waterloo, 
Auburn, Ligonier, and Plymouth. The work of preparing for muster was 
necessarily slow, as all officers and men had to pass a physical examination, 
and be accepted by tlie surgeons, before they would be accepted by the United 
States officers. 

The regiment was mustered into the volunteer service on May 10, 1898, 
and left for Camp Thomas, Chickamauga Park, Georgia, on Sunday, May 
15th, and on arriving there on May 17th went into camp; left Camp Thomas 
June I St, for Port Tampa City, Florida, and arrived there on June 3d ; left 
Port Tampa City, July 29th, for Femandina, Florida, arriving there on July 
30th; remained at Fernandina until August 30th, when it was ordered to 
Indianapolis, for muster out of service, where it arrived on September 2d, 
was furloughed for thirty days on September loth, and was finally mustered 
out and discharged November i, 1898. 



CHAPTEr< VI. 



REMINISCENCES. 



WESLEY PARK S TALE. 

For the readers of this history there is preserved the personal narrative 
of Wesley Park, the first settler and founder of the city of Auburn, the 
present county seat. His account runs as follows : 

"In the fall of 1835 George Stone, Hiram Johnston and myself left 
Licking county, Ohio, in a two-horse buggy to seek a home in what was then 
called the West. We went by way of Columbus, Sandusky, Maumee. De- 
fiance, Fish Creek and Lima, to South Bend. We then returned to Lima, 
where Johnston and Stone settled and started a tannery. I returned to Fish 
Creek and entered land adjoining John Houlton's. I then returned to Ohio 
and stayed until February, 1836. Started to Indiana then with a drove of 
cattle and load of dried fruits, got to Lima, sold out and started, in company 
with John D. Howe, Esq., to the center of the new county, afterward called 
DeKalb, to locate a site for a county seat. 

"We got to Pigeon river, and the same canoe upsetting, I swam over the 
stream. Howe came over in the canoe, swimming his horse alongside. 
Stayed all night at Glover's. Started in the morning on our journey and 
that night reached section 13, township 34 north, range 13 east (Union town- 
ship- now), and lay out in the woods. The snow was four inches deep. We 
kindled a fire and I peeled bark to lie down on, but Howe, being tired or lazy, 
or both, laid down on the snow. In the morning he had melted his whole 
length in the snow and was wet, but I was diy. I lay all night with my rifle 
by my side to be prepared for the wolves that howled around continually. 
After hunting a day for the best site, decided on the piece of land where 
Auburn now is. Entered the land, and laid out the town. I then put up a 
shanty, ten by twelve feet and cut a road through to Pleasant Lake ; brought 
through a cart load of goods with a yoke of oxen and a milk cow. After- 
ward Joseph Miller and I started from William Miller's, I with my cart and 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. I I9 

oxen and he with me to help cut the road, being nothing but a trace with the 
logs still in and too narrow for a cart, as will be hereafter noticed. 

"My object was to get through by the way of Blair's mill to Fort Wayne 
for a load of provisions. It was afternoon before we started, and night over- 
took us near the little creek that crosses the Fort Wayne road near Mr. John 
Grube's. We had no provisions along, as we expected to get through to 
Blair's. The cow, however, that I brought through from Pleasant Lake, 
being used to following the team, was fortunately with us, and I milked her 
and told Miller that milk was good enough for me. Miller did not like to 
drink the new milk, but there was no alternative, so he took a good draught. 
It did not lie well on his stomach, and he soon threw it up. The next morn- 
ing, after lying out through the night, we ctit through to the mill and I went 
on to Fort Wayne and Miller returned to get his breakfast, no doubt with a 
good appetite. 

"Getting back with my provisions, I set up tavern in my shanty. I did 
my own cooking, and was crowded with travelers and land hunters, who 
came to have me show them land to enter. One night I kept fifteen men who 
very nearly filled my hotel. Some lay on a shelf, and the rest on the ground 
under it, so that there was plenty of bed room. After eating up the first load 
of provisions. T went to Fort Wayne for another. On my return, the Little 
Cedar was so high that I had to swim my oxen and carry the load and cart 
by pieces over the creek on a log, as I had adopted as my motto : 'Go ahead.' 
Got back again finally to the hotel. 

ARRIVED AT THE SITE OF AUBURN. 

"I kept travelers, showed land, and erected a cabin eighteen by twenty 
feet, one and a half stories high, with a roof of rafters and clapboards. It 
stood on the lot close to the old water saw-mill. I then returned to Ohio 
and brought out my wife, Sophia, and my son, Amos, then a child. Launcelot 
Jugman and family also came with me. We all arrived at Auburn on the 
sixth day of August, 1836. We laid down a few puncheons, and went to 
housekeeping. A few days' work completed our cabin. 

"In the winter of 1836 the act passed the Legislature to organize DeKalb 
county. Littlefield, of Lagrange, Gilmore, of Steuben, and Robert Work, of 
Allen, were appointed commissioners to locate the county seat. I was ap- 
pointed by the governor, sheriff of the new county, with authority to appoint 
the place for the elections in the few precincts in the county, and to receive 
and forward the returns. The result of the election is stated elsewhere. 



I20 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

"After the organization of the county my house served as court house, 
jail, hotel, church, cooking room, sleeping apartment, etc. 

"As sheriff appointed, and afterward elected. I had no jail but the upper 
chamber of my cabin. I used to put prisoners up and then take away the 
ladder and tell them to stay there, and they always did so. 

"The lower chamber was the court house. During the sitting of court 
it had to suspend until dinner was cooked. This gave the judge time for a 
nap, which was very desirable, as he was generally fatigued and sometimes 
rather boozy. Charles Ewing was the president judge. He was a brother to 
the celebrated fur traders, W. G. and G. W. Ewing. Judge Yates has been 
spoken of as an odd genus of a backwoodsman. One day he got 'tight,' and 
sentenced Jo. Bashford to receive a whipping and swore that as he was the 
court and had passed sentence, he would inflict the penalty. As the judge 
was making toward the criminal with this avowed intention, I seized him and 
gave him a whirl, told him plainly that if the court persisted in inflicting the 
penalty threatened, the sheriff would put the court 'up the ladder.' Upon 
this, the court acknowledged the authority of the sheriff, and adjourned peace- 
fully. 

TRYING TIMES. 

"Will you allow me now to go back to the winter of 1836 and 1837 and 
relate some instances of that hard winter? There were now about thirty 
families in the county and many of them suffered severely, having to bring 
all of their provisions from Fort Wayne or the northern prairies, with scarce- 
ly anything that could be called roads. At one time our corn cost us three 
■dollars per bushel. I saw teams that had to travel seventy-five miles for pro- 
visions. I never drove more than sixty miles for com, beyond Fort Wayne 
up the St. Mary's river. It was a trying time for me and my wife, but she 
-was always cheerful. I took the rheumaitsm and lay several weeks. In De- 
cember the snow fell two feet deep. 

"Emigrants were still coming in. A man, woman and child left Pleasant 
Lake with a wagon and a yoke of cattle to go ten miles south of Auburn. 
One of their oxen mired down in Smithfield township, eight miles north of 
Auburn. There was then no house between Steubenville and Auburn. The 
mired ox died, and they turned the other loose and started for Auburn afoot, 
carrying the child. The waters were then high, and they had to wade the 
small streams. About nine o'clock at night they reached our cabin, with 
clothes frozen above the waist. We gave them dry clothes and a warm 
supper and kept them until the roads were broken. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 121 

"A few moments after the arrival of these sufferers, a traveler came 
in and told us that a man and a boy were out in the trail about six miles in 
a suffering condition, not being able to strike a fire, and the man so frozen 
as to be unable to travel. On receiving this information, Wesley White and 
William Palmer got up the pony and started for the sufferers. They found 
the man on section 9, township 34, range 13. (We always counted by sec- 
tions as the trail was very crooked). They got him on the pony and brought 
him in about midnight, frozen to the knees ; yet he contended that he was not 
cold. We got his legs into a tub of spring water, and thus drew out the 
frost. But the boy must be saved. The old man offered us fifty cents to 
bring him in, which led me to administer him a severe rebuke. 

"I told him if the boy was not worth more than fifty cents, he was not 
worth bringing in. He was then ten miles out, in snow two feet deep, among 
swamps filled with water and swollen streams. 

"No money, however, was needed to induce us to go to his rescue. He 
had kept traveling and was thus saved from freezing. 

"They proved to be Mr. Graden and son. of Noble county. They left 
home in pursuit of cattle. The snow commenced falling, and they traveled 
on through Fairfield township and until they struck the trace and knew not 
which way to turn. They were well provided for at the cabin and in a few 
weeks were able to return home. 

"Wesley White, who was so active in the above rescue, was a good man. 
He had come down from Lima to stake out some lots. 

"He afterward went to Sparta, Noble county. He was deputy clerk 
for Isaac Spencer, and afterward clerk of Noble county. 

"After thus saving the life of others, he was drowned in Elkhart river, 
west of Albion. William Palmer was a rather mischievous old bachelor, 
and loved to play pranks on the Indians, who used to annoy us considerably, 
although they furnished us with venison, bear meat, turkeys, cranberries, 
etc., for money or such things as we had to exchange. 

"They were honest, and some of them religious, before the whites gave 
them fire water and stole their ponies and blankets. 

"Thv used frequently to apply to me to take away 'bad Indian' when- 
ever any of their number misbehaved. After the whites had created in them 
the unnatural appetite, they were vei-y fond of whiskey. One day a poor 
squaw came to my house and begged hard for whiskey. Palmer took the 
pepper-sauce bottle and handed it to her: she took a very hearty drink, but 
as soon as she had removed the bottle from her lips, she began to spit, 
sputter, salaver and holler 'pizen ! pizen !' while Bill Palmer, the perpetrator 



122 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

of the joke, rolled and laughed to his hearts content. After her sufferings 
were over, I and my good Sophia took a good laugh at her, and she never 
troubled us again. 

INDIAN CUSTOMS. 

"The Pottawatomies and Miamis were the principal tribes in DeKalb 
county. Their manner of burying the dead was to dig a grave eighteen 
inches deep, put in the dead, cover with leaves, and then build a tight pen 
of poles over the grave. Sometimes they cut down a tree, split off a piece 
from the top of the log, dug out a trough, put in the body, and then covered 
it up closely with poles. They burnt the leaves around these burying places 
every fall, to keep the fire in the woods from getting to them. They dis- 
liked very much to have their dead interfered with, yet it was done by un- 
principled whites. It was not uncommon to see their graves opened, the 
bones scattered around, and the skull of an Indian set out in the log in full 
sight. 

"The spring of 1837 was very gladly hailed by the settlers, after stem- 
ming the storms and suffering the privations of a hard winter. During this 
season emigrants began to come in more plentifully and several cabins went 
up in Auburn. I had given one-third of the lots to the county, receiving no 
compensation but the assurance that it would be permanently the county seat. 
In most cases, too, I gave a lot to every settler building thereon. This year, 
1837, I and Mr. Ogden built the saw mill. The town continued steadily to 
improve, and has been blessed with good inhabitants with few exceptions. 
Much of the lan-d in the county was taken up by speculators. This hindered 
its settlement to a considerable degree for some years. The crash of banks 
in 1837-8 was severely felt and many suffered for want of food and raiment. 
The years 1836-7 were healthy seasons; 1838 was more sickly; 1839 still 
more so, and from that time until 1850, there was more or less of bilious 
complaints every season. Since 1850 both town and country have been gen- 
erally healthy." 

FROM MANUSCRIPT OF S. W. WIDNEY. 

From a pamphlet published about sixty years ago by Rev. S. W. Wid- 
ney, entitled "Pioneer Sketches," the following is quoted: "Many of the 
settlers had never seen an Indian before coming here; but they had heard and 
read much of their savage barbarity. During the years 1835-6-7-8, many 
of these red men still lingered in their native forests, generally in large 
companies or camps. They were an object of terror to many of the settlers. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 1 23 

especially to the women and children, as singly or in caravans, they passed 
from one camp to another. To add to the terror at first, the screams of a 
great owl unknown in the east, but abounding in the western woods, were 
taken for the whoops of savages. 

"Well do I remember a night in the fall of 1837, spent in terror of 
Indians. I had been in the county six months, but as yet had seen very few 
of them. My widowed mother, with six children younger than myself, (and 
1 not yet seventeen years of age), bought and settled on a farm. Here an 
Indian trail crossed the river, and on the other side was a house where liquor 
was sold. Soon after nightfall, the real whoops were heard away in the 
south woods. The sound grew continually nearer, and increased in volume, 
till fears pictured a whole army of savages coming to murder us. We put 
out the lights, fastened the doors, and concealed ourseh^es in different parts 
of the house. Soon the Indians were tramping around the house, and their 
torches gleaming through the windows. We almost held our breath with 
fear. Soon, however, they passed by, down to the river, and taking our 
canoes crossed over, and their whoops died away, drowned in the Indian's 
favorite beverage, good old rye. But our rest was spoiled for the night, as 
we continually dreaded their return. 

"Afterward, however, we became better acquainted with the poor 
Indian, as a camp of some forty men, squaws and papooses spent four or five 
weeks in their tents within twenty rods of the house, visiting us, or we them, 
daily. The men spent their time hunting, dressing their game, gambling, or 
lying around the fire like dogs. The women chopped the wood, made the 
fires, and waited on their lords and masters while the children shot birds 
with their bows and arrows. Joe Richardville. son of the celebrated chief, 
was in the camp, dressed partly like an Indian and partly in the European 
costume. His college education failed to make anything out of him but an 
Indian." 

FLOOD WATERS. 

Again quoting from Rev. Widney: "I remember far back beyond the 
flood. Many of the first settlers along the river built their cabins on the 
bottoms on account of the rich, deep soil, so inviting for corn and potatoes. 
Now it happened that St. Joe, notwithstanding his saintship, had a mighty 
trick of 'getting high' occasionally, and on such occasions, took a regular 
spree, transcending all bounds of propriety, and scattering and destroying 
things in general. It was in the winter of 1838, about the first of January, 
when we were dwelling securely in the neighborhood of this mild looking 



124 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

saint, that he unexpectedly 'imbibed' too larg-ely, and advanced upon us, 
raging and foaming terribly, without any provocation whatever. The river 
rose until it overflowed its banks and surrounded the house. This alarmed 
us some, but it seemed to be nearly at a stand, and we hoped that it would 
soon retreat. But instead of falling, it continued to rise until the loose floor 
began to float. We then raised the floor about six inches, being sure that 
the water would rise no more. We were doomed, however, to be again 
disappointed. The water still rose. Being midwinter, we had all of our 
fire wood to 'boat' in with our canoe, which we kept cabled at the cabin, and 
we managed still to keep a fire above the water. 

"The night after raising the floor we retired to rest, and the next morn- 
ing found the floor all afloat again, so we concluded to embark for safe 
quarters. Running the canoe into the water, we took the passengers from 
the bed, and, packing everything which the water could injure, above its 
reach, we crossed the raging river to sojourn with friends until after the 
flood. The water rose until it was two and a half feet deep in the cabin, and 
then began to subside. Just then a severe freeze set in, leaving the entire 
bottoms covered with a sheet of thin ice. When the river got within its 
banks again, we returned throughout the ice, and took up our residence in 
the cabin. Other settlers besides us suffered from this saintly freak, but we 
have not the particulars." 

FROM THE MANUSCRIPT OF W. H. DILLS. 

"We can very well remember seeing these early settlers and their families 
with their white-covered wagons, the wife or daughter driving, the father 
and boys following and driving, with the aid of a dog, a cow or two, some- 
times a few sheep, all wending their way toward the setting sun, or plunging 
into the forest, and hauling up or stopping upon a tract of land, upon which 
not a tree had been cut, and where for ages the rays of the orb of day had 
not penetrated, amidst the chorus of the feathered songsters of the grove and 
the silence of the night, disturbed only by the hootings of the owl, or the 
indescribable bowlings of hungry wolves. There you, or the fathers of you, 
who came in early times, halted their wagons, which contained all they had on 
earth ; and there today you will find comfort, luxury and ease. 

"Before reaching that final resting place weeks and months had passed 
in reaching the goal, following Indian trails scarcely wide enough to admit 
of the passage of a wagon, no bridges, dangers to be encompassed on every 
side, the early settler was of necessity his own sentinel, and upon himself 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 12^ 

relied for protection and safety. The trails would sometimes seem to nni 
out — come to an end. Sometimes they would divide and create doubt as to 
the course that should be pursued. He had no compass and could not tell the 
cardinal points, but by an examination of trees he could tell the north side of 
them by the heaviest growth of moss or bark, and thereby determine his 
course. When night came ere he reached his destination, by the side of the 
trail, where water and grass were sufficient, he would build a fire, wnthout 
the aid of matches, by the side of some huge log, and there prepare their 
meal, his wife and little ones retiring to sleep in the wagon, and he, wrapped 
in a blanket, on the leaves under it. with his faithful dog on one side and his 
trusty rifle on the other, there seek repose and rest, with as much confidence 
of safety and exemption from injury as you upon your downy couches, 
wathin bolted doors. 

"After reaching his land, purchased of the government at .$1.25 per acre, 
or from some speculator for $2.00, $3.00 or $4.00 per acre, the pioneer finds 
for a time that his neighbors are few and far between. With difficulty he 
at last succeeds in building his rude little cabin and in clearing off a few 
acres, by cutting down all the trees eighteen inches or less in diameter, and 
girdling all the others, which will give him a short supply of corn and vege- 
tables. 

"The privations of the early settler were great, but often their perils 
were still greater. Diseases, indigenous to a new country, of which he had 
previously no knowledge or experience, and generally malarial in their char- 
acter, were certain to overtake him and his family. The massive foliage 
of the giant trees through which the sun scarcely penetrated, and the black 
soil vegetation, and the decayed vegetable matter everywhere abounding, 
generated vast columns of miasma. No physician or drug store was prob- 
ably within twenty miles, and himself and family were racked almost to death 
with the shakes, or scorched with raging fevers. Until acclimated by a resi- 
dence of from two to five years, and sometimes longer, the early settler was 
yearly visited with attacks of fever and ague, and felt thankful, indeed, if 
in the fall seasons he did not have an attack of bilious or intemiittent fever. 
Snake bites, broken or cut limbs, and rheumatism from his frequent ex- 
posure were of frequent occurrence, and no medical aid at hand. 

"Even in health their privations seem almost incredible to us. Lumber 
was not to be had at any price : mills were distant, and what roads there were, 
were almost impassable. A journey of weeks, sometimes, leaving the wife 
and children, was necessary to obtain the necessities of life. Families were 
almost driven to the verge of stan^^ation, living for weeks on potatoes, wheat 



126 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

bran, and I have heard, on beach-bark and milk. The private history of the 
sufferings, privations and heroic endurance of many families in early times in 
this county has not been, nor will it ever be, written. 

"In early days we asked not whether the new comer was a Whig or a 
Democrat, Jew or Gentile, Methodist or Baptist, rich or poor ; all we wanted 
to know was that he was a neighbor and a man. Was he a good fellow, 
truthful, honest and charitable? If he had not these qualities, he did not stay 
long enough in our midst to become an old settler. * * * 

"At the risk of wearying you, I will name a few of those veterans who 
were the foremost men of the county in 1845, but who have gone to their long 
homes. Let us speak reverently of them. Their faults were human, but 
their good qualities and many virtues will commend them to our considera- 
tion. I will give them by townships in the usual order, leaving out Keyser, 
which was not then formed : 

"Butler — The Brooks, Henry Clark and sons, George Belong, the 
Embrys, Abraham and Charles Fair, Nathaniel Fitch, the Greggs, the Bells, 
the Hoffmans, Hogues, Holbrooks, Jacksons, Lungs, Millers, Rodenbanghs, 
Reeves, Shulls, Simons, Surfaces, Natts and Wellers. 

"Jackson — The Bishops, Cools, Cobblers, Komeskys, Daves, Draggoos, 
Essigs, Georges, Hurshes, Hendersons, Hartles. Johnsons, Lawheads, Means, 
Moores, Mowries, Osburns, .Sugars, Staffords. Squiers, Stewards, Tarneys, 
Watsons, Wyatts, Williams and Zimmermans. 

"Concord — The Aliens, Altons, Burleys, Blairs, Balls, Carrs, Culbert- 
sons, Coburns, Catlins, Draggoos, Dawsons, Fales, Headleys, Johnsons, 
Knights, McNabbs, Nichols, Owens, Robinsons. Rhodes. Sechlers. \\'id- 
neys, Woodcoxes, Williams and Whites. 

■ "Nezii'ille — The Bartletts, Dodges, Delongs. Ellises, Lewises. Law- 
rences, Murphys, Rogers, Platters, Strongs, Steeles, Thomases, and Waldons. 
"Stafford— Tht Barbers. Coats, Christoffels. De Forrests, Deihls, Head- 
leys, McDaniels, Roses, Strohls, Shoubs, Schofields, Websters and Wane- 
makers. 

"Wiliuington — The Armstrongs, Babcocks, Coes, Crooks, Eakrights, 
Egnews, Fosdicks, Finneys, Hehvigs, Hackleys, Handys, Imhofs, Jackmans, 
Kreutzes, Maxwells, Mullenixes, Meeses, Morrises, Nelsons, Nodines, Pack- 
ers, Rutledges, Roberts, Robes, Sawyers, Tremans, Tomlinsons, Tottens. 
Veeleys, Widneys, Woods and Weeks. 

"Union — The Ashelmans, Altenburgs. Abbotts, Bidlers, Baughmans, 
Browns, Cospers. Clays. Fishers, Fulks. Gingriches, Husselmans, Krums, 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 12/ 

Lutzes, Latsons, McEndefers, Misers, Summers, Strolls, Weavers, Weeks, 
Walworths, Whetsels, Parks and Ingmans. 

"Richland — The Bangs, Cowleys, Clays, Calkins. Daileys, Dewitts, 
Feaglers, Greens, Hardys, Moodys, McMillens, Pennells, Rogers, Shulls, 
Showers, Treshes and Weirocks. 

"FavHeld — The Chaffees, McNahbs, Powells, Storvs, Gushwas and 
Wells. 

"Siiiithficld — The Baxters, Boyers, Blakers, Corwins, Banks, Daniels, 
Hemstreets, Holmes, Krums, Kelleys, McCoshes, Smiths and Walkers. 

"Franklin — The Aldriches, Balls, Bowmans, Bucks,' Beards, Grains, 
Dirrims, Ducks, Firestones, Houltons, Holmes, Hammonds, Jones, Jackmans, 
Jeffords, Keeps, Lewes, Manns, JMcOueens, McCurdys, McAllisters, Myers, 
Nidigs, Nelsons, Olds, Porters, Packers, Rudes, Stambaughs, Shulls, Snooks, 
Thurstons, Watermans and Wilsons. 

"Troy — The Burdicks, Gathers, Casebeers, Colls, Emersons, Eddys, Hel- 
wigs, Jennings, Kniselys. Larneds, McClures, McGlellans, McDaniels, 
Stearns. Willards, Waydleichs and Zimmermans. 

"The men whom I have named, who came here prior to January i, 1846, 
came before the period of railroads, before canals were dug, and many of 
them before the roads were cut and bridges built. Just think of it, that 
thirty-five years ago the residents of our county had never seen a railroad 
car, and we have over a hundred miles of railroad track in the county today, 
and two hundred trains daily through it. There was not then in the county 
a steam engine ; there was not one cook stove in a dozen families. 

"I recollect very distinctly the first threshing machine. It indeed was 
a beauty. It did not even separate the grain from the chaff and straw. It 
was brought into the count}' by John Zimmerman, who then resided on the 
Houk farm, in Jackson township. In fact, it would now be a novelty, and, 
as it did then, would now draw crowds when set to work; and, to use a 
homely expression, it was the 'biggest thing out.' Instead of being several 
weeks in flailing, tramping and winnowing out a hundred bushels of wheat, 
the farmer, with that threshing machine, could thresh out that quantity in a 
day, and then take his time to run it through the fanning mill. And when 
he had the wheat ready for market, then he would have to take about three 
days to carry a load of twenty-five or thirty bushels to Fort Wayne and sell 
it for fifty or sixty cents a bushel. Corn had a value then proportioned to 
wheat, the same as now. Pork then ranged at one dollar and a half to two 
dollars per hundred pounds. 



128 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

"Even in early days, when the pioneers were undergoing the privations I 
have spoken of, they had a very large amount of the real pleasures of life; 
and when an opportunity afforded, it was enjoyed with a relish equally as well 
as now. It certainly was true enjoyment to help a neighbor raise a house or 
a barn, do his logging, have quilting and sewing bees, dance on the puncheons 
in the cabins, take your girl up behind you on horseback and carry her 
through the woods, six, eight or ten miles to some gathering ; and she would 
have to hold on awfully tight or she would be brushed off the horse by the 
limbs or trunks of the trees. Think of the making of sugar, hunting bee 
trees, gathering cranberries, wild plums, cherries, grapes, crab-apples, all 
kinds of nuts and ginseng. Think of the excellent hunting and fishing there 
was here then ; all kinds and in large quantities were the fish, wild fowls and 
wild animals." 

A COSTLY TRIP. 

Cyrus Smith, the hero of travels, in search of unentered land, although 
ill at the time, set out in December, 1837, with a yoke of oxen, for Gilead, 
Michigan. Rains had swollen the streams and he was obliged to lay over 
every other day from sickness, yet he reached his goal, got eight bushels of 
corn, and started for the Vermont mills or Orland. A cold spell set in, snow 
fell fast, the winds rose, and a tree falling before him, he narrowly escaped 
its limbs, turned aside to go around it, became bewildered, and for hours 
drove on through the openings. The clouds cleared to the west, and he saw 
the sun setting, and struck out in that direction. He found the road he had 
left in the morning three miles in advance of his unfortunate diversion, and 
passed the night and the next day at Deacon Stocker's. Leaving his corn 
at the mill, he went to Tull's mill, near White Pigeon prairie and returned 
with fifteen bushels of smutty wheat. He remained here three days sick, a 
third waiting for the grist. Finally, starting home, he had to leave his wagon 
when half a mile from home, turn the oxen loose and foot it in. The 
eleventh day since leaving home he got back his wagon. His grist, not 
pricing the corn, cost him in cash, forty-fi\'e dollars. 

A NIGHT OF SUFFERING. 

In the winter of 1837-8, a Mr. Osburn started from where Hicksville, 
Ohio, had just been laid out, with an ox team, to go to mill at Fort Wayne. 
Returning to the east side of the St. Joseph river he was overtaken by night 
above where Leo later stood. Having had to wade into the creeks, and break 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 1 29 

ice before his oxen, his clothes were wet, and it was freezing severel}'. On- 
ward, however, he made his way, through the snow and darkness, on a stomiy 
winter night, until he began to feel that he was freezing. 

Leaving his slow team in the road, he then started, hoping to reach Mr. 
Brant's across the river from where Spencerville now is, but soon found his 
legs becoming so stiff that he could no longer walk. Knowing that his life 
was at stake, he then crawled on his hands and knees about a mile, and until 
he found that his strength was too far gone to proceed in this way. He 
now commenced crying for help, and Mr. Brant's dog hearing his voice, com- 
menced barking; and some of the people going out to see what was the 
trouble, were led by the dog to the poor sufferer, about a mile off, and he was 
borne into the house. 

Both of his legs had to be amputated just below the knees. He re- 
mained several days at Mr. Brant's, and was drawn home on his sled. 

A NEW Yorker's parody. 

This is from the pen of Mr. Widney: '"I taught several schools in an 
early day, and experienced the truth of Thompson's couplet : 

" 'Delightful task ! to rear the tender thought, 
And teach the young ideas how to shoot.' 

"Well, a New York dandy, better acquainted with books and pavements 
than with the 'backwoods' life or character, concluded to visit the West and 
see 'the natives.' As he was riding along on a cold day in the winter, when 
sleighing was good, in his fine sleigh, wrapped up in his 'buffalo,' with his 
greatcoat on, his fur cap tied down over his ears, and his fur gloves up to 
his elbows, he passed one of these frontier school houses. It was 'recess', and 
the teacher and some of the bigger boys were out at the side of the house 
knocking some squirrels off a tall hickory tree with a rifle. The dandy reined 
up his horse a few minutes and as he saw the squirrels drop one after an- 
other, 'perpetrated the following parody on the above oft quoted couplet of 
Thompson : 

" 'Delightful task! to rear the tender thought, 

And teach the youthful Indian how to shoot!' 

"The rascal ! It was well for him I was not there to hear him." 

' ■ (9) i 



130 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

ABRAM fair's NARRATIVE. 

Abram Fair, one of the eight first settlers of Butler township, writes as 
follows : "Our plan was to come out — build cabins — make a little beginning, 
and then return to our old homes, in Montgomery county, Ohio, to winter and 
bring on the families in the spring. We brought provisions enough with us 
to last till our return, excepting meat — calculating to kill deer enough to sup- 
ply that. In this, however, we were mistaken. We found deed quite scarce 
in those woods that fall. One day, Andrew Surface found a hollow tree (on 
Black creek where Peter Simon's ashery later stood) filled with honey, into 
which a bear had gnawed a hole and helped himself to as much as he wanted. 
On cutting the tree we found what was left of Bruin's dinner, six gallons of 
honey. The first fair day after this, we found two bee trees, cut them, and 
took the honey. We, eight, ate all the honey we wanted for twenty days 
(and we had little to eat except the honey and bread) and on returning to 
Montgomerv county, we had twenty-one gallons of strained honey left. 

A COON STORY. 

"After finding the bee trees, Andrew Surface found a hollow tree with 
two 'coons' in it, and cutting them out, he brought them to our shanty. We 
took the hides off, and hung the meat out in the frost over night, and in the 
morning, Charley Grouse, who was our cook, prepared them for our break- 
fast. Being rather meat-hungry, we all ate heartily of them, except John 
Surface, who declared he would starve first — though he ate some of the 
gravy. After breakfast, we all went at cutting and hewing logs and making 
clapboards for William Surface's cabin. John and I went to sawing a large 
oak for clapboards. John didn't pull the saw very strongly. 'Ah,' said I 
to him 'You didn't eat coon or you could have sawed better.' Presently he 
thought the saw went too hard and that he must have the iron wedge from 
the shanty to drive in the kerf. My father, Peter Fair, was lying in the 
shanty and John supposed he was asleep. So he went to the skillet where 
there was a quarter of a 'coon' left from breakfast, and taking off the lid, 
he took up the meat, and after smelling it awhile, applied his teeth and 
stripped the bone in short meter. All this time my father lay pretending to 
be asleep, but struggling to keep from laughing. When John returned and 
took hold of the saw again, I remarked to him, that he must have either 
been eating coon or smelling of it, he pulled so much stronger. When Grouse 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. I3I 

went in to cook dinner, my father told the joke, and it was some time before 
John heard the last of the coon story." 

PIONEER DIMENSIONS. 

Abram Fair, the author of the above, was a splendid type of pioneer. 
We read how many of the brave settlers perished under the hardships incident 
to opening up the country, but listen to Fair's own words of his experiences 
and the result: "I was twenty-two years of age when I moved into the town- 
ship (Butler), twenty- four years ago. I then weighed one hundred and 
sixty pounds, and my wife one hundred and forty. Now I weigh two hun- 
dred and ten, and my wife two hundred. We have had eleven children born 
in the township, and nine are still living. In the twenty-four years I have 
not lost as many hours by sickness. I am now six feet four and one half 
inches high, and there never has been cleared land enough in DeKalb county 
to throw me down on." 

These words were written about the year 1859. 

JOHN N. miller's narrative. 

John N. Miller was one of the first settlers in Wilmington township. 
His pioneer experiences are very interesting. Near the year i860, he wrote 
the following concerning them : 

"In the winter of 1836-7, I took a job of chopping for Mr. Lytle, who 
had sold out where he first settled, and had entered the tract of land since 
owned by the late William Pryor, in Stafford township. The job was on the 
river bottoms, where the timber was very heavy — huge oaks and elms, with 
enormous tops, being rather plenty to get along fast, as I had to take down 
all the timber, and cut it up ready for logging. I only got four or five dollars 
(I do not now remember distinctly the wages), and was to take my pay in 
potatoes, pork, beans, etc. For potatoes, I paid $1 per bushel; for pork, 16 
cents per pound; and other things in proportion. The price of chopping was 
low, and that of the articles of pay high ; yet I could not do better, as pro- 
vision must be had. While I kept busy on my job, I could just about get 
provisions enough to keep in the bare necessaries of life, so far as eating 
was concerned; but I had no time to be sick, and no rest but the Sabbath. 
One cold March evening, after chopping hard all day, I took a bushel of pota- 
toes and 17 or 18 pounds of pork on my shoulder, and started for home, 
about dusk. The distance I had to travel along a blind trail, through the 



132 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

darkness and brush, was about six miles. Coming to Buck creek, over 
which a small limber log was placed, I undertook to walk it with my load, 
but fell off in the water, which was high. Then I waded through the bal- 
ance of the creek, getting very wet. Cold, wet and tired, I pursued my 
journey with my heavy load, until the long miles were passed, and I set down 
my pork and potatoes in my cabin. 

"The worst part of the tale is, that Lytle was not satisfied with my 
doing the job so cheap, and taking the pay in high priced trade; but he 
actually moved the stakes first set; so that the lines might take in several 
large elms that Avere just outside of the job ; and, besides, wanted me to chop 
up to a curving brush fence, which ran from stake to stake, on one side of 
my square job. including about a quarter of an acre more than the straight 
line agreed upon. My job being finished, as agreed upon, including, too, to 
the elms fraudulently brought in, I went to Lytle in his house, to demand a 
settlement, and the balance of my pay ; but he refused to pay unless I chopped 
up to the brush fence. This, under the circumstances, with my hands cov- 
ered with blisters from hard and incessant chopping (a kind of labor I was 
not accustomed to) ; this I say, provoked me almost beyond endurance, and 
I told him I should take it out of his hide, right then and there. I was mak- 
ing towards him. His wife screamed, and Lytle turned it off with a laugh, 
and said he would pay me and thus the matter ended." 

This Lytle was known among the settlers as a hard customer. Very 
profane and with little conscience, he ever failed to recognize the rights of 
others. Miller tells another story of the man: 

"I used to go down to Lytle's sometimes on Sunday afternoon, to be 
there on Monday morning, to commence my job. Well, one afternoon, 
Lytle, being an excellent boatman, asked me to take a little ride on the river 
in his canoe. I consented, and tried to help him navigate the craft, but was 
very awkward at the business. This provoked him, and he let out such a 
volley of oaths at me, as I had not been accustomed to listen to tamely. In 
the midst of his imprecations, he set down his pole, with more than usual 
energy, and smack it went into two pieces, while he was leaning on it with 
all his weight — plunge went Lytle head foremost into the deep, cold river. 
I laughed, of course, and he turned in the water, and threatened to upset the 
canoe. I seized a paddle, and told him if he undertook it, I would split his 
head. Being in a cold element, he soon cooled down and came out peaceably. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. I.33 



A LONG TRAIL FOR FLOUR. 



"In the spring of 1837, I had lent William Rogers half a barrel of flour, 
for, though six miles apart, we were neighbors, as was usual at that time. 
I expected that it would be returned before needed; but the bottom of the 
flour sack stared me in the face before it arrived. Getting up one morning, 
I found only flour enough for one small cake. I told my folks to bake it and 
eat it. while I went for the lent flour. It was six miles to Rogers, and but a 
'trace' for a road. I set out early, afoot, and barefoot at that, and made 
good speed, thoughts of breakfast spurring me on, until I came to a swamp, 
round which the trace wound. Thinking to gain time, I struck across, ex- 
pecting to find the place where the trace came round ; but, the morning being 
cloudy, I missed the course, and the trail. I traveled on rapidly, however, 
in what I supposed to be the right direction, until the sun broke out, and I 
found that it was about noon, and I was only a mile from home ! I quickly 
sought the trace again, and passed down it at a rapid rate, until I reached 
Rogers, where I got something to eat. Rogers proposed that if I left the 
flour, he would bring it on a horse the next day, but I knew this would not 
answer our wants. So I told him I could carry it, and taking the hundred 
weight of flour on my shoulder, I trudged back, the whole six miles, without 
once laying it down. On one occasion the Coatses. Roses and myself, being 
out of breadstufif, held a consultation as to where we should go to get corn. 
I was for going to Fort Wayne, but they thought best to go to the North 
Western prairies. They started to the prairies and I sent $10 along. They 
were gone ten days, and my money brought me ten bushels of corn, the mill- 
ing and hauling of which cost me ten more. So my meal cost me $2 per 
bushel, and much of it rotten, as there had been a frost on the 29th of the 
preceding August, killing the corn on these prairies, leaving it too green to 
keep without rotting. 

A H.-VRD JOURNEY. 

"Mr. Altenburg and Walsworth were among the early settlers in the 
vicinity of Auburn. They moved in together and left Steubenville. in 
Steuben county, on the morning of the fourth of November. 1838. in the 
midst of a very heavy fall of snow, which continued all day. Having a nar- 
row, blind, crooked track to follow, without a house for nine miles, the 
snow flakes falling so fast as to bewilder the traveler, and, at some times, 
weighing down the bushes across the track, it became necessary for one of 
the men to walk before the teams, to find the wav. and remove the bushes 



134 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 



overhanging it. They also had some stock to drive, and their help being 
rather scarce, the women were under the necessity of walking, and assisting 
to drive them. The snow being soft, and hanging on the bushes, those on 
foot became completely wet. On, on the slow ox teams passed, through 
snow and mud, along the crooked, narrow path, until night came on, and .still 
all around was a bleak, snow-clad forest. They began to think of lying in 
their wagons for the night, but having no way of making fire, and nothing 
for their teams or stock, and the women and children being frightened by 
the howling of the wolves around them, they drove on in the darkness, 
occasionally stalling against the trees on the side of the track. At length, 
one of the teams and the wagon got entirely out of the way, and so entangled 
among the trees and logs that the latter had to be left. Hitching Iwth teams 
to one wagon, they drove on until they began to think they must be near to 
the only dwelling between Steubenville and Auburn, Isaac B. Smith's. Stop- 
ping the teams, Mr. Altenburg proposed that all should unite in one desperate 
yell in order to find whether any human being was near. Loud and shrill 
arose that cry on the midnight air, but the loud howl of a pack of wolves, 
whose name appeared to be legion, was the only reply. After holding their 
breath in silence for awhile, Mr. Altenburg proposed that they tune their 
throats anew, and pitch their voices a note or two higher, and ez'en pinch the 
baby (later Mr. Henry Altenburg), that he might join his voice with theirs. 
This effort was successful, and Mr. Smith came to their rescue with a light, 
and welcomed them to the hospitality of his little cabin, for, although about 
full already, he still had room for two families. 

"The next morning, bringing up the wagon left in the rear, they started 
on, and succeeded in driving all of three miles through mud and snow before 
dark, reaching a little board shanty put up by Wesley Park for two men to 
lodge in, who were building a bridge over Cedar creek, where Uniontown 
now is. During the day they caught a coon, and on it they feasted the follow- 
ing morning, the two families and the two bridge builders having some- 
how contrived to stow themselves away for the night in the little shanty. In 
the morning the question was how to get down the high steep bank of the 
creek with the loaded wagons. This feat was accomplished by running poles 
under the body of the wagon and between the spokes of each wheel, so as to 
lock them all, and then hitching a yoke of oxen to the tongue to hold back, 
and another yoke to the hind part of the wagon to pull back, the oxen hitched 
behind, making, of course, a desperate effort to prevent being dragged down. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA, 1 35 



MORE ADVERSITIES. 



"On Friday, IMay 27, 1837, in the afternoon, Isaac B. Smith, Cyrus 
Smitli and Joseph Delong, with their families, arrived on the hill where Mr. 
Smith's cabin later stood. This was in Smithfield township. There was 
not even a shanty or wigwam then. To keep ofif the night dews, they cut 
forks and driving four of them in the ground, and laying poles on them. 
covered them with brush. Under these they lay on the ground, on Friday 
night, and on Saturday put up a cabin such as three men could raise, to the 
joists — and again lay under the brush that night. The next morning they 
discovered an unwelcome bedfellow, in the fomi of a "massasogga," or black 
rattlesnake, and, not being very much disposed to share their bed with these 
natives, they went at it on Sunday morning, and "cobbed" up the cabin, and 
covered one side with black ash bark peeled from the adjacent trees, and, 
fixing poles in the crevices between the logs, laid their beds some feet above 
the ground, so that Mr. Massasogga might have the ground to himself. On 
Monday they covered the other side of the cabin and the joists with bark, 
and carrying in some pole "sleepers," laid a puncheon floor. By the time 
the floor was laid, the joists were found to be so low that even a woman 
could not walk straight under them. Whate\er may be thought of cabin 
raising on Sunday, it must be remembered that 'necessity knows no law.' 
It seemed fortunate that the caliin was finished as soon as it was, for no 
sooner was the bark roof laid than it began to rain, and for twenty days 
there was scarcely one that was not more or less rainy. In this cabin, sixteen 
by eighteen feet, the three families lodged together for two months, and then 
Mr. Delong moved back to Pleasant lake and Cyrus Smith put up a cabin for 
himself. 

"On leaving Ohio, Mr. Smith had boxed up five busliels of potatoes, and 
among them had packed his pots and kettles not wanted on the road, and 
sent the box with other goods by public conveyance to Adrian, Michigan. 
He did not get them to his cabin until about the first of July, and on opening 
the box, found them awfully smashed up by the iron ware. He thought it 
was now too late to plant them, but Mr. Park advised him by all means to 
do so. He planted them on the 8th and 9th of July, and in the fall dug 
eighty-six bushels from the five bushels of mangled seed. 



136 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

A MILL TRIP WITH AGUE. 

"In July following his settlement, Mr. Smith took the ague, and had it 
with but little intermission until the June following. In December. 1837, 
he had it so se\ercly each alternate day that he was unable to be about. On 
his well day, he could be around, but was very weak. Getting out of bread- 
stuff, it became necessary that, sick as he was, he should go in quest of some. 
So, yoking up his oxen, he started for the town of Gilead, Michigan, six 
miles beyond Orland, or 'the Vermont settlement,' as it was then called. It 
had rained much and the streams were swollen. He made his way along, 
however, lying by, sick every other day, until finally he reached Gilead, where 
he got eight bushels of corn, and started back to the Vennont mills, in the 
settlement of this same name. It had now turned 'cold as Greenland.' and 
was blowing fiercely while the air was filled with the descending snow. It 
was yet early in the morning, and he had gone but three-fourths of a mile 
on the road to the mill, when the wind blew a tree down across the road, 
almost brushing the oxen's heads. To get around the trees, he turned out 
of the road, expecting to come right in again, but failed to do so, and, getting 
bewildered amid the falling snow, he drove on through the openings, as near 
as he could in the direction of the mills — on — on — on — for hour after hour, 
and still no road nor mill was found. 

"Mr. Smith had on his head a palm leaf hat, that had been a fine one, 
but was now the worse for wear. While traveling, bewildered, through the 
openings, a whirling blast whisked it from his head, and he last saw it 
careening on the wings of the wind — rising higher and higher until it was 
lost to sight in a cloud of snow. Having a 'comforter' on his neck, he 
<lrew the end of it over his head, and traveled on. Thus the time passed, in 
continual traveling through the cold, stormy day, and the failing light told 
the lost man that night was near, and he began to picture to himself the long 
cold night that was to follow, in all probability the last that he should ever 
see — or, if he should survive, — a morning of distressing sickness, to follow 
the night of suffering; and he all alone in the snow clad forest. Just then 
the cloud broke in the west and he could see the place where the sun set, and 
striking in that direction, in about eighty rods he found the road he had left 
in the morning, and the bridge across 'crooked creek,' about half way from 
Gilead to the mills. Thus he had advanced not more than three miles during 
the whole day of weary traveling. Place yourself in his circumstances, 
reader, and imagine, if you can, his joyful feelings in seeing the road again. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. T37 

In an hour he was safely housed at the residence of Deacon Stocker, father 
to Leland Stocker of Angola. Here he lay sick the next day, and on the 
day following left his corn at the mill, and started for Tull's mill near the 
White Pigeon prairie, where he obtained fifteen bushels of veiy smutty 
wheat, which he brought to the Vennont mills also. Here at Deacon 
Stocker's again, he spent three days, two of them too sick to travel, and the 
third waiting for his grist. Finally, starting for Pleasant lake, he lay 
there during a sick day, and on the next day, got a man to go with him to 
break ice in the streams. By dint of hard work all day, they got within a 
half mile of home; and had to leave the wagon on the trail — turn out the 
oxen in the woods — and 'foot it' in. The next day, being the eleventh since 
leaving home, he got his wagon home. His grist, not counting the price of 
the com, which was paid as he moved in, cost him in cash, forty-five dollars." 

OLD TIME EXTRADITION. 

During the years 1830 to 1854. W. K. Streight served as sheriff of 
DeKalb county. One of the incidents related in regard to his term was of 
the time he went hunting in the creek bottoms while court was in session. 
He stayed out all day, and in the evening, toward sundown, brought in a nice 
deer. He was informed, immediately upon his return, that the prisoner had 
escaped while he, the sheriff, was wading through creek bottoms. Streight 
saddled his horse and rode to a notorious "hang-out" some distance in the 
woods, run by Old Sile Doty. There he found his prisoner, in company with 
seven other men. The sheriff collared his man and calmly rode back to town 
without molestation. 

Another time he wanted a man who had escaped and had taken refuge 
near Hicksville, Ohio. Streight journeyed to that place and called on the 
sheriff there, A. P. Edgerton. 

"I want a man who is hiding near here," Streight said. 

"Well," replied Edgerton, "go and take him then." 

"But this is in Ohio," suggested Streight. 

"Never mind the state line." Edgerton instructed." just Ijend it east till 
it gets beyond the man you want, then take him. and after 3'ou are gone. 
I'll bend the line back again for you." 

Streight got his man. 



138 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 



THE LAST DEER. 



The last deer in DeKalb county was seen in March, 1893. He was full 
grown buck, having horns of four or five prongs. The deer was not cap- 
tured, and it is supposed that he escaped from a nearby circus. 

FROM THE MANUSCRIPT OF J. R. SKILLING. 

My father, Michael Skilling, moved with his family from Richland 
county, Ohio, to DeKalb county, Indiana, in November, 1846, and settled in 
Richland township, three quarters of a mile west of the present town of 
Sedan, on a piece of land which he purchased from the government in 1843. 
They were sixteen days on their journey in a covered wagon which was 
motored by a team of oxen and one horse in the lead. The wagon furnished 
the family lodging at night, and shelter from rain. The cooking was done 
by camp fires and the fire was kindled from a spark that was produced by 
striking a flint stone on a piece of steel over a tinder box provided for that 
purpose. I remember well the modes and customs of the pioneers of DeKalb 
county. The primitive condition of this county was a wild forest 6f various 
species of timber of excellent quality, consisting of black and white walnut, 
yellow and white poplar, white and red oak, white ash, blue ash and black ash, 
wild cherry, red elm, hickory elm and swamp elm, red and white beach, sugar 
and maple, and linden which was designated by the early settlers as "bas- 
wood." 

SWAMPS AND ANIMALS. 

This was a very swampy country in early days, containing many tama- 
rack swamps, densely covered with beautiful tall straight tamarack or "hack- 
matack" trees. Many of the swamps abounded with huckleberries and cran- 
berries in abundance, for which there was no market, liut the new settlers 
had the pleasure of harvesting all they required for their own consumption. 
The woods and swamps were well stocked with venomous rattlesnakes and 
the people were always in fear of coming in contact with these dreaded rep- 
tiles, although they invariably give warning by the sound of their rattles 
when approached. Although there were quite a number of people who were 
victims to the stroke of the fangs of these poisonous serpents, we never heard 
of a case that proved fatal as the people were educated in the treatment of 
such cases and were provided with antidotes to give treatment to all patients 
who required immediate attention. The first pioneer settled in DeKalb 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 139 

county in 1835 and others soon followed. They found the forest well stocked 
with game, such as wild turkeys, deer, coon, mink, opossums, squirrels, 
pheasants and otter. There were a few bear, but they soon disappeared as 
the country improved. The gray timber wolves also abounded, for which 
there was a diligent search made by the hunters as the county commissioners 
offered a premium of five dollars for the scalp of each wolf killed in the 
county. This premium was soon raised to seven dollars, which led to their 
entire extermination by 1850. The busy honey bees were here in advance 
of the white man, and established their hives in the trunks of trees where 
they had stored in abundance the product of their labor. This furnished a 
very lucrative luxury for the early settlers. The coon, otter, mink and 
opossums were hunted on account of the value of their fur for which there 
was a ready sale for cash, to the fur traders who traveled through the county. 
The deer was hunted as there was a ready sale for their hides, and the 
venison, which was the principal meat served on the tables of the early 
settlers. There was distinct evidence that the beaver had once inhabited the 
county, but they were exterminated in advance of the early settlers. 



The I'littawatomie Indians still inhaliitcd the forests of DeKalb county 
when the first white settlers located here, but in 1842 they were piloted west 
of the Mississippi river by a French Indian agent of South Bend, Indiana, 
by the name of Coquillard. He was named and recognized by the Indians as 
"Cuttieaw." We have good evidence that DeKalb county was inhabited by 
a prehistoric race of people, prior to the Indians. We will make a few brief 
statements on this subject from our own personal observations. 

BEAVER DAMS. 

This country abounded with water barriers or dams which had been con- 
structed on the small streams and they were designated by the early settlers 
as beaver dams. In many places there were two or three in succession on the 
same stream at such a distance between that the water would be blocked up 
to the next dam above. These dams were all constructed in the form of a 
segment of a circle, bracing against the current. The earth used in the con- 
structing of these dams, in every case had been obtained up the stream, above 
the structure, which was indicated by caverns in the banks from which the 
earth had been moved, and perhaps conveyed on rafts to where it was de- 



140 DEKALB COUNTYj INDIANA. 

posited. This could not have been done by the Ijeaver. Large trees had 
grown on the summit and sides of these supposed beaver dams that showed 
evidence of age, perhaps a thousand years. An opening had been cut through 
these embankments and the water let out, when, and by whom, it is not 
known. 

PREHISTORIC EVIDENCES. 

DeKalb county has another witness of this prehistoric race of people in 
the form of an old fort which we visited in 1865. This is located in Smith- 
field township about two miles south of the town of Ashley, and about three 
quarters of a mile west of the Auburn and Ashley public road. It consisted 
of an embankment of earth about four feet high and perhaps twelve or 
fifteen feet wide, in a true circle, encompassing over an acre. There was a 
trench on the outside of the embankment about three or four feet deep, and 
about twelve feet wide, produced by the excavation of the earth in construct- 
ing the bank. When we visited this relic in 1865 it was in a dense wood 
and large trees had grown on the embankment and also in the trench, the same 
as on the dams above described. It is quite evident that this work had all 
been done about the same period and by the same class of laborers. There 
was no opening in the embankment. It liad lien conceded on good authority 
that such structures were not built for forts but for a place of worship by the 
"Mound Builders." Another evidence that a prehistoric race of people in- 
habited this county is furnished by the stone implements which are found 
all over the county, as the land is being cultivated, such as arrow heads, spear 
heads and what is designated by our people as "stone sledges" and "skinning 
stones." These names are only conjectures as it is not known when or where, 
or by whom, or for what purpose they were made. In various parts of 
Europe the same kinds of stone implements are found and of the same 
quality of stone as those found in DeKalb county. This we see demonstrated 
in our academies of natural science. W'e make this statement to refute the 
presumptive and delusive theory that we so often hear advocated that these 
stone implements are the product of the Indians. The more we try to in- 
vestigate this subject, the further we become perplexed. 

LUMBER AND ASHERIES. 

I personally remember when the very best grades of black walnut and 
poplar lumber could be bought for five and six dollars per thousand feet, and 
there was short sale for it at that price. There was no market for the timber 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. I4I 

SO in order to redeem the laud, trees were cut down and the logs rolled 
together and burned, regardless of quality. The ashes were gathered and 
sold at the asheries for six cents per bushel. Here the ashes were leached 
in large vats and the lye thus obtained was manufactured into potash. There 
were quite a number of asheries in the county, owned and operated by parties 
who owned a store, with such goods as were in demand by the settlers. De- 
Kalb county at present, contains beautiful and valuable farms, but if the 
original timber that once covered these farms could be replaced, it would 
command a price in the market today, at the least estimate, to four times 
the present value of the land. 

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS. 

In 1842 the Erie and Wabash Canal was opened for navigation to Fort 
Wayne. This enterprise gave DeKalb county the first encouragement for 
eastern transportation. All the exports and imports were hauled with teams 
on mud roads and over swamps on corduroy bridges which were formed of 
logs laid side by side. The exports consisted of wheat, corn, oats, potatoes, 
potash, maple sugar, cranberries, deer hides and furs. The imports were dry 
goods, tea, coffee, leather, hardware and whiskey, an indispensable necessity 
with the hardy pioneers. The early settlers made all the soap they required 
and their shoes were made by the local shoemaker. 



Charcoal was the only coal that could be obtained by the blacksmiths, 
which was manufactured by burning wood in charcoal pits. The first steam 
sawmill in the county was built in 185 1 in Richland township, at Green's 
Corners, half a mile south of Sedan, by Fisher & Brown. This was the first 
steam power in the county, but prior to this date there had been fifteen water 
saw-mills built in the county. In early days Mr. C. Work built a water saw- 
mill about half a mile south of the present .\uburn Junction. He had a pair 
of small mill stones set in this mill to grind corn and buckwheat. Here the 
first grain was ground in DeKalb county. The first flour mill to grind wheat 
in the county was a water mill built in 1850 by a Mr. Fansler on Cedar 
creek, about seven miles north of Auburn on the present Ashley public road. 



142 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 



FIRST PUBLIC UTILITIES. 



The first electric light plant in the county was established in Garrett in 
1886 by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company. The first opera house 
in the county was erected in Garrett in 1889 by J. William Wagner. The 
first water works in the county was established by the city of Garrett in 1896 
to supply the city with water, which is furnished from eight-inch driven 
wells, two hundred and fifty feet deep. 



CHAPTER VII. 



TOWNSHIP HISTORIES. 



WILMINGTON TOWNSHIP. 

The township of Wilmington Hes in tlie east central portion of the 
county, and is bounded as follows : On the north by Franklin township, on 
the east by Stafiford, on the south by Concord, and on the west by Grant and 
Union. S. B. Ward, a pioneer minister, thus described the township: "It 
is a second rate township in quality of soil, taking it together, yet it has some 
first rate land in it, especially along 'Big Run,' a considerable stream running 
across the north side of the township. For fine oak timber, there is no town- 
ship in the county that surpasses it." The timber, except the second growth, 
is largely cleared away now, and the land has developed into very fair agricul- 
tural ground. The Lake Shore & Michigan Southern, the Vandalia of the 
Pennsylvania system, and the Wabash railroads all cross the township, meet- 
ing at Butler, in the northeast corner. 

ORGANIZATION. 

Wilmington township was organized on September 5, 1837, at the first 
regular meeting of the board of commissioners. The board then consisted of 
Peter Fair, Samuel Widney and A. F. Beecher, who "ordered that the con- 
gressional township 34 north, range 14 east, be and it is hereby, organized as 
a civil township, to be known by the name of Wilmington Township." They 
also directed "that Byron Bunnel be appointed supervisor for the road district 
No. I, comprising the whole of Wilmington township, and all the lands resid- 
ing in the said township shall be allotted to the same district." In March, 
1838, fractional township 34 north, range 15 east (now Stafford), was added 
to Wilmington for judicial and civil purposes, and a new election was ordered 
the first Monday in April following, at the house of Ira Allen, with Milton 
A. Hull as inspector. 



144 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



Wilmington township was not settled in the year 1835, no white man yet 
having seen fit to throw np a cabin there. The year 1836 saw the building of 
the first log cabin by Byron Bunnel ; Mr. Lonsberry's house was the next, and 
George Egnew's next. In 1837 these cabins were in the portion allotted to 
Wilmington when the county was organized and township lines established. 
Two of these cabins were situated on the Newville and Auburn road, and 
one was called at an early date the Bunnel place. 

The first resident settler of the township was undoubtedly Ira Allen, 
who came in the very early months of 1837 and pitched a cloth tent on an 
oak hill on the east side of the township. In that tent he remained several 
weeks, until he constructed a commodious house, composed of oak logs hewed 
square and notched down closely. His hardships in clearing his land and 
building a home for himself made him a broken man. As an instance of 
these hardships that ruined his health, the following is quoted verbatim from 
"Pioneer Sketches :" 

"Some time in October, 1837, J\Ir. Allen went out to hunt his cattle, of 
which he had a number, and after finding them far out in the apparently 
interminable woods and swamps to the north and west, he started home with 
them. On the way one of his work oxen mired down. After laboring hard 
in the mud and water for some time,^ — the other cattle in the meantime getting 
scattered in the woods again — he started for his tent, but failed in reaching 
it, and lay out through the night, cold and frosty as it was, and wet and muddy 
as he was. The next day John N. Miller, an early settler of the same town- 
ship, while making his way through the wilderness to the land he had entered, 
heard someone hail him away out where he was not looking for a human 
being, and on going where the voice came from, he found Mr. Allen and his 
boys laboring to get the ox out of the mire, it having lain there all night and 
until the afternoon of the next day. They had forgotten to bring an ax, and 
had to cut a pry by bending down a sapling and cutting it off with a pocket 
knife, while the fibers of the wood were thus strained. Getting this pry under 
the beast they finally raised him from his sunken condition, but had to roll 
him several times over before he could find firm footing." 

The large block house erected by Mr. Allen was long used as a meeting- 
house as well as a dwelling, and here in an early day was held many a prayer 
meeting or Sunday worship. 

Other settlers who came in 1837' were: Lot B. Coe, William P. Means, 




BROADWAY, BUTLER 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. I45 

Charles Handy, Dr. Sawyer and several more. The pioneers began to get 
within striking distance of each other, as it were, and means of social inter- 
course were established, thus making the nights something more than dark, 
gloomy spaces of time, with the mingled howls of the wind and prowling 
wolves. Charles Handy was the first blacksmith in the township, and settled 
at what was later called Handy's Corners. Amos Lonsberry was the first 
white child born in the township. At the close of 1837 twenty-two families 
were settled within the boundaries of Wilmington township. The first mar- 
riage was that of Dan Coats and Mary Allen. Washington Robinson per- 
formed the ceremony in January, 1836. 

A HARD WINTER. 

From the pen of Rev. S. B. Ward the following is taken : 
"The winter of 1842-3 will long be remembered by the early settlers of 
the county, and especially those of Wilmington township. In 1841 and 1842 
quite a number of settlers of small means came in, and they had raised but 
little to live on when the 'hard winter' set in. The fall had been fine, but 
about the first of Xo\-ember a light snow fell, which mostly went off soon 
after. On the 17th of the month it set in cold, with high winds and some 
snow. The snow continued to increase from time to time, until it was nearly 
two feet deep on the level, with occasional showers and hard freezes, so that 
it was almost impossible to get about. It snowed a little every day but one 
through February, and March came in with the severity almost of a polar 
winter. By this time most of the hay and grain was consumed, and hogs and 
cattle were daily dying all over the country from stravation. Some settlers 
lost all their hogs and most of their cattle before feed came in the spring. 
Very many had to depend on the browse of the tree tops as feed for their 
cattle for the last two months of cold weather. For the last few days of 
March, however, even this provison of nature was cut off. When all were 
anxiously looking for the opening of spring, heart-sick in view of the sufl:'er- 
ings of the poor dumb animals, the sleeper in his lone cabin in the midst of 
the forest was awakened on the night of the 27th of March by the continual 
crashing of the tree tops, which did not cease until day dawned, when to the 
dispirited immigrant was revealed the cause of all the commotion of the night. 
"It had been raining — freezing as it fell— until the tree tops were broken 
under their load of ice. That day and for several days it seemed that the cat- 
tle must all die; for when the trees were cut down for browse, the small twigs, 
(10) 



146 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

encased in a hard coat of ice, would break off, with the ice adhering, and 
mingle with the snow. Besides this, the crust on the snow was so thick and 
hard that the cattle could hardly get about. The wild animals also suffered 
almost as much, seemingly, as the domestic ones. It was nothing unusual to 
see squirrels so reduced as to be easily caught by hand. On election day T first 
Monday in April) snow was one foot deep in the thick woods, and it was 
good sleighing on most of the roads. That week, however, sent the snow in 
another form to Lake Erie or the Gulf of Mexico, and in a few weeks herbage 
began to appear, and hope sprang up again in the settler's heart." 

FIRST OFFICERS. 

The first election was held at Ira Allen's, on the farm afterwards owned 
by William Crooks. Says a pioneer: "As our township was in limited cir- 
cumstances as to population, and most of them had the ague, and it took two 
of them to make a shadow and even then they could not go to the polls, we 
had to apply to Stafford township to help us fill up the board, and both town- 
ships held elections together at the above place and elected the several officers. 
Among them were William P. Means, for county assessor, and Mr. Lons- 
berry, for school commissioner. I don't recollect the balance of the officers 
that were elected in those days; we had not much use for squires nor con- 
stables, but I think Ariel Walden was elected associate judge for the court 
of this county. The first justice of the peace elected was a Mr. Pearsons." 

Early justices of the peace were: Charles D. Handy. Moses L. Pierson, 
Daniel B. Mead, P. B. Nimmons, John Moore, Dr. Madden, Ezra Dickinson, 
Richard Worth, L. A. Benedict and H. C. Colgrove. Constables were : Daniel 
Coats, H. N. Mathews, Jesse Wood, William K. Streight, William Mathews, 
William Campbell, Edsall Cherry, Noble Cherry, Peter Kester, A. F. Packer, 
Hiram Freeman, N. W. Delano. Isaac Eakright, W. D. Armstrong, Joseph 
Norris and John Weaver. Trustees prior to i860 were: John Helwig, M. 
L. Pierson, Collins Roberts. Joseph Nodine, Joseph Totten, Asa Sawyer, S. 
B. Ward. Thomas Fosdick, E. W. Fosdick, Edgar Treman, William Maxwell, 
Nelson Smurr, Andrew Smith, William H. Thomas, Dr. Madden, Lot B. 
Coe, N. G. Sewall. G. Maxwell. ^^'. K. Streight. P. B. Nimmons. W. D. Arm- 
strong and .A.. Cochran. 

NOTES. 

In 1880 the population of \\'i!mington townsiiip was one tlniusand five 
hundred and twenty-nine: in i8qo, three thousand eiglit hundred and sixty- 



DEKALB COUNTV, INDIANA. ' 147 

eight; in 1900, three thousand two luimired and ninety-seven; and in 1910, 
three thousand. 

During the war for the Union, Wihnington was ver_v loyal, being one 
of the first to respond to the call for three months" men, and every call that 
was made by the government was met by her quota. The draft was never 
resorted to in this township. 

In 1856 the township was "boomed" considerably by the construction of 
the air line of the Michigan Southern railroad, and the consequent growth of 
Butler, at first called Norristown. A market was opened for surplus agricul- 
tural products, prices went up, and there was a consequent Trnprovement of 
the lands and equipment of the farmers. The construction of the second rail- 
road in 1872, and the W^abash in 1892, gave a clinch to the prosperity, and 
this progressive township has continued to grow ever since. 



The town of Butler was originally called Morristown, in honor of one 
of the early settlers of Wimington township, Charles Norris. It is located in 
the northeast corner of the township, on sections i, 2, 11 and 12. At this 
town the Wabash, the Vandalia of the Pennsylvania system and the Lake 
Shore & Michigan Southern have a junction, thus adding a great amount 
of value to the town as a shipping center. Access is also provided thereby to 
other points of the county in any direction, and to the outside world. In 
1880 the population of Butler town was approximately thirteen hundred; in 
1890, it had jumped to two thousand five hundred and twenty-one; in 1900, 
there were two thousand sixty-three inhabitants; but in 1910, the latest cen- 
sus, there were only one thousand eight hundred and eighteen. 

As early as the year 1844 the settlers in the vicinity of the present site 
of Butler had their postoffice at a point two miles south of the incorporation at 
Oak Hill, the office being conducted by Thomas Fosdick. In 1842 Egnew, 
Hanes, Cherry, Morris, Tomlinson and others erected a school house on the 
land of George Egnew, and this proved to be the first house in Butler. There 
was a dwelling house built in 1844 by Mr. Brainard. In 1851 a small mer- 
chandise stock was sold from a log hut standing on the southwest corner of 
land owned by Charles Norris, and was sold by "Ladd" Thomas and Osburn 
Coburn. The first frame structure was raised on the later site of the Haver- 
stock block, in 1855. In 1870 the w^ooden building was totally destroyed by 
frames. The second frame structure was constructed by Noble & Madden 
and used as a general store. At this juncture the postoffice was moved to the 



148 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

village, which was given the name of Norristown, after Charles Norris. a real 
estate promoter of the place. Later the village was known as Jarvis. and 
about the time of the Civil war the name of Butler was adopted, and has 
existed since. 

Butler's first railroad, the Air Line, was completed May 26, 1856, and in 
October, 1873, the Eel River road, later the Wabash, arrived. The first 
tavern was kept by John Shull, and on July 4, 1857, A. A. Kennedy first 
opened the Waverly House. The first saw mill was erected by Messrs. Dan- 
forth, Carpender and a third party during the winter of 1853-4, and was 
destroyed by fire in 1884. The first brick building was put up by Henry 
Linderfer in 1856. The first death occurred in 1848, and was that of A. Robe, 
who lived on the later site of Dr. Madden's residence. Henry C. Cherry, 
born December, 1841, was the first person born in Butler, and the first mar- 
riage was that of Amasa Smith to Amelia Morris, the ceremony being per- 
formed by Elder Cherry. 

INCORPORATIONS. 

The town was incorporated as a town in the year 1866, with W. P. Car- 
pender, J. A. Campbell and Elihu Ocker as trustees, A. A. Howard as clerk, 
and William Thomas as marshal. Butler at present is a city of the fifth class, 
with a population of two thousand people. The town was incorporated as a 
city in May, 1903. Sam G. Stone, druggist, was the first mayor, but he re- 
signed before the completion of his term. The remainder of the time until 
the next election was filled by John Llazlett and Otto Gengnagel. Wallace 
Webster was the next mayor, and the present incumbent is Walter J. Mond- 
hank. The other officers of the city now are : F. H. Ritter, city attorney ; L. 
C. Buehrer, clerk; C. W. Campbell, treasurer; Frank Creager, Ora Water- 
man, Charles Noragon, S. M. Ramey, Eugene Oherlin, councilmen, and Will- 
iam Holtzberg, marshal. 

PUBLIC UTILITIES. 

The Butler electric light and water works is a municipal establish- 
ment, with three hundred patrons in the city. The plant is worth sixty thou- 
sands dollars. They have one hundred and ten street lights, including twenty- 
four ornamental posts, with three lights each. Fire plugs to the number of 
forty-two are placed at advantageous points in the city. 

There are three miles of sanitary sewerage in Butler, with the outlet in 
Big Run creek. Two miles of brick paving add greatly to the appearance of 
the city. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 149 

THE BUTLER COMPANY. 

The Butler Company, manufacturers of wind mills and buggies, is one 
of the largest concerns of its kind in the county, and in fact, in the state. The 
company was established in 1888, and has grown rapidly until the present 
time, and now has prospects of even greater scope of industry and trade. Be- 
sides a line of buggies, the factory turns out wind mills of all types, cypress 
tanks, galvanized tanks, pumps, valves, and other accessories. About three 
hundred men are supplied employment by this establishment. Trade is car- 
ried on with all parts of the world, quite a- brisk business lieing formed in 
South Africa. Good railroad connections are afforded by the close proximity 
to the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern, the Wabash and Pennsylvania 
lines. 

CONCORD TOWNSHIP. 

In the southeastern portion of DeKalb county is the township of Con- 
cord. This township is bounded on the north by Wilmington township, on 
the east by Newville township, on the south by Spencer township, and on the 
west by Jackson township. The St. Joseph river flows in a meandering direc- 
tion from the northeast to the southwest, and Bear creek, entering in the 
northwest corner, flows toward the center. In the early day many good mills 
were situated along these rivers. A saw mill was constructed near the center 
of the township on Bear creek many years ago, and also one on the stream 
known as the "Twenty-six Mile creek." In land, the township is well favored. 
The river bottom lands are excellent for the production of grain, and at one 
time extra good timber covered portions of the township. This growth has 
been largely cleared off at this day. Spencer township has recently been made, 
on June 7, 1909, from a part of Concord, so that the latter is now the upper 
half only of the original bounds designated as Concord. 

ORGANIZATION. 

The first name given to the township was DeKalb, in the fall of 1837. 
It included at that time the territory embraced in Stafford and Newville town- 
ships, but in March following Stafford was detached and temporarily added 
to Wilmington, while the name Concord was substituted for DeKalb. An 
election was held on the first Monday of April following, at the home of 
Jared Ball, and Cornelius Woodcox was appointed inspector of elections. 
At this election Washington Robinson was chosen justice of the peace. New- 



150 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

ville was also made a separate township shortly afterward, leaving Concord, 
which was again divided in halves, making Spencer township of the southern 
half. 

On April 9, 1838, Washington Robinson made the first report to the 
county that was rendered by any justice, as follows: 

■'State of Indiana, DeKalb County, Concord Township, March 30, 1838, 

Plaintiff. 

"This day personally appeared before me, Washington Robinson, a jus- 
tice of the peace in and for the township aforesaid, Lyman Benton and Will- 
iam Rhodes ; being found guilty of an affray by the information of Thomas 
L. Yates, Judge of the Circuit Court, and confessed themselves guilty, and 
the cause being heard and inspected, it is therefore considered that the said 
Lyman Benton and William Rhodes stand convicted in the sum of one dollar 
fine for each one, making two dollars and fifty cents their cost. 

"Given under my hand this 30th day of March, 1838. 

"Washington Robinson, J. P." 

FIRST SETTLEMENTS. 

In the year 1835 nine families out of the ten settled in the county of 
DeKalb were in the limits of Concord township. The St. Joseph of the 
Maumee at an early day was a main channel for all commercial traffic, and 
on the banks of this river were found the earliest settlements of the county. 
From 1835 to 1839 many settled along the river, namely: Homer Blake, 
David Butler, John Mathews, Thomas L. Yates, John T. Rhodes, Jerry 
Rhodes, Daniel Rhodes, Brandt Rood, Cramwell Rood, William Mathews, 
Mt. Lytle, Jared Ball and several others. In the spring of 1834 Washington 
Robinson entered a tract of land across the river from the present site of 
Orangevilie, built a small cabin, and settled in January, 1837. In the month of 
November, 1837, he platted a portion of section 12, and named the tract 
Orangevilie. In the spring of 1837 Platter and others opened the first store 
in the county. Other early settlers who came later and at this time were: 
Gavin Hamilton, Lott Herrick, who was the first probate judge of DeKalb 
county ; George Barney, once treasurer of the county ; James Hadsell, Cornel- 
ius Woodc'ox, R. J. Dawson, John Blair and sons, William Burley, Charles 
Wilbur, Joseph Ludwick, Judge Walden, Samuel Widney, John P. Widney, 
Rev. Benjamin Alton and Dr. Babcock. James Hadsell became one of the 
most important of the early pioneers, serving as minister of the Disciples 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. I5I 

church, where he accompHsheil much in tlie rehgious development of his com- 
munity. 

Nelson Ulm, of the band of early settlers, moved here in 1834, and set- 
tled on the present site of Spencerville. His account of his early experiences 
tells of how he helped drive from Fort Wayne in the fall of 1834 the first 
hogs and cows ever brought to Spencerville, eight hogs and one cow for 
David Butler, and two cows for Dan Rhodes. Dan Yates, then living at 
Spencerville, was the first white settler there, for whom Mr. Ulm worked 
during the fall of 1834 and subsequent winter. During the same winter Mr. 
Yates sent Mr. Ulm to Fort Wayne to mill, a hazardous proceeding in that 
day. He took two bushels of corn on a hand sled, making the distance in two 
days, camping on the bank of the river, near where the Feeder dam later was- 
located, drawing the sled on the ice, the river being the only highway at that 
time. 

In the fall of 1835 he had a big tramp after Yates' and Rhodes' horses, 
which were allowed to roam the woods in search of something to eat. The 
horses failing to put in an appearance at the usual time, he started to bring 
them in, striking their trail on Bear Creek, followed them up the river where 
Newville later stood, crossed the river, left the trail and returned to Daniel 
Rhodes', where he stayed all night. Early the following morning he struck 
the trail and followed the same all day without any success, camping that 
night near the Maumee river. Awakening in the night he found that the horses 
in their wanderings came up to where he was then camping. He got up, 
bridled two of the horses and hitched them to some saplings and then retired. 
The next morning he started home, leading one horse, carrying gun and knap- 
sack, and striking the St. Joseph river near where Hurch's mills later stood. 
In consequence of riding bareback, with heavy load, and it raining all the 
time, the horse's back became sore and in time all the hair came of¥. 

Starting for Houlton's mill on Fish creek in the fall of 1834, after a 
raft of lumber, Mr. Ulm arrived at the mill, and with the assistance of Mr. 
Houlton succeeded in getting back without accident. Stopping near the mouth 
of Buck creek he found the skeletons of two deer, their horns so interlocked 
that it was impossible to separate them. He supposed that they had been 
fighting and had become so entangled that separation was impossible, and had 
so died. From this incident, Mr. Ulm gave the creek the name of Buck creek, 
and the name still exists. 

Following is a list of the early pioneers of Concord township: 1833, 
Samuel Wasson and David Butler; 1834, Nelson Ulm, Mrs. Polly Rhodes. 
Jeremiah Rhodes and wife; 1835, Samuel Draggoo, Cynthia Engle, William 



152 DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Knight, Aseneth Ricketts, Henry Robertson; 1836, Samuel Henderson and 
vvife and son William and other children, Jane Lawhead, Charles W. Widney, 
Mrs. Nancy Wyatt, John Widney, Mrs. Nancy Widney, Elvira Ulm, James 
H. Abel, Abigail L. Abel, Electa Abel, Mary Hadsell; 1837, Abraham John- 
son, Charles Widney, G. W. Woodcox, Solomon Woodcox, Erastus White, 
Jacob B. White, Ira Picketts, Hugh Wyatt, Jonathan Boyle, Henry J. Abel, 
Mrs. Samuel Wasson; 1838, H. H. Fales and wife, George Barney, Mrs. Sophia 
Moody, Milas Rhodes, E. D. White, Susan White, J. M. Lounsberry, Martha 
Lawhead, Charles M. Coburn; 1839, Isaac Lawhead, James M. Hamilton, S. 
L. Widney, Nancy Culbertson, Samuel Lawhead; 1840, Eva Lounsberry, 
Elizabeth Wineland, Hugh Maxwell, Mary Maxwell, Sarah A. Hull, Maria 
C. Williams, Harlow Gee, Harmon Gee; 1841, O. H. Widney, William Drag- 
goo, Amand Meese, Rebecca Smith, George Maxwell, Betsey A. Leighty, 
John Wyatt, S. E. Parsons; 1842, Daniel Butler, David Butler, Mary A. 
Widney, Jane Jenkins, Mrs. Erastus White, Elizabeth Widney, Jacob Dermott, 
Moses Perry; 1843, J^'^^ Moody, Jonas Emanuel, Benjamin Hursh, Mrs. M. 
"Widney, Robert Culbertson, J. M. Milliman, Mary Milliman ; 1844, Margaret 
Stewart, John Leighty and wife, Sol. Barney, Henry Jenkins, William 
Leighty,. J. D. Leighty, Levi Sechler, Mary Sechler, Lizzie Chaney; 1845, 
Catherine Silberg, Robert Johnson, Sep. Hull, John W. Dills, George W. 
Draggoo, Mary Ann Koch, Adeline Showalter, Catherine Jenkins. 

FIRST OFFICERS. 

Some of the first justices of the peace were: John Blair, Ebenezer Co- 
turn, George Barney, Jeremiah Rhodes, John Bates, Asher Coburn, James 
Draggoo, Moses Perry, Lorenzo Dawson and Robert Culbertson. Among 
the early constables were: Gardner Mellindy, W. Munroe, Uriah Miller, 
Henry Fales, Eben Smith, D. Harrington, James Smith, J. Z. Henderson, 
Samuel Flint, Moses Boyles, John Smith, D. Andrews, Michael Knight, W. 
R. Drake. Among the first trustees were : Samuel Widney, John Blair, 
Ebenezer Coburn, Asher Coburn, J. P. Widney, William Henderson, Solo- 
mon Shilling, Joshua Nichols, James Hadsell, Asa Fletcher, John F. Coburn, 
William Munroe, Michael Silberg, John Helmick, Moses Perry, Jonathan 
Boyles, Bushrod Catlin, Romeo Catlin, W. Horner, James Draggoo, John 
Shutt and Jacob Dills. Jeremiah Rhodes and John A. Chillis were early as- 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 



In 1880 Concord township had a population of one thousand six hundred 
and twenty-three; in 1890, one thousand nine hundred and twelve; in 1900, 
one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one; and in 1910, nine hundred and 
fifty-seven. 

TOWN OF ST. JOE. 

Located on the Baltimore & Ohio and Wabash railroads, the little 
town of St. Joe is enjoying an ever increasing prosperity. There are three 
hundred and fifty people in this town, and proportionately, the town is equal 
to any in the middle west in beauty, civic pride, and commercial prosperity. 
St. Joe was laid out by John and Jacob D. Leighty, on April 20, i87'5, being a 
part of the southwest quarter of section 15, township 33 north, range 142. 
Since then several additions have been made to the site. 

In December, 1898, St. Joe petitioned for incorporation as a town, and 
on January 11, 1899, the election was held to determine the matter of in- 
corporation. The result was incorporation, and since, then, by reason of this 
wise move, the town has sprung into modem existence, and threatens to grow 
even larger and better. The present trustees of the town are: William 
Curie, Henry Hathaway, and William Randall ; Thomas Rickett is marshal 
and street commissioner; Dr. B. E. Shcffer is clerk, and Marsh Andrews is 
treasurer. 

KEYSER TOWNSHIP. 

Keyser township is bounded on the north by Richland township, on the 
east by Union and Jackson, on the south by Butler, and on the west by Allen 
and Swan townships. Noble county. The township is drained by several 
small creeks, tributary to Cedar creek. The Baltimore & Ohio railroad, the 
Vandalia, and Lake Shore & Michigan Southern cross the territory. 

ORGANIZATION. 

Keyser owes its organization to the construction of the Baltimore & 
Ohio railroad, which led up to the founding of the town of Garrett on the 
line between Richland and Butler townships. To avoid having the new town 
in two townships, the board of commissioners formed a new township at 
their June term, 1876, when it was "ordered, directed and decreed by the 
board that the territory bounded by a line commencing at the northeast cor- 



154 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

ner of section 25, township 34 north, range 12 east, and running from thence 
west on the north line of sections 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30, to the west Hne of 
said township of Richland ; thence south to the west line of said township 33 
north, range 12 east, to the southwest corner of section 7 in Butler township; 
thence east on the south line of sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, to the east line 
of said township; thence north along the east line of said township to the 
place of beginning, shall be known by the name and style of Keyser township." 

THE CITY OF GARRETT. 
By J. R. Skilling. 

The town of Garrett was laid out by Beverly L. Randolph, son of James 
L. Randolph, chief engineer for the Baltimore & Ohio. The original plat of 
Garrett was recorded at Auburn on April 9, 1875, and named Garrett in 
honor of John W. Garrett, president of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. The 
first lot was sold on the 13th day of April, 1875, to Nathan Tarney, which 
was lot No. I in Block No. 18, although previous to this date O. C. Clark had 
contracted for lots on the southwest corner of King and Randolph streets, 
where Reyher's dry goods store and Hershberger's grocery stores are sit- 
uated. O. C. Clark built the first house in Garrett in April, 1875, now owned 
and occupied by the Reyher drug store. The building was first occupied in 
1875 by the Lancaster brothers as a dry goods store. The first postofiice was 
also in this building, on the second floor, and A. W. Pratt was the first post- 
master. He appointed T. G. Baylor assistant to hand out the mail, as he was 
engaged in engineering the construction of the Baltimore & Ohio shops. 

FIRST STRUCTURES. 

O. C. Clark resided two miles west of Garrett, on a farm, and he was 
one of the first settlers of the county. H. M. Bicknell came over from Ken- 
dall ville on April 23, 1875, and erected a one-story frame building which he 
used as a drug store. This was called the Pioneer Drug Store. John L. 
Davis, of Auburn, F. C. Davenport, Eli Kuhlman, John Robbins, P. K. David 
and brother were other merchants of 1875, and they prospered in the rapidly 
growing community. In 1875 T. A. Smith opened up a bakery, known as the 
Star bakery: N. B. Rowe also opened a few stores, one a bakery; Mr. Mc- 
Williams, from Virginia, built some frame buildings; Samuel Lemon con- 
structed a two-story frame; Washington Cowen had his of-fice in the latter 
building, on the corner now occupied by Widmer's block, and Dr. L. M. Sher- 




SACRED HEART HOSPITAL, GARRETT 




l-i^y\/ATS^ W0y9/<^ AA/a ^^SC7-f?/c /.I CUT <°^^/i/7- 
IIAKRETT'S I'F-TO-DATE I'UHLIC I'TII-ITY PLANT 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. I 55 

man acted as his clerk. Sherman was the first physician to locate in the 
town. Isaiah Decker established the first livery and feed stable in the autumn 
of 1875 on the southwest corner of Peters and Keyser streets, one square 
north of the Catholic church. The three-story brick store on the west side 
of Randolph .street opposite the Keyser hotel was built in 1875 by John King, 
at that time first vice-president of the Baltimore & Ohio, and William Key- 
ser, second vice-president, also built a brick store on the south side of Keyser 
street, east of the hotel. 

The DeKalb House, now the Keyser hotel, a three-story brick structure 
with twenty-six bedrooms, was built in the autumn of 1875,' by the Baltimore 
Land and Improvement Company. John W. Garvey, a Chicago contractor 
who constructed the Baltimore & Ohio shops, also constructed this hotel, 
which was at once fitted up in the best of style and was opened to the public 
January i, 1876, by N. & G. Ohmer, of Dayton, Ohio, with Christ Connecht 
in charge and Thomas Taggart as clerk. 

On July 4th, 1876, the Baltimore & Ohio depot was opened to the 
traveling public. The dining and lunch room was opened by N. & G. Ohmer, 
with Thomas Taggart in charge. Taggart, noted for his gentlemanly and 
accommodating deportment to all, continued dealing out the doughnuts, pies 
and coffee to the railroad boys until 1S79, when he bid Garrett farewell. He 
was afterward county auditor of Marion county, Indiana, mayor of Indian- 
apolis, and Democratic national committeeman for Indiana. 

W. J. Frederick, in 1875, built a two-story dwelling, which was destroyed 
by fire and replaced with another similar structure. Charles Linkenhelt also 
bought a small piece of land and erected a one-story building thereon. W. S. 
Perry, John Paul, P. Behler were other early builders. George Cady built a 
two-story frame building where the postofifice now is, and in this building 
the first newspaper of Garrett, "The Garrett Nezvs," was printed. Gus Thienel 
opened one of the first saloons in Garrett. There was a jolly set of railroad 
boys here then. They were ready for fun, and would get it if they had to get 
it on credit. So Thienel's conser\atory was selected as headquarters for all 
their "Free and Easys." Thienel bought his beer at Kendallville and the boys 
would go there and fill up their tanks and then march down street with pieces 
of paper to represent music, and sing. The early pioneers will remember that 
Thienel was frequently compelled to have a new front in his Exhibition Hall 
the next morning after pay day. Tonnesen's furniture store now occupies the 
site of this memorable resort. 



156 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

EARLY PIONEERS. 

We will proceed to mention a few of the early pioneers of our city. 
Lewis Covell was the first attorney. He came from Kendallville in the sum- 
mer of 1875 and brought some dry goods and clothing which he first placed 
in Bicknell's pioneer drug store till he had a building ready on Cowen street. 
Mr. M. Zimmer and family, Peter Loth and family, C. S. Ever were among 
the first residents. 

GARRETT BABIES. 

In the spring of 1875 the land company neglected no means of stimulat- 
ing the growth of the place and commenced offering prizes for babies born in 
the town. Quite a furore was created and about the first of September, 1875, 
the first claimant appeared. A public demonstration was immediately an- 
nounced. Special trains were run to accommodate visitors from neighboring 
towns. John K. Cowen, son of Washington Cowen, who was chief attorney 
for the Baltimore & Ohio, was here from Baltimore as one of the speakers. 
A social and jolly dance at the Chicago House in which all participated and 
enjoyed themselves kept up the excitement until after midnight. The young 
claimant was presented with a beautiful silver mug with the name "Lidiana 
Garrett Quigley" inscribed thereon. Mr. Ouigley, a switchman here in the 
service of the Baltimore & Ohio, was the happy father of the child. 

The land company never offered any mor prizes for such enterprises, 
but the rage for babies continued to increase and even doubled up, as the 
record of Garrett for the first fifteen years will show more twin babies in that 
length of time than any other town of the same population in the country. 

OTHER PIONEERS. 

N. Kovniske was the first merchant tailor in town. A. H. Philips and 
his brother came here in 1876 and opened a grocery store. M. McNamara 
was one of the 1875 pioneers. He owned a hardware store on Cowen street. 
James Atwater built a two-story frame building in 1875 on the lot which is 
now occupied by the south half of Wagner's opera house. J. W. Wagner ar- 
rived in Garrett in 1875 from Mansfield, Ohio, and purchased lots in the 
east side of Cowen street north of Dr. Thompson's residence. He built a two- 
story frame here, and ran a saloon. H. Levi was one of the first butchers in 
Garrett. H. H. G. Upmeyer came to Garrett in 1875 with a small stock of 
boots and shoes. Gus Upmeyer conducted a dry goods store in '76 and 'jj. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 157 

There were two lumber yards established liere in 1S75, one by W. G. Pierce 
from Michigan, and the other by J. P. Spencer. Thomas Hartford was one 
of the first settlers in Garrett, coming with his wife and fifteen children, from 
Elkhart. 

INCORPORATION. 

As soon as the sale of lots was commenced, in April, 1875, there was a 
rush made here by the enthusiastic people, all over-zealous with the future 
prosperity of the new town. The rail farm fences were torn down and scat- 
tered, and in some places trees were cut down to make way for the new frame 
buildings which were hastily and rudely constructed on wood posts and 
blocks for foundations. 

Excitement was so great that a general cry soon went up calling for in- 
corporation. This move was so generally approved that Jackson H. Thomp- 
son, a deputy constable, was appointed to take the census of the proposed 
town. To arrive at this result required three days. The result was a popula- 
tion numbering two hundred and fifty-seven. Immediately after this, a peti- 
tion for incorporation was presented to the county commissioner, which was 
granted. 

As per announcement in notice, at 9 o'clock on December 18, 1875, a 
number of citizens collected in the front room of the Neivs building, and or- 
ganized a board of inspectors. The election was held and resulted in favor of 
incorporation. Accordingly the town was divided into three wards, and the 
result of the election presented to the board of county commissioners and they 
ordered another election to be held on the 8th day of January, 1876, for the 
purpose of electing officers for the town. The election was held and the fol- 
lowing were the town officers chosen : Hiram M. Hogue, Charles Linkenhelt, 
William A. Pratt, councilmen ; Thomas Maloney, clerk; A. H. Putt, assessor; 
Joseph Hyman, treasurer. The first meeting of the town board was held in 
Dr. C. E. Pratt's office, on the corner of Keyser and Cowen streets. At this 
meeting J. R. Skilling was named as the first marshal of the town of Garrett. 

Garrett was managed as a town until April, 1893, when it was incorpor- 
ated as a city by a vote of the people. The last meeting of the town board 
convened on the evening of May 18, 1893, and the first mayor, Charles W. 
Camp, assumed office. The city was redistricted, which made a change in the 
wards from the original districting of December 18, 1875, as follows: The 
first ward was changed to imply all the territory within the city lying north 
of the center of King street ; the second ward all that territory within the city 



150 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

lying between the center of King and Houston streets ; the third ward all that 
territory within the city limits lying south of the center of Houston street. • 

GARRETT IN I9I3. 

Garrett at present has a population close to fi\e thousand people, being 
the largest city in DeKalb county. Upon entering the smoky interior of this 
city one conceives the impression that he is entering a larger city than Gar- 
rett really is. The large population is spread over a wide extent of territory, 
and the bustle and rush of the people give the composite air to the place. 
Garrett is progressive, modern and "alive," always looking for something 
new, the acquiring of which benefit the city and add to the welfare of the 
people. 

As a city Garrett was incorporated in 1893 and Charles W. Camp was 
the first mayor. He continued in ofifice until 1902, when E. B. Thumma took 
the responsibility. In 1910 the third mayor entered his term: this was W. J. 
Frederick. M. J. Driscoll served as mayor pro tern when Frederick gave up 
the office, and in 1910 George Schulthess was chosen. His term expires 
December 31, 1913, and the mayor then to take office is J. A. Cle\enger. 
The present city officers are: George Schulthess, mayor; W. W. IMountz, 
clerk and collector; A. J. Little, treasurer; E. M. McKennan, attorney; Phil 
Holman, engineer; \V. A. Duerk, marshal; A. W. Beehler, fire chief; J. A. 
Moore, secretary board of health; G. C. Scott, superintendent water and light 
plant. The council is composed of C. C. Lindoerfer, 'SI. J. Driscoll, Leslie 
Stoner, Isaac Whirledge and Will Franks. 

CITY WATER AND LIGHT COMPANY. 

This important public utility is owned and controlled exclusively by the 
city of Garrett, and gives fair and impartial service to the many patrons of 
the system. It was established in the year 1896 and cost, when completed, 
seventy-five thousand dollars. There are nine miles of water mains in the 
city, and the water is supplied from a system of eight-inch wells which were 
driven down into a strata of gravel at a depth of from two hundred to two 
hundred and fifty feet. The water passes the strictest chemical examination. 
There are forty street lights in Garrett, and fifty ornamental posts with cluster 
lights. The boulevard lighting system was installed in the latter part of 
1912, and adds a distinct beauty to the streets. There are forty-four five-light 
posts and six three-light posts. Eight of the posts are placed within each 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 159 

Randolph street block, four on each side. The territory extends from the 
Baltimore & Ohio to Houston street on Randolph, and from Franklin to 
Cowen on King street. The three lamp posts are in the first square north of 
the railroad. The iron post is of the Cutter Commonwealth type. The com- 
pany maintains fifty-five fire hydrants, located at advantageous points in the 
city. 

MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENTS. 

In Garrett there are three full miles of street paving. One mile of this is 
in brick, and the remaining two are constructed of asphalt. There are five 
miles of excellent sewerage laid under the main streets. The outlet of the city 
is into Cedar creek, which is the most accessible stream to Garrett, at a dis- 
tance of four miles, with a thirty foot fall. The gas for the city is supplied by 
the Indiana Light and Fuel Company of Fort Wayne. This corporation also 
supplies Auburn and Kendallville. 

CITY HALL. 

In October, 1912, Mayor Schulthess and the city council purchased two 
vacant lots at the corner of Randolph and Keyser streets, with a fifty foot 
frontage and a depth of one hundred and twenty-five feet, upon which it was 
proposed to erect a building costing twenty-five thousand dollars that would 
house the city clerk's office, an office for the mayor, council chamber, fire de- 
partment, jail, city scales and public la\ator\-. The lots were bought at public 
auction for forty-five hundred dollars. 

In November, 1913, the handsome building nears completion. It is of 
Tudor style architecture and is very attractive. The structure is of brick. A 
private telephone system connects every office within the building, and the 
heat is supplied by the City Water and Light Company, who force the steam 
through pipes underground into the building. This is the first heating sys- 
tem of this type in the county. The total cost when completed will approach 
thirty-one thousand dollars. 

LIBRARY. 

The present library in the city of Garrett is of little consequence, con- 
taining less than a thousand books. However, a magnificent building is pro- 
posed, and w ill, in all probability be a realization within a few months. The 
plans have been drawn, and the work of organization is being hurried. An- 
drew Carnegie has expressed his willingness to subscribe ten thousand dollars 



l60 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

toward the construction of the new liljrary, if the citizens comply with their 
part of the contract. 

SACRED HEART H0SPIT.\L. 

For quite a time the erection of a hospital in Garrett was considered by 
the people of Garrett, particularly the members of the Catholic church. There 
was talk at one time of the removal of the railroad shops to Defiance, and 
consequently the building of an expensive hospital was delayed until definite 
knowledge was forthcoming. This procured, and to the efifect that Garrett 
would retain the Baltimore and Ohio shops, plans were put on foot for the 
hospital. The Catholic church bought the ground in 1901 and the hospital 
was constructed in 1902, at a cost of sixty-two thousand dollars. The insti- 
tution is conducted under the management of the Franciscan Sisters. The 
equipment and furnishings of this hospital are modern and sanitary; the 
highest principles of hygiene have been observed in every detail of the work, 
and the record of the work done is truly one to be proud of. The hospital is 
managed by the Catholic church. 

BUTLER TOWNSHIP. 

Butler township lies in the extreme southwestern corner of DeKalb 
county. It was six miles square at the beginning, and was organized as a 
civil township on the 5th of September, 1837. In 1876, however, twelve sec- 
tions were taken from the northern side for the new township of Keyser, and 
the township was reduced to the dimensions of four miles by six. It is 
bounded on the north by Keyser township, on the east by Jackson, on the south 
by Perry township, Allen county, and on the west by Swan township, Noble 
county. Cedar creek, running across the northeast corner down through the 
center, and Black creek, running through the western part, supply water to the 
locality. The soil is very rich for agricultural purposes, although certain 
small localities are below the standard. 

ORGANIZATION. 

The first regular meeting of the county board of commissioners was held 
on September 4, 5 and 6, 1837, and was attended by a full board. The sec- 
ond day of the session it was "ordered that the congressional township 33 
north, range 12 east, be and it is hereby organized as a civil township, to be 
known by the name of Butler township." It was also resolved "that Andrew 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. l6l 

Surface be appointed supervisor for the road district No. i, comprising the 
whole of Butler township, and all the lands in said township shall be assigned 
to the same district." The first election was appointed to be held on the first 
Monday in April, 1838, at the home of Robert Work. 

EARLY SETTLEMENT. 

Among the early pioneers of Butler township were Peter Fair and his 
two sons, Abram and Charles; Charles F. C. Crouse, George DeLong, and 
Andrew, Jacob and John Surface. These settlers first came into the township in 
October, 1834, with a four-horse team and wagon. From Squire Caswell's 
they were obliged to hew their path ; Caswell's place was in Allen county, be- 
yond Huntertown. Much of the way was too narrow to allow their four- 
horse team to pass. In the same 3'ear Lewis Holbrook, Lyman Holbrook, 
Joseph Stroup, Henry and Michael Miller emigrated into the township; and 
in the spring of 1836 came William Surface, John Gregg and James Bell. 
Sanford Bassett came in 1838, and John Noel, John C. Clark, John Embry 
and Henry Fair in '39. In 1841 George Ensley, of Auburn, moved into the 
township. The Moodys, Works and Hoffmans were also identified with the 
early growth of the township. 

FIRST OFFICERS. 

The first justice of the peace was William Day, and he was elected in 
April, 1838; George Ensley was the second man to hold this office, which was 
a very important one in those days. Prior to i860 other justices were : Silas 
Hand, George Munroe, William McAnnally, Job C. Smith, G. R. Hofifman, 
O. C. Clark and E. S. Hanson. Early constables were Stephen Clark, Abram 
Brown, William Young, Peter Simons, Uriah Wigent, David Trussell, James 
Forbes, Jehu Bricker, James McAnnally, R. B. Showers, John Noel and Mar- 
tin Bigler. The trustees for the first years were: Jacob Shull, C. Probst, 
Henry Clark, I. N. Young, P. Simons, John Grube, J. V. Keran, George 
Munroe. George Ensley, Uriah Wigent, S. Hutchins, J. Clark, G. R. Hoffman, 
Daniel Hoffman, George Gordon and James Goetchius. 

In 1913 Butler township is accounted a progressive and rich township 
and is well up in the scale with the other fourteen townships of DeKalb 
county. Discussion of the agricultural, religious, education and other phases 
of hr history is written in the respective chapters on those subjects. 
(II) 



l62 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 



FAIRFIKLD TOWNSHIP. 



Fairfield township, owing to its location in the extreme northwestern 
corner of the county, was the last of the tirst townships to become settled. 
Fairfield is bounded on the north by Salem township, Steuben county ; on the 
■east by Smithfield township; on the south by Richland, and on the west by 
Wayne township. Noble county. Indian Lake, on section 29, and Story lake, 
on section 4, besides several small creeks, supply the water for the land, and 
act as drainage. The nearest communication with a railroad of this county is 
Avith the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern, along the southern border in Rich- 
land township. The surface of the township is somewhat broken, there being 
a great many hills dotted over the surface. The beauty of the country was 
unnoticed by the early settlers, as the locality was the last in the line of emi- 
gration. Also, much of the land was purchased by speculators in an early 
day, and this fact served to retard the natural growth. A man by the name 
of Dedrick entered eleven hundred acres; a Pennsylvania bank held a tract; 
and other agencies held ground, all of which were sold through the aid of 
Wesley Park. 

ORGANIZATION. 

On the date of March 7, 1844, the board of commissioners of the county 
received a petition reading: "We, the undersigned, inhabitants of the unor- 
ganized township of DeKalb county, in consequence of the distance we have 
to go to elections and the inconvenience of having to go into another town- 
ship to do township business, do most humbly pray your Honorable Body that 
you would organize said township at your March session, and order an elec- 
tion for a justice of peace, and other officers for the said township; and your 
petitioners will ever pray.'" This was dated February 27, 1844, and signed 
by Rufus R. Lounsberry, George W. Story, A. Ball, Oran B. Story, Miles 
Allen, C. Allen, George Powell, Benjamin Hunt and Nathan W. Powell, who 
■were all voters in the township. 

This petition received a favorable reception, and the board of commis- 
sioners ordered that township 35 north, range 12 east, be organized for civil 
purposes as a separate township, to be known by the name of Fairfield ; and 
the first election was ordered held on the first Monday in April, 1844, at the 
house of Rufus R. Lounsberry, to choose one justice of the peace. An elec- 
tion was held on the last Saturday in August for three trustees. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. I63 

EARLY SETTLEMENT. 

The Ston- family, five in numbers, were the pioneer settlers of Fair- 
field township, and they settled along the northern border. There were Au- 
gustus, Frederick, Willard, George and Samuel Story. 

Willard Childs, one of the prominent early settlers, started on foot from 
his home in Onondaga county, New York, and walked through to Fort 
Wayne, thence to Kendallville, where there were but two cabins, and taking 
a guide came into DeKalb county, March 4, 1837, the day Martin Van Buren 
was inaugurated President of the United States. He selected one hundred 
and twenty acres on section 27, paid for it, and then set to work at Fort 
Wayne to earn enough to take him home. When the land was entered the 
Storys w^ere the sole occupants of the territory of Fairfield township. Mr. 
Childs returned in October, 1844, to pay taxes, and to review his purchase, to 
decide on making the place his home. Settlers had moved in, and in the 
southeast was David McNabb and family. Farther east was Wilbur Powell, 
and on the north adjoining was the cabin and clearing of George Powell, 
the first justice of the peace in the township afterward. In 1846 Childs moved 
in, and made his home temporarily with Benjamin Chafifee, who sold his 
place to Childs and made another settlement in the north part of the town- 
ship. He afterward became postmaster at Corunna. Rufus R. Lounsberry, 
of Wilmington, William and Isaac Wilsey, D. Rager, Hiram Thomas, Phillip 
Gushwa, John Shook, Henry and Leonard Hartman, and Aliles Allen were 
also early settlers in Faii-field township. 

After this came a lull in the settlement, which extended until 1850, at 
which time a new influx of settlers came, and building and clearing started 
with a rush. Log rolling and raising took up much of the time. 

FIRST OFFICERS. 

Prior to i860 the justices of peace in Fairfield were: D. Rager, R. 
Worrell, Jesse Brumback, Job C. Smith, S. Greenamyer, George Powell and 
William Harper. The constables for the same period were : Samuel Story, 
J. Hatch, George Rowe, D. D. Powless, J. Gushwa, D. C. Shipe, W. Short. 
John Gonser and Daniel Gonser. Trustees in this early time were : R. Wor- 
rell, D. Rager, W. Childs, S. ]\Iiser, J. C. Smith. G. W. Smith, D. Gonser, D. 
N. Nidick, B. Hunt, John Long, E. Wright, J. Short, W. H. Wilsey, Moses 
Gonser, D. Kimbell, B. A. Chaffee, H. Thomas. 



164 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 



Perhaps the first marriage performed within the limits of Fairfield town- 
ship was that of David Gonser and Miss Gushwa. 

The census of 1880 gave Fairfield township a population of one thousand 
five hundred and fifty-eight people; in 1890, there were one thousand three 
hundred and sixty-one people: in 1900, the same: and in 1910, one thousand 
one hundred and ninety-four. 

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP. 

l'"rauklin township is located in the northeastern portion of DeKalb 
county, in the northern tier. It is bounded on the north by Otsego town- 
ship, Steuben county: on the east by Troy township; on the south by Wil- 
mington township, and on the west by Smithfield township. It is watered 
and drained by the tributaries, headwaters, of Cedar creek and Fish creek, 
and along the northern border are two small lakes. There are no railroads in 
Franklin township, consequently no town of great size. Butler, on the Michi- 
gan Southern, just below the southern border, is the nearest trading point. 
The highways of this township, however, are excellent, and provide swift 
intercourse with distributing centers. The land is good and well suited for 
agriculture. 

ORGANIZATION. 

The first act of the first board of commissioners of DeKalb county, on 
July 25. 1837, was, affer appointing necessary officers, to provide for the or- 
ganization of Franklin township, with the following boundaries: "Com- 
mencing at the northeast corner of said county (DeKalb), thence west to the 
corners of ranges 13 and 14 east, townships 35 and 36 north, thence south 
six miles to township 34 north, ranges 13 and 14 east, thence east on the town 
line to the east line of the said county, thence north to the place of beginning; 
the above shall constitute the first township in DeKalb county." 

The board, Peter Fair and Samuel Widney, then appointed ''Peter Boyer 
for Inspector of Elections for township No. i in said county of DeKalb, and 
do order a writ of election for one justice of the peace for said township on 
the first Monday of August next (1837), and do also appoint Isaac T. 
Aldrich for Constable of said township, to serve until his successor is chosen 
and qualified, and do also appoint John Houlton for Supervisor of said town- 




FIRST HOUSE BUILT IN DEKALB COUNTY 
John Houlton's House, in Franklin Townsliip, Built Sept. 4, 1833 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. I65 

ship No. I, and district No. i, in ,';ai(l county of DeKalb." The limits thus 
provided made Franklin to include what is now Troy township, in addition 
to its present territory; but some years afterward Troy was organized, leaving 
Franklin six miles square. 

At the first election in August, 1837, Abram F. Beecher was chosen com- 
missioner, and Luther Buck as justice of the peace. At the next election, held 
at the house of George Firestone, on the first Monday in April, 1838, Judge 
Linsey was made justice of the peace. Irregularity in making the returns pre- 
vented the receipt of commissions, and it was not until the spring of 1839 
that first legal election was held, at the house of M. L. Wheeler, he being 
chosen justice of the peace, and George Firestone, constable. 

EARLY SETTLEMENT. 

In point of settlement, the same as organization, Franklin township was 
the first. John Houlton, the first man in DeKalb county to build a home, 
constructed his rude log house on the bank of Fish creek, in the northeastern 
part of the township, in the year 1833. For quite a time he was the lone resi- 
dent in the forest, but after a period of two years he was joined by John 
Smith, who settled on section 4. 

In 1836 many pioneers came in, among them being: Abner Smith of 
section 9, Abram Beecher on 4, Luther Keep on 8, Charles Grain, Willis O. 
Hyde, Peter Boyer, Jacob Myers, Michael Boyer and Mr. Deming and Cor- 
wright. George Firestone moved in in October, 1836, hauling his goods by 
ox-team, and settled on section 23, a part of which he cleared. While build- 
ing his cabin he lived at the cabin of Michael Boyer. 

Supplies of wheat and corn were obtained by the pioneers from Jackson 
prairie. The wild meats of the forest were used extensively by the pioneer, 
his trusty rifle being the earner of much of his pro\ender. The Pottawatomies 
were also ever anxious to trade meats for such trifles as the settlers could 
procure for them. The heavy timber of the land was speedily cleared away 
and the planting of com, potatoes and buckwheat begun. In the spring of 
1837 grists were taken to the LTnion mills in Lagrange, a distance of thirty 
miles, several days were required to make the journey, and it was fraught 
with many hardships. The first roads laid out in Franklin township were 
the Defiance and Lima state road and the Fort Wayne and Lima state road, 
forming a junction a half mile I'ast of Hamilton. 

Of those who came to the township in 1837 were: Daniel Kepler, Sam- 
uel Kepler, Aria! Rood, Cj-.'incl Hood, Grant Bowers, M. L. Wheeler. John 



l66 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Matson, Elisha Waterman and John Farley. Later came Jason Hunnell, 
Daniel McEntarfer, William Letz, Levi Nelson, John and Edward Jackman, 
Preston Bowman, Cyrus Bowman and James Bowman. 

John Houlton wrote the following concerning his entrance into Franklin 
township : 

"When 1 first moved into Franklin mv nearest neighhor was at Den- 
mark, ten miles off. Aly next neighbor on the west was on Jackson Prairie, 
twenty-two miles away. 1 had to bu}- my grain on the prairies, and take it 
to \Miite Pigeon prairies to get it ground : and with the many mire holes I had 
to struggle through, and with the vast number of times I had to unload and 
pry up the wagon, and take a l)ag at a time on my shoulder through creeks 
and sloughs often breast deep in water, and frequently ice to break at that, it 
generally took me from two to four days to make the trip. Often while 
awav from home, I had fears lest some blackleg might murder my wife and 
child, and little sister-in-law, ten years old, and rob the house. But they 
were never disturbed. 

"I came in with the \'ery best of constitution, but 1 am now very nnich 
broken, and ahlicted with rheumatism, so that I have to get help to put on my 
clothes. Of the four of us robbed by the Indians, I suppose I am the only 
one alive. Avery died in Fort \\''ayne ; Samuel Houlton died at the mill on 
Fish creek in May, 1839: Plughes left ^^'ayne in 1839 for the West. 

FIRST OFFICERS. 

Early justices of the peace were: ^I. Wheeler, L. Buck, J. I-iink, John 
McCurdv. George Beard, George Firestone, T. M. Mitchell. Early constables 
were: G. W. Jeffords, Miles Waterman, Cyrus Jackman, David Clark, John 
Shock, Abner Slentz, John R. Ball, George Firestone, William Oberlin; and 
the trustees prior to i860 were: G. Beard, B. Smith, Jabez Hubbell, Miles 
Waterman, G. Shultz, H. Slentz, A. Baxter, J. T. Aldrich, J. Jackman, H. 
Smith, Joseph Boyer. A. Baxter and E. H. Taylor were early assessors. 

In i8go, there were 1,246 people in the township; in 1900, 1,171 ; and in 
1 9 10, 1,063. 

JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 

Jackson township is in the southern tier of townships of DeKall) county, 
centrally located ; bounded on the north by Union township, on the east by 
Concord and Spencer townships,' on the south by Cedar Creek township, Allen 
county, and on the west by Butler and Keyser townships. Cedar creek 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. ifij 

crosses the northwestern portion of the township, two branches of Bear creek 
enter, or leave, the southeastern corner, and Duncan lake and tributaries is 
located in the southwestern corner. The land is now fairly well suited for 
agriculture, although at one time it was inferior to the other townships, there 
being too much swamp land, and a considerable amount of heavy, clayey soil, 
the latter being still present in large quantities. The land has been ditched 
and tiled, and has been developed greatly considering the early character. 
Three railroads — the Vandalia, Baltimore & Ohio, and the Lake Shore & 
Michigan Southern meet in the northwestern corner, at Auburn Junction ; the 
BaltiuKire &• Ohio traverses the entire noithcrn (|uarter of the township. 

ORGANIZATION. 

On January i, 1838, the board of commissioners of the county "ordered 
that township 33 north, range 13 east, be organized as a civil township to be 
known by the name of Jackson township, and that John Watson be appointed 
inspector of elections for said township." The first election was afterward 
appointed for the first Monday in .Vpril, 1838. at the house of John Watson. 

EAUI.Y SETTLEMENT. 

The first settler in the township was William Miller, who moved in 
during the spring of 1836. He and his son, Joseph Miller, cut the first wagon 
track from the river settlements through to Cedar creek, below Auburn. The 
road crossed Jackson township from its east line, very nearly to the west one. 
Joseph Miller was afterward the first county surveyor. Another son, 
Thomas, was killed by the overturning of a wagon load of cross ties for the 
Eel river railroad. Another settler who became noted in the county was 
Thomas L. Yates, the eccentric judge, whom Wesley Park once threatened 
to put "up the ladder." He sold his land on the river, and settled three miles 
down the creek from Auburn, on the land w b.ich afterward belonged to Alonzo 
Lockwood. Others in that part of the township were : Leonard Boice, 
Adam P. Hartle, the Phillips family, and Benjamin Miller. In the southeast 
there were to be found; James Steward: Samuel Henderson, who came in 
fall of 1836: John and David Moody, John and William Watson, Srs., and 
their families: Nathan Wyatt and his sons, then forming three families; Jacob 
Maurer, once justice of the peace, and Willis Bishop. Northward of these 
on the east side of the township were: William Means, the first justice of the 



l68 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

peace in Jackson township ; Samuel Farney, Henry Dove, Abraham Johnson, 
Amariah Johnson, William R. Moore, William McClure, William Squiers, 
Henry Brown, Matthew George, William George, Samuel Geisinger and Nel- 
son Griffith. In the center of the township the first settlers were: Joseph 
Walters, Mr. Essig and William McNabb. 

DEATH OF THE ME.\NS BROTHERS. 

The untimely death of two young men — brothers — the sons of Esquire 
Means, was a distressing incident in the early settlement of the township. 
They were at work together in the clearing, and one of them came to the well 
at the house for a drink, and accidentally losing the bucket in the well, he 
went down to get it. There were damps in the well, and he fell senseless into 
the water. The women raised the alarm, and the other young man hastened 
to the well, and perhaps not understanding the matter, went down also, to 
rescue his brother, and fell senseless with him. Before either could be drawn 
out. life was entirely extinct. 

HURRICANE OF 184I. 

In the summer or fall of 1841, a dark cloud arose, seeming to threaten 
a heavy shower, but soon the rapid motion and wild confusion of the lowering 
clouds proclaimed the approach of a wind storm. It struck the forest and 
leveled the timber. William and Mathew George, Heniy Brown, Nelson 
Griffith, and some other men were working on the road west of where Karper 
lived. Karper's cabin had been raised, but he had not yet moved in. The 
men, startled by the rumbling of the nearing storm, and seeing the air 
darkened with tree limbs and other debris, ran with all their speed to the 
home of Henry Brown, about eighty rods distant, where Brown's children and 
a daughter of William Munroe were, and rushing in, seized the children, and 
carried them into the open field. Immediately the storm was upon them. 
They grasped the wiry grass and held on to stumps to keep from being blown 
away. In the hurry of the moment, one child and the young woman had 
been left in the house, but fortunately, by some means, fell through the floor. 
The wind lifted the door from its hinges and threw it over them, and then the 
logs of the house came tumbling in upon them, until the house was leveled, 
and even the foundation logs turned over, yet the occupants were uninjured. 
The weight poles were blown a distance of forty rods. One of the knees 
from the roof of this cabin struck Leander Brown in the head, makinar a fear- 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 1 69 

ful gash. This wound affected the boy's eyesight in later hfe. The storm 
swept on over the township, rushing and swirhng, and ripping everything to 
pieces which lay in its path. Fences were scattered, dwellings demolished in 
the clearing, and striking the forest, the giant trees wilted before the impact. 
Upon reaching the tract of land owned by William Draggoo, the ominous 
clouds lifted, and the work of destruction ceased. Articles of bed clothing 
from Brown's house were found at this point. The width of the path was 
half a mile and the length three miles. 

Mrs. William George, after the fury of the storm, started to the home 
of Mr. Brown, but was so bewildered by the confusion of fallen timber, that 
she lost her way, and after exerting herself to the utmost, finally arrived at 
the home of George Moore, where she swooned from her excitement. 

FIRST OFFICERS. 

Prior to i860, the justices of the peace were: \\^illiam Means, John C. 
Hursh, A. D. Goetschius, Henry Brown and Jacob Mowrer. The constables 
were: William R. Moore, William McNabb, Benjamin Bailey. Frank Bailey. 
David Mathews, S. Geisinger. Thomas Wyatt, Willis Bishop, William Beatty, 
A. H. Flutter, John Carper, Burton Brown and John McClelland. Trustees 
were: Oliver Shroeder, Aaron Osborn, A. D. Goetschius, James Moore, 
Israel Shearer, Christian Sheets, Samuel Tarney, Joseph Walters, Isaac 
Fiandt, Peter Shafer, James Woolsey, David Henderson, Elias Zimmerman, 
Abraham Johnson and James McClelland. The assessors were John G. 
Dancer, Joseph Walters and Alexander Provines. 

POPULATION. 

In 1880 the population of Jackson township was 1,430; in 1890, 1.412; 
in 1900, 1,351 ; in 1910, 1,204. 

NEWVILLE TOWNSHIP. 

The southeastern corner of DeKalb county is occupied by Newville 
township, a fractional township, six miles long and two and a half wide, con- 
taining twelve whole and six^ half sections. It is bounded on the north by 
Stafford township, on the east by the state of Ohio, on the south by Scipio 
township, Allen county, and on the west by Concord and Spencer townships. 
The St. Joseph of the Maimiee crosses the northwestern corner, flowing from 



170 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

northeast to southwest. A .smaller branch of the same river is located in the 
southwestern corner of the township. The Baltimore & Ohio railroad 
crosses the middle of the township. The land is much the same as that of 
Concord and Spencer townships, rich ri\er-Iiottnm land, oak-timbered wheat 
land, and beech and maple timbered land. However, the timber has been 
largely cleared away, to make room for the crops. 

EARLY SETTLEMENT. 

The pioneer settlers of Newville township were John Platter and Solomon 
DeLong. who, when traveling through the woods in the summer of 1834. be- 
came bewildered, and encamped at the border of a prickly ash swamp. Here 
they dug a hole for water, using their axes and hands. They found water, 
but the fluid was so heavily mixed with the juices from the roots of trees as 
to be scarcely drinkable, though their craving for drink led them to make the 
best of it. Platter settled on section 7, and DeLong settled on the bank of 
the St. Joseph, across from Newville: was one of the early county commis- 
sioners, and served during the Civil war in the Forty-fourth and One Hun- 
dred and Twenty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, having the rank of 
lieutenant-colonel in the latter. Daniel Strong was another pioneer. Others 
were Dwight Moody, J. S. Peck, John Thompson, I. N. Blood, .\lva Law- 
rence, and Ephraim Strong. S. H. Bartlett and family came in 1836, also 
George Weeks. 

"the MOUND." 

"The Mound" is an elevation of ground on section 7, on the Ashman 
faruL It is about ten rods from the "Little St. Joe." and on the south bank 
of a small creek that empties into the St. Joe at this point. It was opened 
in the fall of 1837 by Silas H. Bartlett, Daniel Strong, Jr., John Platter and 
Frasier Bertlett. They found a large quantity of human bones about three 
feet below the surface. The elevation was then ten feet, but has decreased 
since, until now it is hardly visible. It is evident that this was a sepulcher 
of the mound builders, and the rude earthworks indicate that here was also 
at some time a fortification. 

FIRST OFFICERS. 

Among the early justices of the peace in Ne^yyjUe township were: 
Washington Robinson, J. Helwig, John Cary, J. S. Peck, and Dwight Moody. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. [71 

Constables were: John P. Widncy, John Thompson and Asa Overacker, and 
the first trustees were: D. Strong-, A. B. Fetterer, N. Fuller, John Newton, 
John Murphy, N. L. Thomas, Newton Thomas, I. N. Blood, Alva Lawrence, 
S. DeLong, D. Moody, Ephraim Strong and John Platter. 

In 1S80, the population of Newville township was 760; in 1890, 687: in 
1900, 645 ; and in 1910, 562. 

NEWVILLE. 

The \'illage of Newville. once called Vienna, is located on the northwest 
bank of the river, in the southwest quarter of section 6. George W. Weeks 
surveyed and [ilatted tlie town in March, 1837, for Washington Robinson, 
settler and owner of the land. Tlie original plat contained twenty-six and a 
half acres, exclusive of streets. N. L. Thomas, a Methodist minister, was 
the first store keeper in this town, and a Mr. Dodge the host of the first tavern 
opened to the public. Dr. John Lattman was the first physician. John Cary 
was a shoemaker, also an early justice of the peace. Newville has been re- 
stricted in her growth by the lack of a railroad, but the people are very pro- 
gressive, and keep in touch with the world just as well as if intercourse were 
provided by steel rails. 

RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 

Richland township is located centrally in the western tier of the town- 
ships of DeKalb county : is bounded on the north by Fairfield township, on 
the east by Union and Grant, on the south by Keyser, and on the west by 
Allen township, Noble county. Little Cedar runs diagonally from the north- 
west corner across the township, also several other tributaries to this stream 
and Cedar, besides a few small lakes. This provides sufficient drainage and 
water supply for the land in the township. The township is not the best in the 
county for agriculture : the land being very hilly, and with sandy and clavey 
upper soil. The clay is of excellent composition for the manufacture of 
bricks and various kinds of tile. Beech, maple, ash, oak, and poplar, witli a 
little walnut, were the prevailing woods of this township, but these have been 
largely cleared off. The Lake Shore & Michigan Southern traverses the 
northern border of the county, stopping at the towns of Corunna and Sedan. 

ORGANIZATION. 

Richland was organized as a civil township in September, 1837, as a 
whole congressional township, and Jacob Weirick was appointed its first 



[72 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 



supervisor. At the first election held, but six votes were cast, and William 
Showers was elected justice. On the formation of Keyser township, in June, 
1876, twelve sections were taken from its southern side, reducing the town- 
ship to twenty-four sections. 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



The first settler in Richland township was Joseph Miller, who came in 
August, 1836, having cut his way in from the home of his father in Jackson 
township. Previous to moving in, he cut the logs for his house in one day; 
made the clapboards in the next. ha\ing to chop off the timber two clapboards 
length, not having a saw, then split them into bolts and chop them in two 
before riving. He and two others put up the house without any further 
assistance, on the third day. He, and Mr. Vansickle, and Obadiah Whitmore 
also put up a house for Jacob Weirick, without any other help. Jacob Weirick 
and Joshua Feigler moved in in October, 1836. Calvin Calkins set out in the 
fall of 1839, from Sandusky county, Ohio, with his provisions in a knapsack, 
and arriving in this township, selected a quarter section, lying on the present 
road south of Corunna. He learned that another land hunter had chosen part 
of the same lands, and made the best time possilile to the land ofiice at Fort 
Wayne, and was scarcely half an hour in advance of his competitor. His 
family moved in during the fall of 1840. The neighbors were well scattered 
at this time ; Peter Kronkite, who had come the previous fall, had a cabin in 
the woods; and Peter Moody had located on his clearing about a mile east of 
Corunna. In the northeast part of the township was the Showers settle- 
ment. Solomon Showers, the pioneer, was the host to many a settler who 
moved into the locality to set up a home. His cabin was small, but room 
was always found for the incomer. Lyman Green, for whom the corners 
south of Sedan were named, Daniel Webber. \\'illiam Beck. William Showers 
and Daniel Showers were other men who soon established themselves in the 
neighborhood. Japhet Ingraham came in a short time later, and then Peter 
Treesh made the first clearing of the Amos Britton farm. Thomas Dailey 
moved in from Michigan, and located in the western part of the township, 
and Dimick Harding camiC from Lima, Indiana, and chose a tract. Other 
early settlers were: the Moodys, Peter, John and Harvey: the Connellys, 
Ezra. William and John : Samuel Haynes. James Blake, Heman Bangs and 
James McCrum. Henry Willis, afterward sheriff, and who sulisequentl}- 
went to Waterloo, came very early and settled in the northeastern portion 
of the township. He located on a sugar-timbered tract, and manufactured 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 1/3 

sugar, trading the commodity tor lireadstuffs, which transaction often neces- 
sitated a three days' journey. This trading system was common among the 
early settlers, and, in tact, meant subsistence for many of them. 

FIKST OFFICERS. 

Some of tlie early justices were: William Showers, James Blake, D. 
Shaw and L. D. Britton. Constables were : Lyman Green, John Clay, Rob- 
ert Williams. Leeman Fulson, J. Simons, D. Mallery, A. P. Bristol, John 
Palmer, L. Thomas, B. Sanders, David Swander and C. B. Kagey. Trustees 
were: Peter Treesh, Joshua Brubaker, David Lawrence, A. J. Hunt, Jacob 
Palmer, Jefferson Wallace, Christian Frezt, Solomon Showers, H. Willis, 
W. Connelly, J. C. Mead, Japhet Ingraham, James Blake, Lyman Green, W. 
Showers, L D. Britton, H. Sherlock, H. Knapp and L Kanaga. Assessors 
were: \Mlliani \\'elker, C. Knapp, John Shaw, and Henry Sherlock. 



At present Coriinna has a population of three hundred and eighteen 
people, and is a progressive little town, situated on the Lake Shore & Mich- 
igan Southern. There are three schools, two lodges, a bank, telephone sys- 
tem, public lighting plant, two mills, one flour mill and one saw mill, and a 
hotel. 

Sedan is another small town located on the Lake Shore & Michigan 
Southern, about four miles east of Corunna. The population is very small, 
and business is in proportion to the population. 

In 1880 the population of Richland township was 1,598; in 1890, 1,127; 
in 1900, 1,310; in 1910, 1,146. 

SMITHFIELD TOWNSHIP. 

Smithfield township is situated in the north central part of DeKalb 
county, and is bounded as follows : On the north by Steuben township, 
Steuben county; on the east by Franklin township; on the south by Grant 
township, and on the west by Fairfield township. The township is drained 
by tributaries of the Cedar, all very small streams. Cedar lake lies in section 
30. The soil of this township is generally good, being mixed with plenty of 
sand and gravel, and with very little of the clay found in other parts of the 
county. The Lake Shore & Michigan Southern railroad runs directly 
north through the center of the township. 



174 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 



ORGANIZATION. 



The first township election was held at the house of Isaac B. Smith in 
the spring of 1839, and there were just five men present, a bare number to 
form a board. Ferris Blake was chosen township clerk and Isaac B. Smith, 
Isaiah McLeish and Pharez Blake, trustees. N. Blake was made constable, 
and R. J. Daniels, justice of the peace. Daniels had a large territory with 
scant population, and on one occasion, when called upon to join in wedlock 
Jake McLeish and Miss Chaffee, he went on foot to Story lake in Fairfield 
township, performed the ceremony, and consented to take his fee in wald hogs, 
but failed to catch any of them. 

EARLY SETTLEMENT. 

The first settler in Smithfield township was Isaac B. Smith, after whom 
the township was named. His own narrative is printed in "Pioneer 
Sketches," a portion of which is quoted below : 

"Mr. Smith came to Mr. Murray's, at Pleasant Lake, Steuben county, 
and from thence explored the woods of Smithfield township to find a piece of 
vacant land that would suit him for a home. There several times he had 
selected pieces, and he went afoot each time to Fort Wayne (thirty-two or 
thirty-three miles) ; and finding the pieces selected already entered, had to 
return to Pleasant lake, upward of forty miles, and renew his search for a 
home. The fourth time he returned to the land office, only to meet with an- 
other disappointment. Tired in body and heart sick with hope deferred, he 
met a man at the land ofiice from Wells county, not far from where Blufifton 
now is, who represented to him that he was building a mill in that region, and 
knew of a very good quarter section of land still vacant; and stated that 
although he had thought of entering it himself, yet he would give way and let 
Mr. Smith have it. The register of the land office told Mr. Smith that he 
might depend on the veracity of this man, and accordingly he entered the 
tract and went afoot to where it lay. When he found it, he discovered that 
he was badly imposed upon, as the entire tract was an unbroken cottonwood 
swamp, boot-top deep with water. He now returned to the land office, and 
told the register the facts in regard to the land, and was told that by taking 
a man with him as witness and examining the land, the man making oath that 
it was unfit for cultivation, he could have about a week to change his entry 
to another piece of land. Meeting with Wilbur Powell, afterward of Fair- 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 175 

field township, at the land office, he prevailed on him to accompany him as a 
witness. On reaching the place, they traced all the lines around the quarter 
section, and passed through it twice diagonally from corner to corner, and 
did not see a single tree except cottonwood on the tract. Returning to Fort 
Wayne, now for the sixth time, he got a newly corrected plat of Smithfield 
township, and took the trail for the north again. 

"Traversing the woods again, in company with two others, he selected 
a suitable tract, but just as he was about striking for the Auburn trace, to 
start again for Fort Wayne, he met with three other men looking around the 
same lines. He inquired of them if they were going to Fort Wayne to enter 
land. They replied in the affirmative. He inquired when, and they replied 
'not for two or three days' ; but from the expression of their eyes, he con- 
cluded that they were trying to deceive him. So, when the two companies 
parted, he told his companions that they would have a race for it. Both 
parties struck for the shanty built by Park on Cedar Creek, where Uniontown 
now is; but Smith and his friends got too far north, and came out to the 
trace near the site of what was afterward Mr. Smith's residence, and dis- 
covered their whereabouts by means of the mired ox mentioned in Park's 
narrative. It was now. dusk and they were three miles north of the desired 
shanty. Passing over these miles they reached their lodging place sometime 
after dark. Their competitors were not there. The next morning they were 
ofiF before day, passing down the trail at an Indian trot, and ate no breakfast 
until they reached Squire Caswell's, some twenty miles from where they 
started in the morning. All this distance was traversed in a continual trot. 
Mr. Smith, having gained on his companions some, they told him to call at 
Caswell's, and order something to eat 'instanter.' He did so, and by the time 
the rear came up, breakfast was on the table. Eating in great haste, thev left 
their coats, and trotted on, arriving at Fort Wayne, a distance of thirty miles 
in all, at eleven o'clock, A. M. On going to the land office, lo ! the pieces of 
land selected were entered. 

"After spending about an hour in resting and taking refreshments, Mr. 
Smith started back to look again, and as he was crossing the St. Mary's 
bridge close to town, he met his competitors, also afoot, puffing and sweating, 
en route for the land office. He gave them the comfortable assurance that 
their race was in vain, without intimating at all that he was in the same row. 
He returned that night to Mr. Park's at Auburn, having traveled that day over 
fifty miles on foot. There were two men at Park's that night, Reuben J. 
Daniels and Ira Camburn, and the next morning Mr. Smith gathered from 
their conversation that they were going up into the north regions to look for 



176 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

land, and that Mr. Park was to go with them ; for which each was to pay him 
one dollar. He proferred his dollar also for the privilege of accompanying 
them, and having the assistance of Park in finding vacant land. 

"The proposal was accepted, and the result was that Park showed them 
the tracts on which they afterward settled. It was agreed that each should 
privately mark for his first choice of the lands, and providentially or acci- 
dentally as you may please to consider it, each one marked the tract on which 
they subsequently settled as their several choices, and each without knowing 
anything about the choice of the others. It was now Friday evening, and 
Mr. Smith had but one more day to change his entry. So he had another race 
to get to Fort Wayne before the land office closed on Saturday. This time 
he was successful, but was nearly worn down with fatigue and anxiety. 
Eight times he had visited Fort Wayne before he secured his future home." 

A further account of Mr. Smith's adventures in the early settlement of 
Smithfield township may be found in the chapter on "Reminiscences." 

The second permanent settler in Smithfield township was Reuben J.- 
Daniels. He emigrated from Orleans county, New York, and came by way 
of the state of ]\Iichigan. He was accompanied by Ira Camburn, and they, 
having located and entered two hundred acres, paid for it in silver which they 
carried with them. These two settlers together erected a cabin, into which 
they moved on January 28, 1838. It was said of this cabin, that it was door- 
less, without upper floor, and without daubing. There were plenty of Indians 
and wolves at that time. 

Pharez Blake came next and located on section 27. His son, Norton, 
married Huldah Holmes in 1839, and this ceremony, performed by Squire 
Daniels, was the first in the township. Jacob McLeish and his two sons, 
Isaiah and Jacob, and Thomas Locke, came in the spring of 1838 and located 
upon section 29. Joseph Delong and family came by way of Pleasant lake 
in 1829, and selected a tract on section 29. He afterward became a resident 
of M^aterloo. Solomon Brandeberry came during the same year and located 
upon section 23. The McEntafifers, John and his three sons, William, Jacob 
and Abraham, were also settlers of 1839. Daniel Kepler, a Franklin town- 
ship pioneer, moved into Smithfield, also Cyrus Bowman. Other settlers of 
an early period were: Henry Shoemaker, Thomas Locke, David Martin, 
J. Haun, John Baxter, Jeremiah Hemstreet, Isaac Grate, William Clark, 
Hugh McOsker and George Seiner. The first birth in this township was that 
of INIartha Smith, who later married Edward Richards and moved to Mis- 
souri. Lucinda Daniels was the second child born in this locality. 

At the foot of Cedar lake, in 1844 approximately, the first saw mill was 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 177 

erected. Daniel Martin built a mill on the south branch of Cedar creek, and 
a Mr. Fansler constructed a grist mill on the west branch about a mile below 
the lake. Isaac B. Smith planted the first crop of potatoes, Reuben J- Daniels 
the first wheat, and Norton Blake first introduced the reaper in harvestinij. 

FIRST OFFICER.S. 

The following represent some of the first officers of Smithfield township: 
Justices, R. G. Daniels, David Martin, Daniel Gingrich, Jeremiah Hemstreet, 
R. McBride, J. E. Rutan, and Aaron Smith; constables, Daniel Shull, Henry 
Nevin, Henry Treesh, Thomas Locke, Aaron Smith, Justus B. Howard and 
Edward Richards; trustees, Pharez Blake, Isaac B. Smith, D. Smith, I. 
Grate, Isaiah McLeish, Augustus Ball, H. Freeman, Samuel Delong, John 
Leas, Thomas Lock, Harman Mullen. John McOsker, John Homberger, 
George W. Frout, George J. Duncan, AVilliam Hoffman, R. Lockhart and 
William Cox; assessors, John Baxter. H. P'rceman, John Schrantz and Cyrus 
Duncan. 

The population of Smithfield township in 1880 was r.424; in 1890, 
1,279; ''1 1900, 1,607; in 1910, 1,469. 



The town of Ashley was platted in the year 1892, the origin of the town 
being due to the building of the Wabash railroad. This railroad company 
under the name of the Indiana Improvement Company, bought extensive 
lands on the site of Ashley, and established a division there. The town 
quickly sprang into life, and was incorporated as a town in the latter part of 
1892. Singularly, the town is placed square on the county line between 
Steuben and DeKalb counties; the main street is the division point. Many 
peculiar and humorous, as well as inconvenient, situations arise from this 
fact. The shops and division headquarters were moved in 1907' to Mont- 
pelier, Ohio, but notwithstanding the town has continued to grow. The cen- 
sus of 1910 placed the population as six hundred and thirty-nine, but this 
has increased substantially since. The town officers at present are : G. W. 
Clark, George Kirlin, and W'illiam Zubrugg, trustees; J. W. Mintzer. clerk; 
and George Park, treasurer. The electric light plant is owned by the town, 
and was installed in 1895 at a cost of five thousand dollars. There is one grist 
mill and one saw mill at Ashley. 
(12) 



178 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

STAFFORD TOWNSHIP. 

On the east line of the county, midway, lies Stafford township. It is 
a fractional township, comprising twelve whole sections, and six half sections. 
It is bounded on the north by Troy township, on the east by the state of Ohio, 
on the south by Newville townsliip, on the west by Wilmington township. 
The St. Joseph river crosses the southeast corner, and Big Run runs from 
Avest to east across the northern end. On the river and creek, and in the 
bottoms, the land is very fertile; but otherwise is of variable quality, 
but when properly cultivated, of fairly productive nature. The surface in 
general is level, with several bluffs soutli on the river. The Lake Shore & 
Michigan Southern, and the Vaudalia of the Pennsylvania system cross the 
northern and northwest corners respectively. 

EARLY SETTLEMENT. 

James Lytle was ])erhaps the earliest settler of Stafford township. He 
located in this territory during the summer of 1836, but after a short stay 
here left the county. The next, and permanent, settlers were Jolm and 
Hazzard Webster, Rufus Coats and John Rose, all with their families, in all 
a colony of twenty-six persons, lliey emigrated from Trumbull county. 
Ohio, and arrived within the limits of Stafford township on the fourth day 
of October, 1836. John Webster purchased about one hundred acres of land 
on the river, near the Ohio state line, and therein settled. He was one of 
the eccentric men of the early township, as every township has, or has had, 
a queer character. He was fond of wealth, but did not place much faith in 
religion. Yet. despite his peculiarities, he was a good citizen, and was useful 
in supplying the others with corn, potatoes and other commodities, at very 
reasonable rates considering the difficulties incident to obtaining these sup- 
plies. He later erected a saw mill and gri.st mill on his premises, and his 
estate became the mecca for settlers in general, to get their grain ground. 

Other early settlers were as follows : Jacob Gunsenhouser, John Rose, 
Rufus Coats, James W. Rose, James E. Rose and Daniel Coats. The first 
habitation was raised by Lytle, and the next four were built about the same 
time by the abo\'e named people. Next, Edward Scoville and Ariel Walden 
came in. Walden was for years an associate judge of this county. In 1838 
and 1839, many families moved in, occupied homes, and became prominent 
in the development of the county. Prominent among them were : Christian 



DEKALB COUNT Vj INDIANA. 179 

Wanemaker, Henry Fusselnian, and Thomas Strote. John Barber was 
located in the northern part of the township. C. R. Wanemaker and Stephen 
W. Hackiey were other settlers of the early date. 

FIRST OFFICERS. 

Among the justices of the peace who have served this township, some 
of the early ones were : Rufiis Coats, Henry Fusselman, David McDaniel, 
Noyce Coats, Samuel Wanemaker, F. Hoffman and J. J. Imhoff. Early con- 
stables were: I. Gaft, C. R. Wanemaker, H. Dickerhofif, and H. H. Wane- 
maker. Trustees were : J. J. Gunsenhouser, Isaac Beal, A: Fusselman, 
Joseph A. Coats, Noyce Coats, J. J. Imhoff, F. Hoffman, Peter Walter, John 
Grouse, Samuel Headley, John W. Rose, Jesse W. Rose, C. H. Wanemaker, 
William Brown, John Webster, William Webster and Chris. Wanemaker. 
C. R. Wanemaker, James Gather and Jacob Grise were early assessors. 

In 1880 the population of Stafford township was 569; in 1890, 476; in 
1900, 423; in 1910, 381. 

TROY TOWNSHIP. 

In the southeastern corner of DeKalb county is the fractional township 
of Troy. It is bounded on the north by Richland township, Steuben county, 
on the east by the .state of Ohio, on the south by the township of Stafford, 
and on the west by Franklin township. Fish creek enters the township from 
the northwest, and crosses the state line a mile north of the southeast corner, 
being the second largest creek in the county, and the one upon which, near the 
mouth, that Houlton & Hughes erected their saw^ mill in 1827. The northern 
portion of the township is of a clayey soil, the central and southeast of rich, 
sandy loam, and to the southwest, clay again. The W'abash railroad runs on 
a southwest and northeast diagonal through the southern half of the township. 

EARLY SETTLEMENT. 

The earliest known settler of the township was Isaac T. Aldrich. later of 
Franklin township. In the following year, Roger Aldrich, a brother, be- 
came a settler, and Simeon Aldrich subsequently moved in. Others of the 
early comers to this locality were: George Skinner, Asa Haynes, G. Wil- 
liams, R. Reed. Willard Eddy, S. Gall and John and A. S. Casebeer, Peter 
Helwig, Jacob Helwig, Updegraff Glawson, 1. Clawson, and W. R. Herbert. 



l8o DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 



At the month of Fish creek, in 1827, Houlton & Hughes erected their 
saw mill ; and Mr. Casebeer had a grist mill in operation near the same time. 
Higher up Samuel Kepler had another, and at the outlet of Fish lake, were 
the Hamilton mills, owned by John Fee. 

FIRST OFFICERS. 

The first justice of the peace of Troy township was A. S. Casebeer, and 
the others who followed were : S. Learned, Hambright Reese, Jacob Helwig, 
G. C. Everetts, John McDonald and George Smiley. Early constables were : 
Willard Eddy, Peter Helwig, R. R. Emmerson, H. Casebeer and George 
Smiley. Among the trustees prior to i860 were: Amos Stearns. Jacob 
Helwig. Roger Aldrich, Jacob Casebeer, John Robinet, Peter Jennings, W. R. 
Emmerson, Simeon Aldrich. William Knisely, B. Wise, B. Wallick. Timothy 
McClure and Daniel Knisely. W. R. Herbert, A. F. Pinchin, F. G. Biddle 
and D. McCurdy were clerks during the same period, while the office of treas- 
urer was filled by S. Learned, D. W. Aldrich, J. A. Zimmerman. Amos Stearns 
and G. C. Everetts. 

ARTIC. 

The Artie postoffice was established in 1850, and was in charge of Amos 
Stearns until his death in i860. His son James was the postmaster during 
the following three years, and then John Stearns for one year. Resigning, 
he was succeeded by James McDonald, who held the office when it was discon- 
tinued in 1865. It was re-established in 1884, with Joseph Bell as postmaster. 

In 1880, the population of Troy township was 646: in i8go, 607: in 
1900, 520; and in 1910, 500. 

SPENCER TOWNSHIP. 

The board of county commissioners, on June 7, 1909, divided the town- 
ship of Concord, and named the lower half Spencer township. The division 
was for school purposes entirely, and although much controversy and hard 
feeling existed at the time, the two townships at present are enjoying mutual 
prosperity. 




).\E OF MANY BEAUTIFUL SCKXKS l.\ UKKAI.i; ('(JUXTY 




•'j?.eoi^ w.fa. 



Si' 



ONE OF DEKALB COUNTY'S OLD LANDMARKS 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 



SPENCERVILLE. 



Spencerville is the only town of any consequence in the township. The 
town has about two hundred and seventy-five people, and several good busi- 
ness houses and stores. Two churches and two lodges have existence here. 
The town is not incorporated. One school building, a very complete and 
excellent structure, was erected in 1909 at a cost of seven thousand dollars. 
The Wabash railroad runs about two miles west of the town, and transfer 
is provided to the station. 



GRANT TOWNSHIP. 

On September 8, 1889. the county commissioners, acting under a peti- 
tion of tax-payers and voters, made the north half of l.^ninn township into a 
new township, to be known as Grant township. The area comprised in this 
new division was sections one to eighteen. 

WATERLOO. 

Four and a half miles north of Auburn is located the town of Waterloo, 
in Grant township. The town was formerly in Union township, hut upon 
the division of the latter, the place fell within the bounds of the new town- 
ship of Grant. Two branches of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern 
railroad meet at Waterloo, making the town important as a shipping center. 
In 1890 the town had a population of one thousand four hundred and seventy- 
three; in 1900, one thousand two hundred and forty- four: and in 1910, one 
thousand one hundred and sixty seven. 

The first settlement near the present site of Waterloo was made near 
Cedar creek, northeast, and was called Uniontown; it is now a mere suburb 
to Waterloo. Wesley Park erected a board shanty on the site of Uniontown 
in 1838 as a shelter for two men who were building a bridge over Cedar 
creek at that point. In November, 1838, D. Altenburg and L. Walsworth 
and their families, together with the two bridge builders, passed a night while 
the settlers were on their way from Steubenville to their selections of land in 
Union township. 

Owing to the fact that the place was on the line of the state road from 
Fort Wayne north through Angola, and being remote from other settlements, 
it was thought to be a splendid site for a town, and accordingly a plat was 
made by Frederick Krum. George Trout built a store building and estab- 



182 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

lished a trading point. The firm of M. & A. Hale next entered the merchan- 
dise business. James Bowman erected a water power saw mill, and about 
1856, after. the laying out of Waterloo, changed it to a steam power mill. 
Richard Burniston was the local blacksmith; Dr. Jones the physician, Mr. 
Wareham the gunsmith, and a Mr. Smith had a cabinet shop. 

The construction of the air line by the Lake Shore & Michigan Southerji 
railroad through the county caused the platting of Waterloo City, as it was 
called for several years, there being another Waterloo in the state. Miles 
Waterman, afterward a member of the Legislature, owned a tract of land 
south of Uniontown, lying on both sides of the railroad track. On this tract 
he laid out the town of Waterloo, assisted by John Hornberger, and the 
acknowledgment was taken before Justice of the Peace George Wolf on 
March 14, 1856. A railroad office was the first structure raised. Eli William- 
son, the pioneer carpenter, built the first dwelling house. Store buildings were 
erected by James Irving and John Wood, and rented. The sale of lots and 
buildings began and continued at a very lively rate, and the population began 
to increase. Some of the men who moved in were : T. Y. Dickinson, after- 
ward publisher of the Waterloo Press; Dr. J. N. Chamberlain, sheriff of 
county from i860 to 1862; Henry Willis, who filled the same office from 
1864 to 1S68; Jacob Kahn, merchant; Gen. Lewis J. Blair. John Shull 
opened the first ta\'ern, which was later known as the Central House. J. P. 
Beers, from Auburn, was the first lawyer in the town. The first .grist mill 
was built and run by Josiah and Jonathan Weaver, and it stood in Union- 
town and was liuilt in 1868. George Thompson and Best, McClellan & 
Moody later erected mills. The latter firm suffered a total loss by fire in 
1876. Waterloo has the honor of having had the first fire department in 
the county. 

WATERLOO IN I9I3. 

The United States census of 1910 places the number of people in Water- 
loo as eleven hundred and sixty-seven. The town is well located on two 
railroads, and enjoys increasing prosperity as a shipping point for the sur- 
rounding country. The present town board is composed of the following 
men : J. E. Dilgard, W. F. Bowman, John Dunn, Wesley Beidler, and Samuel 
Gfellers. W. R. Newcomer is clerk, Verne W. Lowman is treasurer ; and W. 
H. Ettinger is marshal. A new town hall was built in the year 1912, to re- 
place the one destroyed by the windstorm of November 11, 191 1, which swept 
over the town from a northeasterly direction, and entailed a hundred thousand 
dollar loss to the town. The new town hall is modern in equipment and cost 




PICTURESQUE WATERLOO 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 1 83 

twelve thousand dollars. The Indiana Public Utilities Company, an outside 
corporation, supplies water and light to the town. Gas, paved streets and 
sewerage have not yet been installed in the town. 

LIBRARY HISTORY. 

The first steps taken to procure a lilDrary for Waterloo were taken in the 
fall of 191 1. On the evening of December 5, 191 1, Miss Ora Williams, of 
Indianapolis, one of the state organizers, came to Waterloo, and a public 
meeting was called at the old United Brethren church, and the library law 
and its scope fully explained. A committee from the Fortnightly club, the 
Minerva club, the Progressive club, and the W'oman's Christian Temperance 
Union, was appointed to proceed with the work of organization. Not until 
the summer of 1912, however, was the work pushed. Then they got busy and 
the necessary subscription was soon raised, and at the July meeting of the 
town board the petition and the subscription list were presented and the town 
board ordered the levy to be made. One of the first official acts of the newly 
appointed town board was the issuance of an invitation to the advisory boards 
of Grant and Smithfield townships to join in the establishment of a public 
library. Smithfield township took no action, but the advisory board of Grant 
township wanted an expression from their people. The necessar}? signatures 
of the tax payers was obtained, and the levy made. 

A room in the Denison block was rented, and Bertha Knott was appointed 
librarian, and on November 20, 191 2, the library was opened to the public. 
Book showers, donations by individuals and clubs, entertainments by the 
Rebekah lodge and high school societies furnished money to buy books, and 
four hundred books were on the shelves and the state loaned two hundred 
more. 

The erection of a building had been discussed early and the secretary 
of the board was instructed to open up correspondence with the Carnegie 
corporation. After some delay this was done, and on March 26, 1913, the 
Carnegie board pledged nine thousand dollars for the building with the con- 
ditions that a site must be donated and the town and township to guarantee- 
to raise nine hundred dollars annually to maintain the library. On April 14,. 
the board selected the two Showaltcr lots on the corner of Wayne and Maple- 
streets as the best site for the new building and the purchase money was con- 
tributed by the people of the south side. Wilson B. Parker, of Indianapolis, 
was chosen as architect. On June 28th, contracts were let. Goodall & Sons, 
of Peru, secured the contract. The new building will be ready for dedication 
sometime in December, 1912, or the first of the year 1913. 



184 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 



UNION TOWNSHIP. 



The township of Union is centrally located, and may be regarded as the 
most important in the county, due to the location within its limits of Auburn, 
the county seat. Union township is bounded on the north by Grant township, 
on the west by Richland and Keyser, on the south by Jackson, and on the east 
by Wilmington. Cedar creek runs down from the northwest corner, through 
the township and leaves near the southwest corner. This drains the town- 
ship very thoroughly, although not many years ago there were several tama- 
rack swamps in it. The northern and western portions of the area are generally 
rolling and somewhat sandy. The southeastern part is more level, and of a 
clayey constituency. The Lake Shore & Michigan Southern, the Vandalia 
of the Pennsylvania system, and the Baltimore & Ohio railroads cross the 
township at various points. 

ORGANIZATION. 

Union is one of the oldest townships in the county, being but two months 
younger than Franklin. At the first regular meeting of the board of com- 
missioners of DeKalb county, September 5, 1837, those present being Peter 
Fair, Samuel Widney and A. F. Beecher. it was "ordered that the con- 
gressional townshi]j 34 north, range 13 east, be organized as a township for 
judicial (civil) purposes, to be known by the name of Union township, and 
that townships 34 and 35 north, range 12 east, and townships 33 and 35 
north, range 13 east, be attached thereto." It was also ordered "that Wesley 
Park be appointed supervisor for the road district No. i, comprising the 
whole of Union township ; and all the lands residing within said township are 
allotted to said district." The first election was appointed for the first Mon- 
day in December following, and Lanslot Ingman was named as inspector of 
elections. 

Among the early justices of the peace of Union township were: Lanslot 
Ingman, David Altenburg, John Carpenter, W. Griswold, John Davis, G. 
Wolf, S .W. Russell, J. D. Davis, J. W. Case, and William Lessig. Early 
constables were: J. O. P. Sherlock, William Shirter, Lyman Chidsey, T. J. 
Freeman, Isaac Latson, Joseph Garver, John Druiy, Z. Tanner, H. Siberts, 
J. Powlas, H. Jones, L. Weaver, S. Bowman, L. Leasure, Jonathan Hall, A. 
O. Espy, J. Haun, Zopher Johnson, Jeremiah Plum, William Valeau. Andrew 
Harsh, J. H. Piles, Emanuel Miller, George Jones, and J. B. Howard. The 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 185 

trustees prior to i860 were: J. B. Rockwell, David Altenburg, J. F. Coburn, 
John Husselman, N. Payne, James C. George, C. Simonds, S. W. Sprott, 
Aaron Hague, James R. Cosper. T. J. Freeman, Kneeland Abbott, William 
Middleton, Henry Clay, G. R. Baker, J. E. Hendricks, A. Watkins, T. R. 
Dickinson, H. Moneysmith, D. Eldridge, J. Hawk, Dr. W. Dancer, Jacob 
Cupp, J. J. Huffman, John Davis, O. A. Parsons, O. C. Houghton, John 
Somers, John Lightner, W. W. Griswold, Adam Stroh, J. K. Hare, John 
Ralston. S. Sanders, and Jacob McEntaffer. Isaac Kutzner and John C. 
St. Clair were early assessors. 

EARLY SETTLEMENT. 

In discussing the first settlement of DeKalb, the most will be written 
in the history of Auburn, as the pioneer stoiy of that town is practically 
synonymous with that of the township. Early settlers in the township on 
farms were: Kneeland Abbott on the south, David Altenburg and Levi 
Walsworth on the east, and the Husselmans and McEntaffers on the north. 
Altenburg and Walsworth moved in during November, 1838; James R. 
Cosper and John Weeks in the spring of 1841 ; and the same year John 
Somers and Lyman Chidsey settled southeast of Auburn. In the northeast, 
Rockwell, Lightner and Morringston were the first settlers. Two days were 
occupied with raising the heavy frame of the Husselman barn, and most 
of the settlers for miles around were engaged in the work. 

In 1880 the population of Union township, exclusive of Auburn and 
Waterloo was 1,200; in 1890, including Auburn 3,030; in 1900, 4,032; in 
1910.4,710. 

THE CITY OF .A.UBURN. 
By Wesley Parle 

In the fall of 1836 the first settler of Auburn, Wesley Park, entered 
land adjoining that of John Houlton, the first settler of the county. It is 
said that a Mr. Comstock opened the first store in the town of Auburn. 
Thomas J. Freeman, who occupied a frame building at Park's corners, ap- 
plied for a license on March 5, 1838, to sell goods. He brought his supplies 
from Fort Wayne on horseback, using a pair of saddlebags. Freeman kept 
whiskey, for liquor was much used among the Indians and settlers, who liked 
its qualities as a preventative of chills. 

On November 5, 1838, Daniel Strong and Isaac T. Aldrich, newly chosen 
commissioners, together with Peter Fair, a member of the old board, met 



l86 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

at the house of Wesley Park. The books of the early county, and the first 
records, were written upon all kinds of manuscript, even family records. 
As the commissioners met at different times and settlers moved into the 
county, the few officials having their headquarters at Auburn, were employed 
in reducing townships areas and districts, until the congressional became the 
boundary of the civil townships. 

EARLY .SETTLERS. 

The settlers watched neither times nor seasons in their emigration, but 
waded the snows of winter, or in the summer, following Miller's trace, skirt- 
ing the swamps, and, until a land entry could be made, accepting the hospitali- 
ty of the resident settlers. For several years Auburn was little more than 
a name, and many lots were bought and held by speculators. In 1839, there 
was a small sale of lots, but little building upon them. Several men came 
in the fall of 1839, boarded with Wesley Parks and Freeman, and bought 
land and lots, aided in the selection by Parks, who charged a small fee for 
his services. Daniel Altenburg and Levi Wals\yorth came from Steubenville 
in November, 1838, having a very difficult journey through the snow and 
swamp land. Wolves howled in the darkness around their night camps on 
the trail, and strange and fearsome noises occurred in the forests around them. 
They expressed themselves as mighty glad to reach the settlement. On 
January 17, 1840, the Sherlock family came. In 1841 came Samuel W. 
Sprott, David Weaver, David Shoemaker, Henry Curtis, Lyman Chidsey. 
James R. Cosper and David Cosper. 



At this time there were four taverns in Auburn, and their cheery inter- 
ior was utilized by the settlers as a rendezvous where 

"A mug of ale, and hearty jest 

Did never fail to give a zest" 
to the merry companies that assembled there. These taverns were owned 
by Thomas J. Freeman, O. A. Parson, J. O. Sherlock and Nelson Payne. 
In the year 1841, there was much sickness in the settlement at Auburn. The 
old mill dam north of the village was deemed responsible for the fever and 
ague that came upon the community. The water backed up at the dam, 
and was a veritable hotbed of malerial germs, according to the settlers. They 
said that maleria was worse in the morning and evening, for the air, when 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. I»7 

heated, arose, iDearing miasma with it, and toward evening as the surface 
cooled, the malaria sank again to the earth. No medicine could remove the 
disease while the malaria existed. In this age, we know that such was not 
the cause of malaria. The breeding and re-breeding of germs caused alter- 
nate fever and chill, for the germs lived in the blood, not in the old mill 
dam, although the mill dam was the home of the mosquito which carried the 
genn to the human body. Provisions were scarce, the wildness of the sur- 
rounding country, and the fewness of the inhabitants, in number seventy-two, 
made this year a miserable one and a tax to the strongest and most optimistic 
pioneer. Dr. Ross, R. B. Cooper and Eli Pritchard were the only doctors. 

In 1842, Samuel W. Ralston came to DeKalb county, and found here 
eight families, among them being those of Wesley Park, O. A. Parsons, J. 
Puffenberger, Lanslot Ingman, J. O. Sherlock and Nelson Payne. 

In 1843, O. C. Houghton and family, of New York, came to the settle- 
ment, and Houghton bought the steam mill owned by Wesley Park. Aaron 
Hague and David S. Shoemaker also came in this year. This year is noted 
on account of the terrific hurricane which swept over DeKalb county, level- 
ing grain fields, unroofing cabins, felling giant trees of the forest, and perform- 
ing many peculiar freaks by force of the winds. The next year was also 
one to be remembered, for the winter was one of the severest in the whole 
history of DeKalb county. In 1845, efforts were made to have the old mill 
dam north of the town removed, and the case was even taken to the courts. 

STREET BEGINNINGS. 

The Fort Wayne and Coldwater state road through Auburn bore the 
name of West street, and the Defiance and Goshen state road laid out as 
entering on Seventh street and leaving on Third street. Cedar street was 
platted as Main street, and a street east was East street, but was vacated in 
1855, because its course led through the bottom lands of Cedar creek and 
swamps. From Ninth street south to Fifteenth street, was a swampy 
tract too low for drainage, covered with rank vegetation in the summer. 
John Kruger established an ashery at the east end of the street. In the year 
1848, the taxes for Auburn amounted to $18,337.39. 

INCORPORATION AS TOWN. 

In the year 1849, Auburn was incorporated as a town, and divided into 
wards, as follows : First ward, all north of Fourth street ; second ward, be- 



l88 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

tween Fourth and Eighth streets; third ward, between Eighth and Twelfth 
streets; fourth ward, between Twelfth and Green streets; fifth ward, remain- 
ing south of Green street. The election for officers was held on September 
22, and C. .\. Parsons, Wesley Park, Nelson Payne, James T. Bliss and 
Joel E. Hendricks were named as the first board of trustees. These men 
served in their official capacity witliout compensation of any kind — except 
possibly a political favor now and then. T. R. Dickinson was appointed 
clerk of the new town, Egbert B. Mott, treasurer, and William B. Dancer, 
assessor. In the fall of 1849, quite a colony of people emigrated from Stark 
county, Ohio. 

At an adjourned meeting of the board of trustees of Auburn, held April 30, 
1853, at the store of S. B. Ward, it was resolved: "That in and from this 
time and henceforth this town be incorporated and governed as provided in 
Sec. sf'), of chapter 108. of the revised statutes of 1852." These laws state 
that a town may, by resolution, become incorporated under this act, but the 
same shall be deemed a surrender of all the rights and franchises acquired 
under any fomier act of incorporation. The officers were specified to remain 
the same. Thus, Auburn was again incorporated, but to what advantage it 
is not known. In the year 1853, also, sidewalks were established at a width 
of ten feet, and the planting of shade trees was authorized within the ten 
feet. This was done, and today Auburn's many trees beautify the town. 

The first hotel, intended as such, was kept by T. J. Freeman, who some 
years afterward built the hostelry known as the Franklin House, also Gris- 
wold and later Auburn House. Samuel Reed was the first minister in Au- 
burn, representing the Methodist Episcopal denomination. The first resident 
carpenter was James R. Gosper, and later Samuel Ralston, Amos Hutchin- 
son and O. C. Houghton came. The first cabinet makers were J. O. P. 
Sherlock, John Johnson and L. Ingman. The first gunsmith was Isaac 
Savage, and afterwards, Charles Stimely. The first wagon maker was Jona- 
than Hall. Philip Fluke was the first tanner. The first shoemakers were: 
Cyrus Smith, A. Forshee, S. Latson ; the first harness maker, William 
Abright: tinner, Isaac Jones, Sr., and hatters, Joseph Garver, John Tridell 
and J. D. Davis. John Tridell started the first foundry on the site of the 
postoftice. 

At the close of the Civil war Auburn was a very quiet and retired vil- 
lage of about seven hundred inhabitants, its principal features being two, 
long, tree-lined streets, the new court house, the woolen factory and the 
academy. The academy and woolen factory were afterwards destroyed by 
fire, also the court house. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 1 89 

The early religious, educational, medical and legal history of the present 
city of Auburn is discussed fully in the respective chapters dealing with those 
subjects. 

INCORPORATION AS CITY. 

In the latter part of the month of April, 1900, the town of Auburn was 
inctjrporated as a city of the fifth class. The town board held its last 
meeting on May 4th, of that year, and then the following officers took office 
for the first time: IMayor, Don A. Garwood: clerk, C. 13. Weaver; treasurer, 
David A. Hodge; marshal, E. Morton, Hilkey ; councilmen, John Zimmer- 
man, Milen E. Garrett, John B. Rolape, Howard B. McCord; Perry A. Muhn 
and Eli T. Cochran. Thomas H. Sprott became mayor in 1902 ; J. Y. W. 
McClellan in 1904; George O. Denison in 1906, and H. R. Culbertson, the 
present incumbent, in 19 10. James Y. W. McClellan will take the office in 
January, 1914. The other officers of the city at this date are : E. O. Little, 
clerk; E. E. Shilling, treasurer; John Kerran, marshal: J. H. St. Clair, 
E. A. Johnson, Erank Shook, T. H. Leasure and O. J. Wise, councilmen. A 
new city hall is in process of construction for the use of the city officials, 
fire department and assembly rooms. This structure is a handsome one of 
brick with stone trimmings, and w-ill cost when completed, thirty-five thou- 
sand dollars. 

PUBLIC UTILITIES. 

Auburn possesses public improvements proportionately .equal to any 
other city in northern Indiana. Eive miles of asphalt paving add to the 
beauty of the city, and the streets are at all time kept clean and in the best 
of condition. The absence of heavy traffic is a saving factor to the asphalt, 
and consequently, holes and rips are seldom ob.served. An extensive sewer- 
age system of about seven miles is but another of the sanitary features of the 
city. Cement walks, lined with beautiful shade trees, with the many artistic 
residences, make Auburn typically a "city of homes." 

The Auburn water and light works was constructed in the year 1898, 
at an original cost of thirty-five thousand dollars. The plant is now valued 
at one hundred thousand dollars. The water is drawn from deep artesian 
wells, and is of first quality, in clearness and purity. The gas for the city is 
supplied from the Indiana Light and Heat Company of Fort Wayne, which 
also furnishes the artificial gas to Garrett and Kendallville. 



190 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 



About seventeen years ago, when a committee, of which Charles Eckhart 
was chairman, established a reading room in the building now occupied by 
the Maze cafe, the first steps might be said to have been taken toward the 
erection of an efficient library for the public. The original Culture Club had 
in the meantime provided a library for its members and others who contri- 
buted to the support of the institution. At that time, however, there existed 
no library laws as we now have, and abandonment of all these movements 
was necessitated for want of proper support. The late W. H. Keckler, when 
jiresident of the Commercial club, became interested in the matter, and he 
apijointed a committee, but unfortunately, this body did nothing. 

The various clubs appointed delegates who met conjunctively and Miss 
Merica Hoagland, then state librarian, gave a thorough discussion relative 
to the requirements and the methods of procedure necessary to take advan- 
tage of the state law. The clubs subsequently submitted reports stating the 
amounts of money they would contribute and while the result demonstrated 
the great momentum the mo\ement had gained, it was not equal to the sum 
necessary for the expedition of the plans. The Thursday Evening club then 
districted the town of Auburn, assigning territory for each member to can- 
vass. The result was a subscription which assured success for the library. 

The organization of a library board was next considered, and the judge 
appointed Charles Eckhart, Grace Smith and H. E. Coe. The city council 
appointed Mrs. J. C. Baxter and C. M. Brown. The school board appointed 
Dr. Lida Leasure and Dr. F. M. Hines. The initial meeting of the official 
board was held July 6, 1906. The first matter to come up before the board 
was the choice of a site and the purchase of the necessary equipment. The 
Culture Club donated three hundred books. A loan library of sixty volumes 
was given from another source. The citizens contributed their share of the 
money, and on March 8, 1907', the library was opened, with Mrs. A. H. 
Barnes as its custodian. Mr. Carnegie was appealed to, and expressed his 
willingness to give twelve thousand five hundred dollars toward the erection 
of a permanent building. Charles Eckhart had previously informed the boarc 
that he would cheerfully donate the necessary site for a library building. 

eckhart's gift. 

While the matter of erecting a lilirary building was considered Charles 
Eckhart took the step which was to make his name everlasting in the history 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. IQI 

of Auburn and DeKalb county, and to strengthen the feeling of profound re- 
spect and afifection which his townspeople held for him. He not only offered 
to give the site for the new library, Imt asked to be allowed to provide means 
for the erection of a magnificent building, including all the equipment and 
furnishings. This generous and wholehearted bequest was accepted by the 
people and accordingly the ground was beautified and a library constructed. 
On May 13, 19 10, the corner stone was laid with fitting ceremony, including 
a spirited address by Thomas R. Marshall, then governor of the state. The 
deed, dated December 15, 1909, to the public librai-y board of the city of 
Auburn, Indiana, was given over on condition that there should forever be 
maintained on the real estate and building given, a public library, with 
assembly room open at all reasonable hours, to l:e non-sectarian and non-po- 
litical. It was meant to be an organization for the advancement of education 
and philanthropy, and neither the sale nor the use of tobacco, nor intoxicat- 
ing liquors, should ever be permitted on said grounds. 

CLUBS AND SOCIETIES. 

In 1908, the various clubs of Auburn and vicinity associated themselves 
together, "the object being to bring into cummunication the \arious women's 
organizations of the city and community, that they may compare methods 
of work and become mutually helpful in the work of any common interest." 
The organization thus effected was given the name of "The Woman's 
League." The clubs holding membership are: the Ladies' Reading Club, 
Ladies' Literary Club, Entre Nous Club, Auburn Culture Club, Richardson 
Art Embroidery Club, Utile Dulci Club, Thursday Evening Club, En Ami 
Club, Auburn Amateur Musicale, Woman's Christian Temperance Union. 
The officers of the League are: Mrs. J. E. Buchanan, president; Miss Inez 
Knapp, vice-president; Mrs. Beulali Casebeer, secretary; and Mrs. A. M. 
Oswalt, treasurer. 

Club life and work is one of the main features of Auburn societ}'. The 
associations have always done their work well, and have aided materially 
in making Auburn a better and cleaner city, and to these forces is due a great 
deal of credit for the defeat of the saloon element in the past several years. 

The Auburn Commercial Club was organized on February 14, 1903, 
with forty members, and now has an enrollment of one hundred and fifty. 
W. H. Schaab is president, C. B. Weaver secretary and E. W. Hicks treas- 
urer. The purpose of this organization is the furtherance of ci\ic and com- 
mercial interests pertaining to Auburn. Tlie work done by these men is 



192 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

directly responsible for the present high standard of Auburn business and 
municipal excellence. 

The Auburn Country Club was organized on April 5, 1910, and pur- 
chased a twenty-seven acre tract on East Seventh street. F. E. Eckhart, 
John Zimmerman, J. I. Farley, George Shepard, A. M. Oswalt, M. L. Green, 
H. C. McClung, J. E. Pomeroy and A. L. Kuhlman were charter members. 

Besides the three lodges. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Masons 
and Knights of Pythias, treated at length in the lodge chapter, the following 
are in Auburn : DeKalb County Poultry Association, Grand Army of the 
Republic, DeLong Post No. 67 ; ^^'oman■s Relief Corps, DeLong Post No. 2 ; 
Knights of Golden Eagle, Auburn Lodge No. 25 ; Ladies of Golden Eagle, 
Auburn Temple No. 23; Knights of the Maccabees, Auburn Tent No. 51; 
Ladies of the Maccabees, Conrad Hive No. 9; Modern Woodmen of America, 
Eureka Camp No. 3805; Royal Neighljors. Warner Camp No. 3005. 

POSTOFFICE HISTORY. 

The Auburn postotlice is now of the second class. Sixteen men are em- 
ployed in the department, including the postmaster and deputy. There are 
six rural routes going from the Auburn office. Seventeen mail trains daily 
supply the transportation for the mail. The amount on deposit for the sav- 
ing department in Novemlier, 191 3. was a total of fifteen thousand dollars. 
The amount of business of the office, outside of money orders, for the last 
fiscal year was twenty-seven thousand two hundred and fifty-four dollars and 
sixty-eight cents. The present postmaster's commission is dated April 15, 
1910. The following is a complete list of the postmasters who have served 
at Aulnirn, obtained from the first assistant postmaster-general at \\'ashing- 
ton, D. C. : 

Wesley Park, date of appointment, March 5, 1839; Nelson Payne, Octo- 
ber 6, 1845; Alonzo Watkins, May 15, 1849; E. B. Mott, February 10, 1851; 
T. R. Dickinson, June 15, 1853; J. B. Hoover, December 24, 1855; WilHam 
C. McGonigal, July 15, 1858; John Butt, April 6. 1859; Wyllis Griswold, 
March 9, i860; C. S. Hare, August 27, 1860; J. W. Case, April 16, 1861 ; 
S. W. Sprott, March 13, 1867; J. D. Burr, July ly. 1867: William E. Rush, 
December 16, 1867; J. W. Case, March 19, 1869; S. L. Yandes, August 4, 
1869; Joseph Ranier, June 20, 1876; George W. Gordon, December 15, 1881 ; 
Michael Boland. August 6, 1885; George W. Gordon, September 19, 1889; 
Silas J. Brandon, November i, 1893; Granville H. Forker, ; October 22, 
1897; Thomas A. Carter. January 9, 1902: Aubrey L. Kuhlman. January 23, 
1906; Isaac M. Zent, April 4, 1910. 




:ast sk\'k\tii strki- 




WEST SEVENTH STREET, AUBURN 



DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. 



YOUNG MEN S CriRISTIAN ASSOCIATION. 



193 



Another superb moininieiit to Auburn's notable citizen, Charles Eckhart, 
is the handsome building for the Young Men's Christian Association, com- 
pleted on the corner of North Main and Fourth streets. This building is of 
brick and stone, and cost about forty thousand dollars. Charles and Frank 
E. Eckhart, on June 25, 1912, offered a substantial sum each, for the site, the 
building, and equipment complete, to be turned over to the city, providing 
the latter would agree to provide a customary share of its annual support. The 
building was deeded to a board of trustees. This magnificent institution will 
have a well equipped gymnasium with all the modern apparatus, a plunge 
bath, several class rooms, a commodious kitchen, a large lobby for general 
use, a room for the men, and one for boys. There are sixteen rooms in the 
dormitory, and ten shower baths. 

AUTOMOBILE FACTORIES. 

The Zimmerman Manufacturing Company was established in 1873 by 
Franklin T. Zimmerman, with a partner named Watson, as a planing mill. 
Watson sold his interest to George B. Zimmerman, and the firm then became 
known as Zimmerman Brothers. This continued until December of 1876, 
when George B. sold out to Eli Zimmerman, and then the firm name changed 
to Zimmerman Company. In December, 1886, the firm was incorporated 
under the title of the Zimmerman Manufacturing Company, which cognomen 
it still bears. The first officers of the incorporation were : John W. Ba.xter, 
president; Eli Zimmerman, secretary; Albert Robbins, treasurer; F. T. Zim- 
merman, general manager. In 1880, and until 1908, the company manufac- 
tured windmills of every type. In i8go the carriage business was begun, 
and in 1907, the automobile industry. The machines are assembled here, 
and shipped to every part of the United States. The present of^cers are: 
Eli Zimmerman, president ; C. C. Schlatter, vice-president ; John Zimmerman, 
secretary-treasurer and general manager. F. T. Zimmerman was the real 
founder, and acted as manager until the spring of 19 10, when his health failed,. 
his death occurring in September of the same year. The capital stock of 
the company is sixty-one thousand dollars. The factory has one hundred 
thousand square feet of floor space, and an average of ninety men are em- 
ploved in all departments. 
(13) 



194 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

The Auburn Automobile Company was established at Auburn in Octo- 
ber of the year 1902. The business was begun with small capacity and little 
capital, but steadily has increased, until now it is one of the largest automo- 
bile concerns in the state and middle west. The first capital was twenty-five 
.thousand dollars, and in the eleven years since the establishment this sum has 
mounted to five hundred thousand dollars. Charles Eckhart is the president 
•of the corporation; Frank E. Eckhart, vice-president, and Morris E. Eckhart, 
secretary-treasurer and general manager. The manufacture and assembling 
of automobiles is the sole business of this concern, although the company 
at one time manufactured buggies. Shipments are made to all parts of the 
United States and to many foreign countries. The floor space of the present 
factory is over one hundred and twenty-five thousand square feet, and from 
one hundred and fifty to two hundred men are employed. During the last 
three years the annual business has been about two million dollars. 

The W. H. Mclntyre Company was established in the year 1S83 under 
the name of W. H. Kiblinger Company, and this company manufactured 
carriages. In the year 1909 the firm name was changed to the W. H. 
Mclntyre Company, which it bears at this time. The incorporation, how- 
ever, occurred ten years previous to this change in name. W. H. Mclntyre 
is president and treasurer of this company, and H. C. Mclntyre is secretary. 
The capital stock is one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Three plants 
are operated in the city of Auburn, and four hundred men are employed on 
the average. Shipments are made both to points in the United States and 
foreign lands. Autos, trucks and cyclecars are manufactured. One plant, 
formerly located just north of the Swineford hotel, was destroyed by fire in 
the year 19 13. 

OTHER INDUSTRIES. 

Besides the three automobile factories, the city of Auburn has two car- 
riage factories, a creamery, a handle factory, a carriage body factory, an 
■excelsior factory, an artificial ice plant, a rug factory, a post card factory, 
two cigar factories, a cigar-lighter factory, one foundry, a double fabric tire 
reinforcing factory, a heating and ventilating company, and several small 
mills. 

STORM OF SEPTEMBER 29, 1872. 

At the opening of the year 1872, many buildings had been built in the 
town of Auburn, and many others were in the process of construction. Among 

the finer blocks was the Odd Fellows' hall. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 195 

On the 29th of September, i87'2, between three and four o'clock in the 
morning, a terrific gale sprang up from the southwest and struck the new 
building with a driving force. Its wall, which was then ready for the roof, 
crumbled under the pressure and crashed to the ground, damaging the 
Methodist Episcopal cinirch on the east. The storm once past, a desolate 
and discouraging sight were the streets of Auburn. Heaps of broken stone, 
brick, and splintered timber lay in profusion in every direction. Few build- 
ings but received their share of the storm, and especially the Odd Fellows" 
hall. 

FALL OF SNYDER BLOCK. 

On Sunday evening, April 6, 1873, t'""^ t^^w brick block on Seventh 
street known as Snyder's building fell. For a few days before, it had been 
noticed that the inner foundation wall was weak and gave indication of giv- 
ing way, but no precautions were taken to prevent the calamity until after 
the roar and crash of the falling structtu'e announced that it was too late. 
Mr. Snyder's stock of farm implements inside was totally destroyed, and the 
Ensley building, adjoining, was also destroyed. 

DARING BURGLARY. 

On Saturday night, February 16, 1867, the county treasurer's office at 
Auburn was broken open and robbed of eighteen thousand dollars, according 
to reports. The outer door of the office was of iron, and was drilled into 
and pried ofif, and the wooden doors forced open. The outer door of the 
safe was cut through the panels. abo\e and I)el(n\ the lock, the inner bolts 
withdrawn, and the door opened. The money chest was opened by steel 
wedges and bars. The general work of the affair was evidently that of an 
expert "cracksman." Suspicion fell upon several parties, and arrests were 
made, but being unsuccessful after several months, the affair was dropped. 
A great deal of litigation resulted, and in 1875 the matter was settled by the 
county accepting a judgment of fifty-eight hundred dollars. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 



FIRST PREACHER. 

The first settlers of DeKalb county were without rehgious privileges of 
any kind. Benjamon Alton, of the Desciples' or Campbellite church, preached 
the first sermon in the county in the fall of the year 1836. For over a year 
he was the only preacher. He settled in the woods, cleared a space for his 
home, and worked hard during the week, chopping for himself and for his 
neighbors in order to earn enough to stock his larder. However, on 
Sundays he never failed to don his black coat and occupy the puipit. It is 
said of him, though, on reliable authority, that he used to preach in the sum- 
mer, in his rough tow pants, without a coat, and with a shoe on one foot 
and a boot on the other. This was not strange for the time, however, for 
boots and shoes were next to impossible to obtain. John P. Widney and 
S. W. Widney once had one pair of shoes between them ; one would wear 
them on Sunday and the other fellow on the following Sunday, the odd felloAv 
remaining at home. John and Hazzard Webster are said to have gone bare- 
footed many months, coming to town for election in the same manner. 

FIRST MEETING. 

The first Methodist two days meeting was lield near Orangeville in 
1837, by N. L. Thomas and Joseph Miller, both then residing on the ^ilaumee. 
Prayer meetings had been held previously by people of various denominations, 
without any distinctions. The origin of the first one is thus related by Judge 
Widnev : "We had been in the country for some time without knowing that 
there was a praying person in the settlement besides ourselves, when one 
Sabbath, R. R. Lounsbury and another man returning from Fort Wayne 
stopped at my house and informed me that Thomas L. Yates, afterward 
judge, was under conviction, and wished me to come and pray with him. I 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. I97 

went, and found quite a numlier of persons in the house. I sang and prayed, 
and wliile praying, noticed tliat old Father Rhodes was fervently responding 
to my petitions. I then sang again and called upon him to pray, and while 
he prayed I noticed that the old lady, his wife, was also praying. I next 
called on her and found that old Mother Yates, mother of the penitent man, 
was engaged, and so I called on her next, and this closed our. meeting. After- 
ward we held prayer-meeting nearly every Sabbath, at Father Rhodes', my 
house, Mr. Lounsbury's, Mr. Eckhart's, or some other." 

EARLY PREACHERS AND MEETINGS. 

Mr. W'idney continues; "Revs. Coleman and Warner were the first 
circuit [ireachers of the Methodist Episcopal church who visited the settle- 
ment. I think it was ?^ome time in the year 1838. They organized several 
classes at different points. Early in the year 1839, sixteen persons who had 
tjeen members of the Methodist Protestant church in Ohio and Pennsylvania 
met at the home of Samuel Tarney, on Bear creek, and organized themselves 
into a Methodist Protestant class. I was one of the members, and Samuel 
Widney, Sr., was our leader. He wmte to Rev. Joe! Dalbey, then at Pitts- 
burg, to try to procure a preacher. He answered that we had better apply 
to the Ohio Conference. Our leader then wrote to the celebrated Nicholas 
Snethin, at Cincinnati. The letter was sent from the Ohio to the Indiana 
conference, then just organized and holding its session in Monroe county, 
and Lewis Hickman came on as missionary and organized several classes 
and finally a circuit. He was the first Methodist Protestant preacher in 
Indiana, north of the Wabash, so far as 1 know. For some time the Disci- 
ples, Methodist Episco]ial and Methodist Protestant churches were the only 
ones in the county. 

"Jonathan Thomas and Bishop Kumler were the first United Brethren 
preachers. They labored as missionaries through the country in 1841 and 
1842. S. B. \\'ard was the first regular Baptist minister in the county, Elders 
Cherry and Miner the first Free-^^'ill Baptist, and James Cather the first 
Lutheran. Mr. Cather commenced In's laliors early in llic year 1844. and 
the others several years earlier." 

The Church of God structure was the first house of worship built in the 
city of Auburn, and it was constructed by the Presbyterians in pioneer days 
and occupied by them until their own brick church was erected. Then the 
Lutherans used the building, and after them, the Church of God bought it, 
and u,sed it until the s])ring nf 1005, when thev built for their services a 



198 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

brick church. The ground of this church was donated by the late W. S. 
Ralston. He afterward wished to buy it back, and ofifered them the corner 
w'here the new Church of God stands, but they refused to trade on account 
of the lot being too swampy. 

METHODLST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

There are eleven organizations and ten churches of the Methodist de- 
nomination in DeKalb county. There is one church building in Auburn, 
Garrett, Corunna, Waterloo, Butler and Spencerville, the others being in the 
country districts. The first organizations were made in the year 1839, by 
the earl}' pioneer settlers, nearly all of whom ha\e been long since called 
from labor to reward. In the early days, the "circuit rider" was much in 
evidence; in fact, for twenty-five or thirty years the safest and most con- 
venient way to reach the different appointments was on horseback, and the 
pioneer preachers rarely made their appointments oftener than once in two 
weeks, and in some cases, once in four weeks, frequently holding services in 
private homes, wherever a few people could be brought together. The 
younger pastors of the present day can hardl}- comprehend the sacrifice and 
hardships of the early day pastor and the amount of labor he was required 
to perform for the meager salan- that he received. Yet the people of those 
days seemed to have, and I believe did have, a higher appreciation of the 
preached word than people do now. 

The first Methodist Episcopal church of Aulmrn, Indiana, was organized 
in the year 1839, by Rev. Samuel Reed, a very brilliant young minister who 
died at a comparatively early age. He was greatly aided by Wesley Park, 
the founder of the town. This was first called the St. Joe Mission. Rev. 
Geo. M. Beswick was the presiding elder. To Wesley Park was given much 
credit in forming this first class, which numbered forty-two souls. He also, 
in a few years, organized the first Sabbath school and was a great help to the 
church all his life. The first church was built in the year 1843, ^t the north- 
east corner of the court square, and later a lecture room was added in the 
rear. As the town enlarged, it was thought advisable to take a location 
farther from the business center, so in the summer of 1878, under the pas- 
torate of Rev. J. E. Ervin, this building was moved to the lot on the north- 
east corner of Van Buren and Seventh streets and placed at the back part of 
the lot so that there would be room to erect a new church as soon as thought 
best, and in the summer of 1890, under the pastorate of Rev. H. M. Lamport, 
the splendid new brick building was erected at a cost of near twenty thou- 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. I99 

sand dollars. This \\as used with but little change until the summer of 
1912, when improvements were made in an enlarged basement with cement 
floor, a model kitchen and dining room, a new steam heating plant, improved 
lights, frescoing and refinishing all woodwork, improvements on the pipe 
organ and cork linoleum on the floors, all at a cost of about five thousand 
dollars, under the pastorate of Rev. Fred F. Thomburg. In the fall of 1896. 
after the new church was built and the old one sold and removed, the old 
parsonage was moved to the rear of the new church and repaired and used 
until 1905, when a new parsonage was purchased at the northwest corner of 
Fifth and Van Buren streets, all making by far the most valuable and commo- 
dious church property of any in the city or county. The present membership 
is about five hundred and fifty, with a large Sunday school of about the same 
enrollment. 

The pastors who succeeded Rev. Reed in 1839 were: In 1844, Enoch 
Holdstock; 1845, James Sparr; 1846; Elijah Lillison and J. P. Jones; 1847, 
W. J. Forbes and E. Hall; 1S48, S. Lamb and E. ^laynard ; 1849, S. Lamb 
and James Sewell ; 1S50, J. J. Coo])er: 185 [. J. H. Payton; 1852, M. M. 
Hann; 1853, James Sewell; 1854, J. W. Welch, two years; 1856, Isaac 
Ayres; 1857, E. S. Preston and a supply; 1858, Isaac Dean; 1859, Thomas 
Comstock, two years; 1861, S. H. Clark and J. Mann; 1862. C. W. Lynch 
and M. E. Hansley. two years; 1S64, J. W. Miller; 1865, C. Hoover; 1866, 
Emanuel Hall, two years ; i8dS, William Comstock, two years; 1870, Eman- 
uel Hall; 1871, A. W. Lamport; i87'2, Albert Cone, two years; 1874, J. W. 
Welch, three years; 1877, J. E. Ervin, two years; 1879; H. J. Norris, three 
years: 1882, W. H. Daniel; 1883, C. W. Church and C. L. Clippinger. three 
years; 1886, H. M. Lamport, four years; 1891, A. S. Wooten, four years; 
1895, J. K. Walts, two years; 1897, L. M. Guild, three years; 1901, L. M. 
Krider, four years; 1905, i\I. A. Harlan, two years; 1907. W. Pj. Freeland. 
three years; 1910, Fred F. Thornburg three years. 

The societies are : The Ladies' Aid, Woman's Foreign Missionary So- 
ciety, also the Home Missionary Society, the Epworth League and Junior 
League. 

The Methodist Episcopal church was organized in Garrett bv the Rev. 
J. W. Welch in 1875. He was at that time pastor of the church in Auburn 
and came to Garrett to hold meetings. These meetings were held in a place 
just east of where the present church stands and was known as "The Taber- 
nacle." This tabernacle had nothing but a sawdust floor, and was sided with 
rough, up-and-down siding. As near as can be found the first members were 



2(X) DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Mr. and Mrs. John Stoner, Mrs. J- G. Philbrick, Mrs. Anna Keneskie, Miss 
Stickney, Mrs. Alarsh, Mrs. Parker and several others. 

In the spring of 1876, Rev. George Adams was appointed to Garrett, 
being the first regularly appointed pastor of this church. During this year 
the preaching place was moved to an old frame building that had formerly 
been used as a saloon, standing on Cowen street where the fire department 
house now stands. In the spring of 1877 Rev. Beneville Saw3.-er succeeded 
Rev. Adams, and under his control prosperity dawned upon the little society. 
New members were added and many helped the church who were not mem- 
bers. About the close of his pastorate, the front part of the church building 
was erected and dedicated. In 1879 Rev. H. Sutherlin was pastor. In 1880 
Rev. S. T. Sti:)ut came, and in the next year the church was supplied by dif- 
ferent men. In 1882 Rew W. E. McCarty was ])astor and remained one 
3'ear, when he was followed in 1883 I)y Rev. Chauncey King, who served 
three years. In 1886 Rev. W. R. Jones was appointed to the charge and 
remained until 1891. During the time he was here the church was built to 
its fullest extent. In i8qi Rev. .\. L. Lamport was appointed to this charge 
and remained a little o\er three years. Rev. M. E. Nethercut followed and 
in 1895 Rev. G. B. Work took charge, to be succeeded the next year by Rev. 
J. B. Book. The year 1897 saw the coming of Rev. J. M. Haines for a term 
of five years. In 1902 Rev. J. .\. Patterson took up the work: in 1905 Rev. 
P. E. Powell had charge, and in 1908 Rev. D. V. ^\■illiams. He continued 
imtil 191 I, when he was followed b}' the present able and efticient pastor. 
Rev. Charles Tinkham. 

At the beginning of the present pastorate there was a very strong feel- 
ing that the church building was not adequate to the needs of the growing 
congregation. During the summer of 1911 the proposition of erecting a new 
church was submitted to the members of the church for their vote. The 
result was an almost unanimous vote for a new edifice. Plans for subscrip- 
tion were laid, and by Januaiw i. 1912, the pastor had taken suliscriptions 
amounting to nearly se\enteen thousand dollars. On June i the trustees 
ivurchased the new location at the corner of Cowen and Huston streets, 
agreeing to jiay four thousand dollars for the site. Plans were submitted to 
the church authorities and the architect and contractor selected, with the 
result that at this time the work upon the handsome new Methodist Episcopa' 
church is practically finished. The church will cost, when completed, about 
tweiity thousand dollars. 

The present membership of the church in Garrett is alxnit four hundred 
and twenty-five. The Sunday school a\-erages about two hundred and sev- 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 201 

enty-five members. The Epworth League has a membership of one hundred 
and fifty, the Junior league one hundred and ten. There are two missionary 
societies, the home and the foreign. There is also a Ladies' Aid Society, 
composed of all the women of the church. 

The Methodist Episcopal church at Waterloo first used a seminary 
building. The brick church was constructed in 1885, but in October, 1886, 
it burned, and was rebuilt under the pastorate of Rev. W. D. Parr in 1887, 
at a cost of fifty-five hundred dollars. 

The present membershij) is sevent} , and there is a progressive Sunday 
school of sixty-five people. There is also a missionary and- temperance so- 
ciety. The Epworth League does not hold devotional meetings, but assists 
in sustaining a missionary in India. There is a Ladies' Aid Society, which 
is active in taking charge of the finances and keeping the church and parson- 
age in good repair. 

The past(jrs who have served this church and the dale of their services 
is as follows: Revs. W. M. VanSlyke, 1884; W. D. Parr. 1885; H. C. 
Smith. 1888; L. A. Retts, 1890: J. \\'. ne\\'eese, 1891 : E. F. Albertson, 
1892: W. S. A. Bridge, 189.3; C. L. ^^■eaver, 1894; F. L. Erlongher, 1895; 
W. F. Dingel, 1898; J. D. Belt, 1900: D. J. Hower. 190T : L. .\. Retts, 1903; 
C. H. Murray, 1904: R. D. Bevin, 1907: E. E. Bergman, 1909: N. L. Stam- 
baugh, 1910; R. F. Hubbartt, 191 1, and Carl E. Bash, 1913. 

The Methodist Episcopal society at Butler was organized about 1839 
at "the corners," before any town had been established. Four years later 
the society began holding meetings one mile north of the present site of But- 
ler, at the home of John McCurdx-. .After eighteen months another removal 
was made to the school house at the corners, and the membership at once 
increased from fifteen to ninety. Mr. McCurdy was then living on a farm 
later owned by Jeremiah Lewis. The frame church was built in 1855 ^"<i 
1856, at a cost of one thousand dollars. The first pastor of the society was 
Rev. Jesse Sparks. The pastors who followed him until the present time 
were: Revs. John Paul Jones, Metz. Lanil), J. J. Cooper, Lynch, Lamport, 
C. H. Wilkinson, D. C. Woollpert ; W. S. Stewart, 1885-7; A. Cone. 1888-9; 
F. M. Stone, 1890-2; J. S. Kane. 1893-4; C. E. Disbrow, 1895-7; T. F. 
Freeh, 1898-1903; H. C. Smith. i<)04-5; G. H. Myers. 1905-7; E. F. Albert- 
son, 1907-12; W. H. Brightmire, 1912-14. '!"he present brick church was 
built in 1889, and is valued at fifteen thousand dollars. The parsonage was 
constructed during the pastorate of Rev. Freeh. There are two hundred 
and eightv members of the church, and in the Sunday school are two hundred 



202 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

and fifty. The societies are the Ladies' Aid Society, the Woman's Foreign 
Missionary Society and the Epworth League for young people. 

The Methodist Episcopal church at Spencerville has an enrollment of 
one hundred and se\-enty-two members, with a Sunday school of one hun- 
dred and four. The pastorate is in charge of Rev. Arthur Gordon at this 
time. Since 1894 the pastors have been: Revs. Simons, E. H. Peters, C. B. 
Sweeney, D. -A.. J. Brown, C. .\. I'.urt, Homer Elliott. The Ladies' .A.id 
Society is acti\e in the church. 

METHODIST PROTESTANT CITURCHE.S. 

The Methodist Protestant organization at St. Joe was brought into 
existence in the year of 1886, and from those humble beginnings has devel- 
oped into a hustling and progressive society of one hundred members. Rev. 
W. H. Lineberry was the pastor who assisted in organizing the church. The 
church edifice was built in 1888, the same year as the Disciples church. The 
building cost thirty-five hundred dollars. At this writing, Rev. G. C. Mc- 
Caslin is in charge of the society. The first trustees were Frank Ingle, 
George Bleeks and Sol Barney. The Sunday school, Ladies' Aid Society 
and Christian Endeavor add greatly to the interest of the church. The 
Methodist Protestant society has small churches at Concord and Fairview 
jilso. 

The Rehoboth Methodist Protestant church was organized sometime in 
the year 1840, at the cabin-home of Samuel Tarney. The charter members 
were: Amariah Johnson and wife, Nathan Wyatt and wife, Abraham John- 
son and wife, John Wyatt and wife, William R. Moore and wife, Samuel 
Tarney and wife, William A. Squires and wife, and Samuel Widney and 
wife. These sixteen persons constituted the first church organization in 
Jackson township which was known as the Bear Creek class. There being no 
church house, services were held at the caliin-homes of the early settlers; for 
some time' later the regular ser\ices were held in a log schoolhouse located on 
the farm of .A.mariah Johnson, now owned by William Jolmson. Special 
meetings were either lield in the grox'es or at tlie double log l)arns of the 
settlers. 

Some years later a church was built a short distance north of the log 
school house. The building was a frame structure and was considered quite 
elaborate at that early day. This church was known as the Bear Creek 
church. Here services were held until the fall of 1881, when the old church 
was considered unsafe and was abandoned. This old building was the scene 



DEKALB COUNTYj INDIANA. 2O3 

of many a gracious revival and many liearts were made happ\- in a Savior's 
love. After abandoning the old church, the place of holding services was at 
the Bear Creek schoolhouse, a half mile west. Under the pastorate of the 
late Rev. F. M. Hussy, during the winter of 1881 and 1882, an effort was put 
forth for the erection of a new church house. It was with some difficulty 
that a suitable location could be found. 

It was finally decided to build on the site where the Rehoboth church 
now stands, and the building was completed at a cost of twenty-one hundred 
dollars. Owing to the difficulty in securing a location, Mr. John S. Boots, one 
of the donors, thought that the proper name for the church should be Reho- 
both, and wished the honor of naming it, which privilege was accorded him. 
In the fall of 1913, this church house underwent repairs ot the extent of 
eight hundred dollars. To he in keeping with the progress of the time, a 
basement has Ijeen put under the church, a furnace and modern lighting sys- 
tem installed, and an addition made. 

The first religious service held in Jackson township was at the home of 
William Watson in 1839, and the preacher was Rev. James T. Robe, of the 
Methodist Episcopal denomination. 

Rev. Lewis Hicklan, missionary of the Methodist Protestant church, 
came to Jackson township in 1841. and organized a church. Today there 
are in the township several churches : namely, Church of God, Methodist 
Protestant and United Brethren. 

THE GERMAN METHODIST CHURCH. 

In 1873, a church reinforced in numbers by the increasing population 
of Auburn came prominently into notice. The society of German Method- 
ists had an unorganized existence in the town from a very early date. Min- 
isters of this denomination held services at private houses on such occasions 
as brought them to this neighborhood, but the scarcity of numbers precluded 
attempt at forming a society. Rev. John Schneider was probably the pioneer 
preacher in this locality. 

On November i, 1858. Re\-. I-". Uuff organized what was known as the 
Kendallville circuit, of which .Vuhurn was an appointment, although preach- 
ing was at first at a point north of town. This minister, who is recognized 
as the founder of the Auburn society, served for two years. The original 
membership consisted of George and Catherine Eckhart, Herman and Eva 
Froelich, Elizabeth Pullman, John and Caroline Raesch, John and Frederika 
Steffin, F. Raut, Sr., Charles Rant, Jr., Maria and Charlotte Raut. 



204 DEKALB COUXTV, INDIANA. 

The first officers chosen were George Froelich. exhorter, and George Eck- 
hart,' steward. Xo trustees to mark official existence were elected until about 
twelve years later. 

The immediate successors of Reverend Ruff were: A. Gerlach. i860; 
J. C. ^^'eidman, 1S62: G. Schwinn, 1863: C. A. Militzer, 1867: Henry Krill. 
1S69: A. Meyer, 1871. 

From 187 1, there were generally assistant preachers sent on the Kendall- 
ville circuit, who mostly lived at Auburn. Joseph Kern was the first of these. 
He was followed by G. Weiler, of Fort Wayne, succeeded by J. Lamprecht 
who remained two years and co-operated with Rev. Meyer to establish the 
church upon a strong and enduring basis. These ministers conducted a pro- 
tracted meeting in 1872, which brought almut a revival and ten conversions. 
The Sunday school was organized in 1S72. and continued until 1880, when 
it was closed for a number of years. The societx' in 1874 considered the 
question of a church lot and building. To secure the former a committee of 
three persons was appointed on May 25, 1874. The committee, Frederick 
Raut, Charles Raut and John Raesch chose the lot upon which the church 
afterward stood. 

Five members had in the meanwhile been elected by the quarterly con- 
ference at Kendalhille as trustees of Emanuel Methodist Episcopal cluirch, 
namely: F. Raut, C. Raut, J. Raesch. H. W'artensleben, and John Lohmiller. 
These parties. August 24th, bought of Andrew ]\Iayer of Noble county, the 
lot selected, paying for the same two hundred and fifty dollars, and promptly 
took measures for the erection thereon of a frame meeting house. The church 
was completed and dedicated by Rev. Roberts, of Fort Wayne, and the cost 
was two thousand seven hundred and forty dollars. After subscriptions had 
all been collected there remained a deficit of two hundred dollars, which was 
paid by the Church Extension Society of the Central German Conference. 
In 1892 a parsonage was built for fourteen hundred dollars. 

The pastors have been: John Bodmer, 1874; William Mueller, 1876; 
H. Buddenbaur, 1879; A. Gerlich, 1881 ; J. C. Gommel, 1882; J. H. Schim- 
melpfinig, 1885; John Haas. 1886: H. Rogatsky, 1891. Assistant and resi- 
dent ministers for the same time have been : C. Treuschel, William Conzel- 
mann. W. Hamp, G. Moehring, C. Henke, S. P. Spechman, A. C. Baur, D. 
Dobbick, W. Rogetzby and C. B. Koch. The Sunday school was organized 
in 1890 by Rev. Dobbick. 

At present, this church has a \er\- small congregation and is supplied by 
visiting pastors. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 205 

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 

The Presbyterian society in Auburn was organized in the fall of 1846. 
Auburn first belonged to the Logansport Presbytery; but this being divided, 
it was transferred to the Fort Wayne Presbytery. Rev. Bliss, who was first 
assigned to this place was stated supply until the spring of 1856, at that time 
the membership numbering forty-three. In the spring of i857', Rev. Edward 
Wright took charge; in 1863, Rev. Charles A. Munn, and from 1866 the 
church was for a short interval without services. Then Rev. C. A. Evans 
was here for two years. After another inter\al, in the spring of 1872 Rev. J. 
Emory Fisher began services on alternate Sundays. Rev. Henry Johnson 
came in the spring of 1874, and remained until the fall of 1880. During his 
pastorate, in the fall of 1876, a brick structure was erected on the corner of 
Jackson and Twelfth streets, costing six thousand dollars; it was dedicated 
in Januaiy, 1877. The trustees were E. D. Hartman, S. B. Miller, Joseph 
Albright and Richard Elson. 

The early pastors were : Charles A. Miinn, Charles Evans, Levi C. Littell, 
J. B. Fowler, 1871 ; J. E. Fisher, Henry Johnston, W. F. Mathews until 1882; 
H. D. McCord, G. W. Barr until 1884; D. S. Stephens, Henry A. Sawyers in 
1886, and George Wade Healy in 1891. In 1895 Frank C. Colvin took 
charge of the church, and remained until 1897, when Rev. Flenry A. Arlen 
supplied. In 1900 the church in Auburn was vacant, and in 1901 Rev. 
Thomas E. Burrows supplied. In 1902 Rev. Asher H. Brand was here, and 
during his pastorate the parsonage was built. In 1908 Rev. Walter M. Elliott 
came and remained until 191 1, when the present efficient pastor, Robert I. 
Platter, took charge. 

The church at present has one hundred and fifty members, and the Sun- 
day school enrollment totals one hundred and twenty-five. The societies in 
the church are : the Ladies' Home and Foreign Missionary Societ}^, the Ladies' 
Aid Society, the Christian Endeavor, and the Westminster Guild. 

The Presbyterian church in Garrett is yet a small denomination, but is 
rapidly growing and in the near future promises to be a thriving and large 
society. 

The first attempt to organize a Presbyterian society in Garrett was made 
in 1903 and 1904 by Rev. E. F. Knickerbocker, now in missionary work at 
Ningpo. China. Rev. Knickerbocker writes the following in regard to the 
futile attempt at that time : "Nearly the first work I did after being trans- 
ferred from. Nebraska to Indiana was that of looking up the need in Garrett. 
What a time I had of it, too, but I enjoved the work nevertheless. Mv head- 



206 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

quarters were at the leading hotel. I entered every house, store and shop in 
the city that was enterable. When the canvas was completed I had a list of 
more than seventy people who were material for the forming of a Presbyterian 
church. Nearly all were members of a Presbyterian church somewhere, and 
all were members of some sort of church, while only about a dozen of them 
were working with or members of any church in Garrett. A few days after 
this canvas began I hired a dance hall, rented a stove and a few lamps, bought 
wood, engaged a janitor, and began meetings, which lasted over two weeks. 
What a time of blizzard it was! A handful of people would come one evening. 
These I would gather in a circle around the stove, and we all sat while I con- 
ducted a Bible study. At the close of the meeting some one would remark, 
'Well ! It seems veiy strange that the people do not take an interest in things.' 
The next night these people would not come, and another small lot would take 
their place. Things went on like this night after night. One good brother 
came nearly every evening. He was the real goods. But one night — a ter- 
rible night — -no one came. Half an hour after time for the meeting to begin, 
I stepped to the foot of the stairs and fastened the door, so that no one might 
disturb the meeting. Then I spent an hour in Bible study and prayer. That 
was really the most encouraging time of all, for at the end there was not a 
discouraging word." 

Rev. Knickerbocker was finally compelled to relinquish his efforts in 
behalf of a Presbyterian church in Garrett, and upon the coming of the next 
pastor the society disbanded. Knickerbocker writes of his successor : 
"Whether he broke the church or the church broke him, or else a mutual 
breaking, I am not sure." 

In the fall of 1907 steps were again taken to organize a church in 
Garrett, and in 1908 a permanent society was effected. Charles G. Sterling 
was the first pastor called, and he was followed by W. A. Service and Edgar 
L. Buchanan. The latter is the present pastor, having come here from 
Lafayette, Indiana, in December, 191 1. The present directors of the church 
are: Dr. G. Allison, C. E. Leightner, E. M. McKennan, W. A. Clifford. E. C. 
Moughler. Elders are: C. E. Leightner, W. A. Clifford. E. C. Moughler, 
John W. Brown, William C. Robinson and A. R. Moore. The congregation 
worships at present in the German Methodist building, but. as the latter 
society is very small, the Presbyterians contemplate leasing the church 
entirely for their own use; thus it will be known as the First Presbyterian 
church. The church numbers one hundred and twentv members, with a 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 20/ 

Sunday school of one hundred and seventy members. There are two societies 
in the church, the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society and W'oman's 
Helpers. 

The Presbyterian church at Waterloo was organized on June 5, 1863, by 
Rev. C. Ford, with the following constituent members: P. B. Nimmons, 
Mary Nimmons, James Lockhart, Robert M. Lockhart, Elizabeth Lockhart, 
Abraham McCoy, Elizabeth McCoy, Mahlon Nimmons, Louisa Nimmons, 
Edward Craft, J. E. Rutan, Keziah Rutan, Joseph Mills, J. N. Mills, Jane 
Smith, Jane Madden, J. H. Boon, Mary Hines, Celestia Hutchison, Laura 
Hutchison, A. A. Howard, Sarah A. Howard and Rachel Moore. The first 
ruling elders were P. B. Nimmons, Robert Lockhart and A. A. Howard. 
The church building, a frame structure on Maple street, was erected in 1867, 
at a cost of three thousand dollars. The first pastor, Rev. Edward Wright, 
was there from 1863 to 1866. Other pastors who followed were: C. A. 
Munn, L. C. Littell, J. B. Fowler, Henry Johnson, W. F. Mathews, J. D. Mc- 
Cord, and G. W. Barr. Rev. W. H. Chase, living at Auburn, has charge of 
the church at present. There are about sixty-five active members of the 
church. The church society is a progressive one and a great aid to the town 
of Waterloo. 

THE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES. 

The Christian church in Auburn was organized in the winter of 1902 by 
Rev. J. N. Wilson, who was the first pastor. The succeeding pastors have 
been: J. A. Brown, C. H. Earenfight, John Lennox, Frank Nixon, Fred 
Thomas, and at present Rev. C. W. Mahin fills the pulpit. The church build- 
ing was constructed in 1907, and cost thirty-two hundred dollars. 

There are two hundred members of the church at present, with one hun- 
dred and seventy-five in the Sunday school. The societies are : The Ladies' 
Aid. Ladies' Auxilliary, Christian Endeavor and the Christian Woman's 
Board of Missions. 

The Christian church of Garrett was organized in the year 1907 by Rev. 
O. L. Hull, and his first congregation numbered twenty-eight members. 
When he left, after three years' meritorious service, he had enrolled over 
two hundred and fifty people. The pastors who have followed him are: 
Revs. John H. Swift, L. C. Brink, L. M. Nesmith, B. O. Borten, and the 
present pastor is J. W. Borden. The society bought a hall, formerly used 
for meetings, on King street, for the sum of twenty-six hundred dollars, and 
herein the loyal membership of two hundred and fifty people hold their 
services. The Sunday school numbers one hundred and fifteen. The Ladies' 



208 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Aid Society is a prominent factor in the good work done by the church, and 
it, with the congregation as a whole, is working hard to make tlie church 
one of the strongest in the city. 

The Church of Christ at Butler was organized by John Ailsworth in 
the Lutheran church, on March i, 1870, with the following charter members: 
G. H. Young. Mary Young, Sarah Young, E. Olmstead, Frank Reynolds, 
Lucy Reynolds, Mrs. Rowe, Frederick Huffman, Elizabeth Huffman, Alice 
Huffman, Almira Huffman, John and Mary Shoub, Fred H. Fanning, Carrie 
M. Fanning, Calista Pillsburg, Jacob Jennings, Mary, Cyrenas and Elizabeth 
Jennings and Jacob Funk. Elder J. E. Harris was the first minister of this 
denomination in Butler. T. P. Sutton assisted. Harris was from Licking 
county, Ohio. After him, with the dates of their services, came : Elder Had- 
sell, 1872; T. P. Sutton, 1873-8; under Rev. Sutton the lot on which the 
Christian church now stands was purchased, the church was erected, and dedi- 
cated on February 7, 1875, by L. L. Carpenter of Wabash; Elder Leavett came 
in 1878; then O. O. Ovialt; E. L. Fanner in 1883; Elders, Struber, Wilson, 
Lovines, Moot, Stewart, Sniff, Scoville, A. M. Laird, D. A. Shaw, Fred 
Thomas, Drash, Harris, Ira Smith, R. B. Chapman, S. B. Braden. Konkle, 
John Lnhof, and at present, A. E. Wrentmore, have had and have charge of 
the church at Butler. There are about one hundred and seventy-seven mem- 
bers, a Ladies' Aid Society and a Christian Endeavor. 

The Disciples church, or Christian church, of St. Joe was organized on 
May 2, 1886, by Rev. L. L. Carpenter. Elder J. A. Thomas was the first 
pastor of the church, and he was followed by T. A. Hedges, W. W. Harris, 
L. W. Fairfield, J. O. Rose, S. S. Bartlett, Harry Clark, Rev. Dunkleberger, 
W. S. Meyers, J. A. Brown, T. N. Russell and S. O. Redacer. The persons 
who helped in the organization of this church in 1886 were: Joshua W. 
Lounsberry, Anna Lounsberry, E. M. Vollmer, R. K. McDonald, Anna Mc- 
Donald, Mr. and Mrs. Alex Filley, B. S. Sheffer, Eva S. Sheffer, Emma Hart, 
Jared Irwin, and wife, Charles Coburn. Emma Tustison. 

The church at present has a membership of one hundred, with an ex- 
cellent Sunday school of seventy-five. The Martha Society performs aid 
service for the church. The Christian Endeavor is also existent in the church. 
The house of worship was constructed in the year 1888. two years after the 
organization, and cost at the time, twenty-five hundred dollars. 

The Church of Christ built a brick structure in 1870 at Waterloo, on 
Maple street, at a cost of thirty-five hundred dollars. Rev. N. N. Bartlett, 
the first pastor, remained two years. He was followed by Revs. James 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA, 201) 

Hodsell, F. H. McCormick, M. M. Gleason and M. L. Blaney. This church 
is now defunct. 

The Newville Christian cliurch was organized in the fall of 185 1 by' 
James Hadsell. in a schoolhouse where the United Brethren parsonage later 
stood, across the river and southeast from Newville. There were originally 
twenty-seven members. At the close of 1879 the church had a membership 
of one hundred and ninety-two. This church has a present membership of 
seventy-five. 

UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH. 

The United Brethren class at Newville was organized in 1842 by Rev. 
Jonathan Thomas, one of the pioneer preachers. The class was organized 
in a small log building on the east side of the road about two miles west of 
Newville on the farm owned by Solomon Wilcox. The class was composed 
of eleven charter members, nine of whom were: Mr. and Mrs. Solomon De- 
long, Hanna Robertson, Cornelius Woodcox and wife, Solomon Woodcox 
and wife, M. Soper and Mrs. Ellis. The first board of trustees was com- 
posed of Solomon Belong, Collin Robertson and Cornelius Woodcox. Maria 
Belong, who died March 28. 1912, at the age of ninety years, was the last 
charter member. 

About 1842 a frame schoolhouse was built where the parsonage barn 
now stands, and soon after the place of meeting was transferred from the 
Woodcox home to the schoolhouse. This building was used for church ser- 
vices until 1855, when, during the pastorate of Rev. J. Fink, a splendid frame 
church building, thirty by forty-six feet, was erected. About 1880 the church 
was moved back from the road and set on a brick foundation, truss beams 
were put in overhead and the center supports removed. In the year 1885, 
while Rev. R. T. Martin was pastor, extensive repairs were made, consisting 
of tower and bell, slate roof and new windows. 

The old building, which has served its purpose well for fifty-eight years, 
is now being thoroughly renovated at an approximate cost of thirty-five hun- 
dred dollars. Lecture room, library, pastor's study, rostrum, basement, fur- 
nace, new windows, chairs, are among the many improvements. The present 
membership is one hundred and five, and the Sunday school also has a strong 
enrollment. The first church was dedicated by Bishop Henry Kumler, Jr. 
The new one will be dedicated by Bishop H. H. Fout. Buring the seventy- 
one years of the existence of the class, forty-three pastors have served the 
chruch. The present pastor is Oliver Perry Givens. a nati\e of Xohle duintv, 
Indiana. 

(14) 



210 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

The United Brethren church at Waterloo had its origin prior to 1856, 
probably in 1852. At that time the church was supported by traveling 
evangelists. Among the earliest were Revs. William Miller and Jonathan 
Thomas. Tlien came Re\s. J. Fink and Lammon, who traveled together and 
held revivals. A deed to the lot on which the United Brethren church now 
stands was made by George W. Trout and wife in November, 1862, to George 
W. Trout, David Goodwin and John Beidler, as the first board of trustees. 
The church building was then completed. This was in 1862. Rev. Taring 
Osmun was pastor at this time. It was the lirst church in Waterloo. During 
the early history of this church tiie Inuiijing was used for union worsliip, 
also union Sunday school. In 1879 tlit- church was rebuilt. Among the early 
preachers were: J. Fink. Lammon. William Aloffatt, J. Alorthland. A. Lower, 
Leonard, T. Osmun, J. K. Swihart, C. Crossland, C. O. Lawrence, J. G. Bow- 
ersox, Joseph Brown, D. Bender, John Martin, George Crawford, B. Baldwin, 
Richard Martin, C. H. Kirracofe, W. O. Dinnius. S. P. Klotz, J. D. Snyder, 
W. O. Butler, George Dinnius, J. S. Tedrow and J. W. Lilly. In 1889, when 
the division of the church came in general conference at York, Pennsylvania, 
the Waterloo church lost many of its oldest memliers. However, the society 
took on new life, and on June 13, 191J. the old church, which had lieen 
veneered with lirick, was torn down and work of constructing the new edifice 
begun. The cornerstone was laid August 9, 1Q12. and the church was dedi- 
cated April 6, 1913. The total cost was fifteen thousand dollars. The pres- 
ent enrollment numl)ers one hundred and fifty-five, and the pastor is Rev. 
F. P. Overmyer. 

In Smithfield township organized Christianity was introduced by the 
United Brethren, who had regular services at the Smith school house, later 
known as number six. The first minister was Rev. Samuel Chaplin. The 
Methodists met at Barker's and formed a class, of which Mr. Barker was the 
leader. The Disciples, organized by Revs. Bartlett and Hadsell, had a church 
at Cedar lake. 

The Big Run LTnited Brethren church, in Stafford township, was organ- 
ized in the spring of 1843 by Rev. Jonathan Thomas. The charter members 
were; Jacob Gunsenhouser and wife, Thomas Olds and wife, David Flick- 
inger and wife, Stephen Hackley and wife and Mary Willard. They organ- 
ized at the home of Jacob Gunsenhouser, and used this place for worship dur- 
ing the next five years, later using the old log house on the Gunsenhouser 
land. A church was built during the progress of the Civil war, and services 
were held on alternate Sundays by the Rev. James Martin. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 211 

The United Brethren church in Butler was organized in January, 1884, 
with a membership of forty people. Their frame church building was erected 
in the fall of 1883. at a cost of twenty-three hundred dollars, and dedicated 
in December, 1883. It is located on West North street. The pastors have 
been: Rev. Joseph Brown, W. O. Butler, 1884; J. W. Martin; S. P. Klotz. 
1885; Joseph Brown, 1883; D. B. Keller; A. F. McCloe, 1889; J. S. Tedrow, 
J. W. Cummings, A. F. McCloe, 1900; C. H. Bell, 1902; W. H. Phetro, 1904; 
O. F. Landis, 1905:0. B. Wells, 1906; W. F. Parker, 1907; A. W. Phillips, 
191 1, and D. B. Kessinger, 1912, who is the present incumbent. There are 
two hundred and fifty members of the church at present, and the Sunday 
school numbers t\\ o hundred and sixty. There are societies as follows in the 
church : Ladies' Aid Society, Woman's Missionary Association and Christian 
Endeaxor. In the Butler circuit are the Big Run, Jerusalem and Zion 
churches, with a combined congregation of two hundred and ninety-two peo- 
ple. Rev. Richhart, of Butler, has charge of them. The Newville circuit has 
a membership of two hundred and fifteen. 

Mount Pleasant United Brethren church, in Wilmington township, is 
over sixty years old. In 1854 meetings were held in the house of Abraham 
Eakright, on section twenty, by Revs. Benton and wife. The constituent 
members were: William McBride, Mr. Dirrim. Abraham Eakwright and their 
wives, and Mrs. Levi McBride. Services were held in the Eakright house 
until 1861, when the>' commenced to use the old log schoolhouse on section 
19. This organization held many successful revials. A chapel was erected 
at Mount Pleasant in 1870. 

The Lilly United Brethren church at Moore Station was organized by 
Rev. Aaron Lilly in December, 1882, with twenty-seven members. Services 
were held in the Mooresville schoolhouse until the next summer, when they 
built a fine large frame clnirch. costing fourteen hundred dollars. Services 
were held e\ery alternate Sunday. 

THE B.\PTIST CHURCH. 

The history of the Baptist church dates almost co-equal with the first 
settlement of DeKalb county. Here and there in the townships, log meet- 
ing houses were raised, and long ser\ed their purpose. The first regular 
Baptist church organized in this county was known as the "Cedar Creek 
church." The house of worship was a log building. It was located about 
one mile south of the present village of Corunna. The date of organization 
was in 1841 or 1842. Deacon McConly, who afterward became a minister. 



21,2 DEKALB COLXTW INDIANA,. 

was very prominent among the early members of this denomination. Calvin 
Calkin, T. D. Daily and families, were other strong memljers of the society, 
The pastors of the church at various times were Elders P. H. E\ans, William 
N. Welker, A. Town and others. Tiiis church is now defunct. 

The next church organized was within the bounds of Wilmington town- 
ship, and had its origin in 1844. Its formation was largely owing to the 
energetic efforts of A. Town and R. Speer. James R. Cosper donated land 
for a church site so long as it would be used for religious purposes. A log 
meeting house was accordingly raised upon this ground. S. B. Meade was the 
lirst pastor of the church, and S. B. Ward followed shortly afterward. 

Elders Baker and Whitehead held a series of meetings in Auburn and the 
result was the organization of a church. Upon this the Wilmington church 
was practically dissolved, because the members persisted in joining the church 
at Auburn. The Wilmington church was abandoned in 1861. 

On August 13. 1852, the brethren met at the old courthouse to take into- 
consideration the organization of a Baptist church in Auburn. Everybody 
agreed on the plan, and an organization was efifected on September 15, 1852. 
Elder Ward became the first pastor, and then Elder A. Town. Having no 
regular meeting house of their own, the Baptists at this time held their 
services at the courthouse or in the Methodist or Presbyterian churches. 

The new brick building of the Baptist church was completed in the fall 
of 1873. Elder Ward, R. P. Jones, W. Langton Sanders, J. P. Ward, H. J. 
Finch, T. C. Smith and O. E. Eagy were ministers until the year 1892. 

From 1892 until 1913 the ministers have been: Reverends F, W, Hart, 
W. P. Pearce. Edwin P. Hoyt, W. A. Pavy, J, H, Martin, H, J, Finch, C, B, 
Janes and F, M. Reece There are now seventy-three members of the church 
and the Sunday school has an enrollment of seventy-one. 

The Baptist church was organized on December 15, 1885, by seven ladies 
uf Garrett, namely: Mesdames C. N. Bell, G. W. Mudd, Frank Hartsock, 
Effie Stewart, Sarah Cobler, Lydia Osborn, and Miss Addie Ford. The first 
pastor of the church was Rev. Davies, and following him have been, in part: 
Reverends Pavey, Chansler, Stevens, Whitney, and John Walton, who is the 
present minister in charge of the work. The present brick church building was 
erected in 1888 and 1889, and it is to the credit of the present pastor and the 
loyal members of the church to say that the debt incurred in the first building 
has just been lifted. The Baptist church has a membership of two hundred 
and twenty-five, and the Sunday school ha? one hundred and thirty-five. 
Among the societies identified with this thriving little church are the Baptist 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 2I3 

-Young People's Union, the Ladies' Aid Society, the Home Mission Society, 
and the Pansy Ciuh, a\ hich is devoted to charitable work. It might be said 
that the delit of the church was paid almost entirely by subscriptions. 

ST. M.\RK's LUTHERAN CHURCH. 

Several fruitless attempts to organize and establish the English Lutheran 
church in Auburn were made at different times by Re\s. \V. Waltman, J. Sise 
and C. C. Link. I'he need of a house of worship was great. Rev. Levi Rice 
made a visit to .Auburn in ^hiy, il^J-t. and completed arrangements to preach 
occasionally in the Baptist clnuch, and this continued until' October 26, 1875, 
when, notice ha\-ing lieen duly gi\eii, all members of the society met at the 
home of Jacob \\'allx)rn. where a permanent organization was made with nine- 
teen members. The church so formed was given the name of "The St. 
Marks English Evangelical Lutheran Church of Auburn.'" At this meeting, 
Levi Rice presiding, an election was held and a council chosen, namely : John 
Treesh, J. Walborn, Enos H. White and D. A. Sebring. Rev. Rice was 
engaged for one year, with semi-monthly meetings. The names of the 
original members are as follows : J. J. and Caroline E. Huffman, Jacob 
.Stamets, David A. and Minerva Sebring, Jacob, Lucetta and Mary Walborn, 
Mary ^^'iles. Htirace .\. Hoffman, Margaret Sibert, John Treesh, William Mc- 
Clellan, Andrew and Elizabeth Bolander. William L. and Angeline Smith and 
Enos H. and Clara M. \Miite Of these, nine were former members, three 
were transferred and the rest were recei\ed liy letter. ' The Lutherans at once 
purchased of the Presbyterian society their old frame church, occupying the 
southeast corner of lot twenty, west .Auburn, and paid the sum of six hundred 
and fifty dollars for the property. Rew Rice remained with this church for 
six years. 

Rev. Samuel Kelso, of Spencerville. succeeded Rev. Rice, and stayed one 
year. Rev. William Waltman came next. He was a resident minister of 
Kendallville, but supplied this church a brief period in the early part of 1883. 
A permanent pastor was next secured in the person of Rev. W. D. Trover, 
whose engagement covered the space of four years, terminating in October, 
1887. Rev. Jessup, from Leipsic. Ohio, follow^ed, the Rev. \. J. ATyers, of 
Noble county, in March, 1888. 

During the year 1889 the society negotiated for and purchased of Mrs. 
Fannie Smith lot sixty-two. West .A.uburn, paying five hundred dollars for 
the property. A building committee w-as appointed and contracts made for a 
new church. Before the end of October the edifice was finished. The build- 



214 DKKALB COUNTY. INUIANA. 

ing was (lolliic in st\'Ie. lia\in<( brick walls ami slated j^ables, and the dimen- 
sions were forU-l'iuir hy sixty-three feel. The tower rose to a height of 
eighty-five feel, supporting a i)ell weigliing eight Inindred pounds. Tlie inter- 
ior of the ehurch was linished in natural wood. The lloor was howl-shaped, 
descending toward the pulpit and the seats circular and concentrically ar- 
ranged. Stained glass wiiulow^ were installed, respectively nieniorials of the 
Sabbath school. Synod of Xortheni Indiana. Lewis Bowers. Jacob Walborn, 
Burton Brown. Samuel t oruell and the Xelsons. Tud hot-air furnaces sup- 
plied the lu'.it. The total cost of the building was about .seven thousand 
dollars. 

The building was consecrated for religious jiurposes in a sermon preached 
on November ;,. iSS.). by Dr. I,. \. (iodwall. .if Springlield. Ohio. In Febru- 
ary. i8()(), Rev. D. I'". l\;iin, of Albion, Indiana, w.is engaged as minister, and 
stayed until the sjiring of iS()i. ;uid was succeeded by Re\-. J. D. Brosy, from 
Pleasant Lake. 

The Sabbath school was orgatu/ed in the year 1S7-; a Ladies" Aid so- 
cietv in 1SS5. and. on X.weniber ;. iSi)i. a Christian Endeavor society. In 
iS()_' a parson;ige was erected on tlie lot ea-t of the cluuTh at a cost of fifteen 
hnndretl dollars. 

Rev. Brosy reni.ained at \uburu until 1.105. when he was succeeded by 
Rev. S. I', Slater. \\ P., wb.. .Maved until i.;o.). Uev. J. II. Xeuh.mscr l"ol- 
lowcd. an.l be in turii w;is succeeded, .m September 1. i<)ii. by the present 
past.M-. Re\. A. 1'.. < larmar. The church at pn-ent has iw,. bun.lre.l and thirty- 
three cMuninicant members, tbive bun. bed .and cle\en onlirmed members, 
and three hun.lied .and I'lftv six b;i]iti/e.l. Tlie Sun. lav school numbers three 
hundred ;m.l I'lftv members, with thirty- f.>ur ortlccrs and teachers. The 
Ladies' .\i.l S.iciety was .irganixed in 18S3: the ^'.lung I'eoples' Society 
Christian l\n.lea\.M was organized on November 7. iS()t ; the Luther League 
in i8c)4; W.iman's ILmie and Foreign ^Missionary Society in 1S96. and the 
Lutheran Brotherho.Hl in bVbru.ary. i()io. The Missi.m Baud of seventy- 
live members takes charge of l.u\al relief and charit}" w.>rk. 

St. Mark's l.utber.an l'',\ angelical church at Butler was organized in 
1804 by Rev. j. W . llenders.Hi. The church was built ab.nit 1867, imder the 
pastorate of Rev. 1 leu.lers.m. It was .if brick .and cost originally about five 
thousand dollars, but has later been remodeled twice, at an additional cost of 
three thousand dollars, ."^ince Rew Henderson, the pastors have been: Revs. 
J. X, Morris. .\. W. B.urns. S. B. Snyder. William (,'. Baruett. Jabez Shaffer, 
0. F. Kain, W. nieffenbach. S. P. l->yberger. K. V.. Xeibel. W. S. Oberholter, 
M. L. Imrst. I. 11. l'r..use. and John B. (Gardner, the iiresent elVicient and 



DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. ^15 

popular pastor, who came on M;i\ i, kjij. At present there are eighty-one 
members of the church, with ninety in tlic Sunday school. The Porcag So- 
ciety, a charitahU' orfjanizatinn. and llir Lutlu-r l.catiuc, for ynung people, are 
existent. 

The Wittenberg Lutlieian l'.\an<;clical church is one of the oldest in this 
territory of the synod, or in the county. It was organized by Rev. J. Gather, 
in 1843. The church building is valued at lifteen hundred dollars. There are 
twenty-three menibcrs, with ,'i Sundax' sclion] of fort\'-li\e. There are the 
Dorcas .Society and Luther League in this cluu-eh also. Rev. John 1'.. Gardner 
attends this church on alternate Sundays from Butler. 

Richland Center Lutheran Evangelical church was organized l)y Rev. W. 
VVallman in 1855, with twenty-five charter members. 

Fairfield Center church was org.-uii/ed in i\e\. J. (atlier in 1X5^1. with 
fourteen charter members. 

Sedan church was organized in i860 b\- Re\. J. W'ah 
eight members. 

Fairfield Center Lutheran ehureii was orgain/ed l)y 
1856, with fourteen charter nienil.ers. Sedan rhurcli wa> 
by Rev. VV. Waltman with twenty-eight members. i\ev. 
the first Luthenui ehiurli in Concord township in Oclnber, 
of William Doums, with twel\'e charter nu'inlit-rs. johii 
man. C. C. Caskey, in 1859. were pa.stors when the ii.isto 
that of Spencerville, St. John's, .Salem and Richl.-md. !!. !•' 
A. Leathers, E. W. Erick and S. Kel.so followed. During 
service he organized the St. Joe church and built tin- st 
three llionsaiul dollars. Iv K. I'.aker came next, and i: 
fctnnded the church at Spencerville. 

The h'.vaugclieal Lutheran church at Speucer\ille 
hundred and seventeen conlinned members. Re\. 1). I' 
of the congregation, having come to the pastorate on (Jctober i, 1912. The 
Sunday school has a membership of one himdred and five, with twenty officers 
and teachers. There is a Ladies' Aid Society and a Woman's Home and For- 
eign Missionary Society. The church building was erected in i8Sj, also the 
parsonage, and the cost was si.x thousand dollars at the time. 



m;ni. 


with tueuty- 


Rev. 


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organ 


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J. Cather founded 


1849, 


at the home 


1 Side 


1. W. Walt- 


rale w 


,as split into 


. Hills 


.. C. C. Sink, 


the latter pastor's 


let lire 


at a cost of 


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'. bTybcrger 


1 pre. 


ent has one 


Ilelt/c 


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<;1':km.\n \.vt] 


IKRAN AND ( 


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A society, to l)e kn 


own as the ( 


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successful in organizati 


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RM.W RKFi 



Reformed Lutheran church, was 
o German societies united their 



2l6 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Strength and resources, under tlie above title, and taking advantage of a 
donation of land for churcli |'ur])()ses, the combined societies appHed for and 
were granted lot number one hundred and fifty-four, which had been held for 
the first religions society that might niake claim to and actually improve it 
in accord with the wishes of the gi\'er, John Spencer. 

The site having been cheaply and legally acquired, the society contracted 
for the erection of a small frame meeting house, to cost but a few hundred 
dollars. The work was acti\-ely carried forward, so that by February, 1865, 
the building had been completed and dedicated a home of worship. At the 
dedication the attendance was nnich beyond the limited capacity of the Iniild- 
ing, the music was good and the exercises, conducted in German, were of an 
interesting character. 

Later the German Reformetl church of St. Johns bought out the interest 
of the other society and on January i. 1866, a meeting was called and a con- 
sistory was chosen. Peter Durmer and Jacob Kandel were elected elders and 
John Otto and Ernest Myers, deacons, to serve two years. The Rev. Isaac 
Motzinger was the first minister. He served the church acceptably until 1872, 
living in a small framed cabin during the jieriod of his service. Rev. William 
B. Sandoe was his successor. Other ])rcacliers in order were : Philip Ruhl. 
1872; John Rettig, 1879: John Winter. 1882: W. Grether, 1884: B. Ruf, 
1888. Shortly after the church had Iveen built the Evangelical Lutheran so- 
ciety sold their interest and for se\eral years were without a home of wor- 
ship. Rev. Reichard. of Avilla, and Re\-. Steinback, of Fairfield, alternated 
ever}- fortnight in preaching to the society, and it was not till February i. 
187,^, that the members resolved upon erecting a meeting house. To this end 
a meeting was held at the residence of Charles Bartles, of Richland town- 
ship, and application was then made for a lot which had been set aside by 
Air. Spencer solely for church i)ur])iises, and on obtaining possession they pro- 
ceeded to build upon the lot a small church, in which their services were held. 
Rev. Searing preached for them at inter\als of several weeks and Rev. Lewis 
Pullman was the only resident ]:)reacher. Rev. C. IV Preu'^s came next. 

The (ierman Evangelical Lutheran church in Garrett, of the Missouri 
synod, was organized in the year 1888, with thirteen voting members. C. B. 
Preuss was the first visiting pastor, and he continued until 1890. His home 
was in .\\illa. Re\-. F. J. Keller was the second pastor and the first resident 
pastor. ( )tto Schumm came next: then H. B. Kohlmeier; then C. W. Giese. 
The present incumbent is Rev. G. Rloedel, who took charge of the work on 
July 29, i9i,>. coming liere from the slate of Nebraska. The church numbers 
one hundred and fifty communicants. fort\- \oting members, an.d three bun- 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. ^I^ 

dred and seventy-five souls. The Sunday school has a membership of fifty. 
The Ladies' Aid Society conducts charitable work in Garrett, and is very well 
organized. Rev. Bloedel teaches a pai^ochial school adjoining the church 
building' on the east ; he has thirty-nine scholars. 

The church building is of wood, and was dedicated on October 27. 1889. 
The cost was eighteen hundred dollars. 

The English Reformed church at \\'aterloo has a fine brick structure on 
the corner of Center and Union streets. It was built in 1872, at a cost of 
fifty-five hundred dollars. Rev. Henry Baer was the first pastor, followed by 
Rev. Fenniman, and Rev. F. F. Christine in 1880. 

The Lutheran church in Troy township was organized by Re\'. James 
Cather in 1843, in the liouse of John A. Zimmerman, on section thirty. The 
house of worship was later on section twenty-eight. 

CHURCH OF GOD. 

The Church of God was organized at a very early date in the cit\- of 
Auburn. The pastors since 1887 have been Revs, Markle}-, Neill. Fuller. 
Harendeen, Bloyd, L M. Thoma'-, H. H. Spicher, A. (X Musgrove and J. G. 
Wise, the present incumbent. 

The church has a memljershij) of ninet\-two, with eight\- in the Sunday 
school. Societies are: The Woman's Missionary Society and the Christian 
Endeavor. 

ST.' MATTHEW REFORM CHURCH. 

The St. Matthew Reform church in Garrett was organized in the year of 
1888, and the first pastor called was Rev. B. Ruff. After him, in 1893, came 
Rev. George Englemann. Li 1899 G. M. Ifersch took charge of the work, 
also Rev. Vollbach during a short period following. In 1906 Edward Kiels- 
meier was chosen for the pulpit, and for two years he benefited the church 
greatly. In 1908. and until iQii, Henry Clausing had charge. In 1912 
Rev. Otto H. Scherry, the present able pastor, came to Garrett, and under his 
control the church has taken rapid strides toward a fuller and more complete 
organization. The brick church building was erected in the year 1904. and 
cost, when completed, fifty-five hundred dollars. The church is situated at the 
corner of Keyser and Franklin streets and the parsonage is adjoining. At 
present there are eighty-eight members of the society in Garrett. The Sunday 
school has seventy members. Two societies, the Christian Endeavor and the 
Ladies' Aid Societv, exist at this time, and both are of very high standard. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 



PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 



The Protestant Episcopal church at Garrett was built in 1876 and dedi- 
cated in Jul}-, 1877. The land was purchased, building erected, furniture 
put in and everything provided for use by John King, Jr., and William Keyser, 
first and second vice-presidents, respectively, of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad 
Company, and presented as a free gift to Bishop Talbot of the Indiana dio- 
cese. The first pastor was Rev. B. L. Trimble. Rev. Weatherby and R. H. 
Dennis succeeded him, and for a period the church was closed. In the winter 
of 1883-4 the church was reopened, and Rev. S. M. C. Orpen came from 
Lima, Indiana, and preached every two weeks. Rev. Benjamin R. Phelps 
succeeded him. Rev. C. E. Bilger now tends the Garrett membership, which 
is very small. 

EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 

The Evangelical .Association at Waterloo was organized before the out- 
break of the Civil war, and in 1886 a church was built at a cost of three 
thousand dollars. Another authority claims this church to have been built in 
1877. Rev. Geist was the pastor in charge when the church was constructed. 
In 1880 he left and returned again in April, 1913, and is still the incumbent. 
There are eighty members of the church and one hundred in the Sunday 
school. A Ladies' Aid Societx-, N'oung Peoples' Alliance and a Missionary 
Au.xiliary are societies within the congregation. Some of the pastors who 
have served at Waterloo are : Revs. W. H. Mygrant, W. H. Freshley, D. O. 
Wise, C. H. Burgener, B. F. Walmer, D. E. Zechiel. G. F. Zuber and P. L. 
Browns. Rev. Geist visits the County Line society also, a small organization 
with a church-house near the county line of DeKalb and Steuben, three miles 
west of Ashley. There are forty members here. A mile south of Fairfield 
Center there is a society, but active work had been abandoned. 

CATHOLIC CHURCHES. 

In August of the year 1872 a Catholic priest for the first time visited the 
city of .Auburn, blather August Young was commissioned in this capacity. 
He found nine Catholic families here at the time, who were: Engelbert 
Ashley, Joseph .\shley, William H. Mclntyre, Jules Beuret, Justin Girardot, 
Charles Beugnot, Benjamin Goodman, Jacob Hollinger, Stephen Girardot and 
Patrick Murphy. For two years he had services in the home of Engelbert 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 2ig 

Ashley, on West Seventh street. In the meantime the jjresent lots were 
secured, facing on w hat was then .the corner of Fourtli and Railroad streets. 
The committee in charge consisted of Engelbert .Ashley, Jules Beuret and 
Jacob Hollinger. 

The foundation for the new^ church was laid on June i, 1874. A little 
frame structure, thirty by fifty feet, was erected and served as a place of 
worship until August, 1912. The church was dedicated by Bishop Joseph 
Dwenger, of Fort Wayne, on October 18 of the same year. The building sat 
close to the sidewalk, facing Fourth street and was erected at a cost of three 
thousand dollars, the total amount of which was paid on the day after the 
dedication. 

The present priest's residence, adjoining the church projjerty, was bought 
for one thousand, nine hundred dollars, on .\pril 15, 1S74. The congregation 
from the beginning increased rapidly and at this time it numbered three thou- 
sand souls and had no debt on the church property. At the suggestion of 
the bishop. Father Young changed his place of residence from Auburn to 
Garrett, on No\-ember 10, iS8(), InU continued to \isit Auburn from Garrett 
until November i, 1891. 

The resident pastors succeeding Father Young at Auburn were the fol- 
lowing: Rev. Rudolph Denk, eight months: Re\ . hrancis P. Faust, from 
June, 1892, to November, 1895; Rev. Edward J. Boccard, from November, 
1895, to September, 1898: Re\-. Frederick J. Dandurand, from September, 
1898, to July, 1900; Rev. John M. Schmitz, from July, 1900, to July, 1910, 
when the present pastor. Father Angermaier. took charge. 

Since his presence in our midst. Father Angermaier has been doing 
splendid work for the material, as well as spiritual, upbuilding of the parish. 
A public-spirited, energetic young man, he set about at once to make the re- 
quired improvements on the parochial residence and church property in gen- 
eral. Of course, this took time and money, but with foresight and the spirit 
of perseverance required, he began planning the work he had in view, and the 
present beautiful church is the fruit of his labor. The congregation approved 
of his plans and supported him liberally in his undertaking. 

The work of excavating for the new building started the first week in 
August, 19 1 2. A concrete foundation was put in and a roomy basement sup- 
plied for the whole church. Rising above this are five tiers of cement blocks 
which raise the superstructure of the church about five feet above the level of 
the ground. The old frame structure was utilized because of its splendid ma- 
terial. The exterior of the present building measures ninety-four feet. It has 
a transept of forty-eight feet, giving it a seating capacity of about three bun- 



220 D'EKALB COUNTY, INDIAKA. 

dred. A large' sanctuary with vestries on either side takes up the fore part of 
the church. \Miile the shell is a frame structure, the outside, finished in 
stucco, is an inncnation in church building. Not only in the city of Auburn, 
but, so far as can be learned, it is the only church building of its kind in the 
State. It is this that attracts the attention of so many and elicits admiration 
and comment. PSeautiful concrete steps lead to the entrance of the church, 
which at present sets back from the sidewalk about fifteen feet. A steeple 
sixty-five feet high surmounted by a gilded cross of four and a half feet adds 
much to the beauty of the exterior and attracts the attention of the stranger at 
a distance: The interior artistic decoration is the work of Signor Giovanni 
Gioscio, an Italian artist of Indianapolis. Two beautiful oil paintings adorn 
the ceiling of the church. One represents the mother of the Savior 
crushing the head of the serpent, according to the saying in Genesis: "She 
shall crush thy head; and thou shalt lie in wait of her heel." The other is a 
painting of Saint Cecelia, patroness of music. Two adoring angels adorn the 
arch of the sanctuary. The chtnxh has been com])letely refurnished. Oak 
l>e\\s finished in mission st\le that are very roomy and comfortable have 
replaced the old ones. .\ new Packard organ, with pipe organ efifect, has 
been secured for the choir. A massive and beautiful altar, worth no less than 
two thousand dollars, was the gift of the pastor from a personal friend in 
Fort Wayne In liarmony with the side alters, it is finished in white and 
gold. To the Catholic the altar is ever most intimately associated with 
priests and .sacrifice, as is beautifully illustrated by the carvings on the panels 
of the altar tal)le, the one to the left representing Abel offering a lamb as a 
sacrifice; the other to the right the High Priest Melchisedech. king of Salem, 
oiYering bread and wine which prefigured the true sacrifice of the New Law, 
represented by the carving in the center panel, Christ with His Apostles at the 
last supper changing bread and wine into His sacred Body and Blood. .\ 
beautiful red velvet carpet covering the floor of the sanctuary and heavy cork 
matting coxering the floor of the auditorium are the .gifts of Schaab & 
Brother Company to the congregation. .Ml this with a splendid electric 
illumination from walls and ceiling gi\es the church a most beautiful and 
pleasing interior. 

The St. Michael's church is located at Summit, in Sniithfield township. 
The church was built in 1880 by Rev. Augustus Young, and was dedicated on 
August 28, 1881, by Bishop Dwenger. Rev. Young was relieved of the pas- 
torate by Rev. Peter Franzes from June 20, 1882, till May 11, 1883. After 
this Father Young again attended the church. This pastorate was taken on 
July 4, 1884, by Rev. ATaxinulian Benzinger.Wno stayed until October 17, 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 22 1 

1897. Two acres of land and one acre as a cemetery were donated by John 
M. Schaudel. In 1885 Benzinger bnilt the pastoral residence at a cost of 
fourteen hundred dollars. The next pastor was Rev. Herman Jurascheck. 
until May 18, 1894. In 1895 the church was enlarged to its present size. 
Revs. Peter Schmitt and John N. Schmitz were other pastors. Since July 
13, 1900, the church at Summit has been a mission, attended by the priests 
of Auburn. Father George Angermaier has charge of the church at present. 
Sixty families comprise the congregation, and the church is without debt. 

The Catholic church in Garrett had its beginnings when Father A. Young 
was caring for his flock in Auburn. In May and June; 1876, he built the first 
church in Garrett, a frame building twenty-four by forty feet, at a cost of 
two thousand dollars. To this he added a sacristy which cost three hundred 
dollars. As soon as the church was enclosed he opened a select school in it 
with Josephine Bisset as teacher. This was the first school in Garrett and 
continued until the public school was opened. In 1886 he moved the sacristy 
back from the church building thirty-four feet, added four feet to the length 
of the church, built a cross section on the rear end of the church, thirty by 
forty-eight feet, and also constructd a new belfry and steeple on the church. 
all of which cost thirty-five hundred dollars. At the same time he built a par- 
sonage for himself costing two thousand dollars. On the tenth day of No- 
vember, 1886, he moved from Auburn to Garrett. 

In 1888 a beautiful and commodious parochial school building was erect- 
ed, with four schoolrooms sufficient to accommodate two hundred pupils. 
This building cost six thousand dollars. Again in 1893 the church was 
remodeled at a cost of thirty-three hundred dollars. Calvary cemetery was 
purchased and laid out in 1897. The improvements and all cost three thou- 
sand dollars. The Sacred Heart Hospital was built in 1902, and is described 
in the history of Garrett. In 190^) Father Young built an addition to the 
brick parochial school building which he had constructed in 1888. As it is, 
there are eight schoolrooms, capable of accommodating four hundred pupils. 

The Catholic church at present in Garrett is in a very prosperous condi- 
tion, and has a very large membership. Father A. 'S'oung continues as the 
pastor. 

The first Catholic church in the county was built at Waterloo in 1867, 
and was attended by Catholics from Auburn and other places. The priests 
in charge up to 1874 were Revs. R. J. Echlering, R. A. Dimig. R. J. Zini- 
bilde and R. A. Yung. 



CHAPTER IX. 

HISTORY OF JOURNALISM. 
By Herbert C. Willis. 

The making of a newspaper has given the projectors of the various en- 
terprises more real worry and hardships than perhaps any other line of busi- 
ness investments. It has made men poor from a financial standpoint, some 
have lost friends, and all of the promoters have lost sleep trying to make their 
newspapers pay and at the same time liave a standing in their communities as 
molders of pul^lic opinion. 

There ha\e been as many newspapers in the county since the publication 
of the first paper as there have been establishments in any one line of business. 
Still today tliere are ijut ten newspapers published in the county. All of the 
papers now published ha\e their fields in which to circulate and most of tliem 
have a ])olitical party whose principles they advocate. 

E.\RLY NE\VSP.A.PER M.\KING. 

The earlier newspapers of the county never thought of contesting with 
each other to get a "scoop" on a news story. It was too slow a process and all 
that was thought of was to get a subscriber now and then, take a load of wood 
on subscription, or a gallon and a half of apple butter. The editors generally 
boarded their printers and the wages paid were small compared with that of 
the present time. One printer on a paper, with an apprentice and a "devil," 
who worked for a chance to learn the trade, composed the force that set up the 
type, with the assistance of the editor himself, and started the paper off' to 
press, sometimes on time, sometimes late from one hour to two days. It 
seemed to make no difference when the subscribers received their papers, and 
in some instances it mattered not whether they received them at all. 

About three times a year, .Saturday afternoon w'as made a half holiday, 
when a pile of kindling would be gathered in the back yard and the process 
of roller-making was carried out. A portion of glue and molasses was 
cooked until it was of the proper texture, when the "'dope'" would be poured 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 223 

into the molds of cylinder shape and a roller cast, with which the "devil" 
had to stand on a box and by hand roll the forms on the hand press in order 
that the ink would be properly spread over the type. It is perhaps safe to say 
that there is not more than one printer or publisher in the county at the pres- 
ent time who ever helped to cast a roller in the old-fashioned way. 

Today the newspaper plants of this county are modern country offices, 
well equipped for newspaper work, and with up-to-date job printing depart- 
ments, able to handle much of the work that larger printing offices do. 

The newspapers of today are no longer considered a subject of charity, 
supported in order to help out the publisher that he may secure food and 
clothing for himself and family. It is now a business proposition with the 
publisher. He sells liis advertising space, and ofifers it as his stock in trade, 
the same as any merchant. 

The press of DeKalb county has proved to be one of the greatest factors 
in modern civilization. It has aided the progress of the county from the time 
that the newspaper was first known to its people to the present time in a 
manner that cannot be told. Before tliis county had a newspaper it was 
necessary that all legal notices that were required by law to be ])ublished had 
to be sent outside the county for publication. This ga^•c but little notice to 
the public or parties who were directly interested in such publications. 

FIRST PAPER IN COUNTY. 

The first newspaper talk for DeKalb county was in 1852. when S. E. 
Alvord, then publisher of the Obscrrer at Albion, in Noble county, contem- 
plated starting a paper at Auburn, the county seat. Not receiving sufficient 
encouragement in the venture proi)osed, he soon afterward sold his outfit to 
Messrs. Berry and Milton J. Pierce, who launched the first paper in DeKalb 
county, by the publication of the Democratic Messenger at Auburn. This 
did not prove to be a successful venture and after the paper had been pub- 
lished less than a week Mr. Berry retired from the newspaper and shortly 
after this, in December, 1855, the office was destroyed by fire. Mr. Pierce 
was elected auditor of DeKalb county in 1856. and DeKalb county was 
without a newspaper. 

OTHER EARLY PAPERS. 

However, in 1856, two papers started up at Auburn, but neither one 
proved to be a success and they were soon moved away. W. C. McGonigal 
became the editor and publisher of the DeKalb Democrat, and J. M. Broma- 



224 DEKALB COUNTYj INDIANA. 

gem of the Auhiini Republican. During the same year and at the close of 
one of the most exciting presidential campaigns ever waged in the history of 
the county, the Republicmi was moved to Angola, where the Steuben Repub- 
iican was issued, and since that time has been Steuben county's leading news- 
paper. The Democrat was moved to Wabash in 1859, where Mr. McGonigal 
began the publication of the I! 'abash Plaiiidealer. 

THE WATERLOO I'RE.SS ESTABLLSHED IX 1859. 

The lack of support that these papers received at the county seat did not 
discourage others from starting similar ventures, and it was in August, 1858, 
that William T. and John I\I. Kimsey began the publication of the DeKalb 
County Times at Auburn. It only took the new publishers a few months to 
find out that there was not room for the Times at the county seat, Auburn 
then being a much smaller town than Waterloo, and they sold out their print- 
ing outfit to Timothy Y. Dickinson, a son of the late Hon. T. R. Dickinson, 
then a practicing attorney at Aulnun, to whom an appeal had been made to 
have a paper printed in Waterloo. The Times plant was moved to Waterloo 
and on February 4, 1859, the first issue of the Waterloo Press came off the 
press, and since that time it has been continuously published. 

The plant that was taken to Auburn by the Kimsey brothers was one 
that had been used at Angola, in Steuben county, with which was published a 
paper called the Truth Seeker, espousing the tenets of a religious sect, but it 
proved a financial failure. 

When the Waterloo Press was started William T. Kimsey was employed 
to work on the paper and he continued in this jMsition until the breaking out 
of the Civil war, when, in 186 1, he entered into the service of the Union army. 
Mr. Kimsey is living today and is the only survivor of the former publishers 
or printers who worked on the first newspapers established in DeKalb county. 

C. K. Baxter, another printer then employed on the paper, left the office 
at the same time and also entered into the army service. Mr. Baxter passed 
away at his late home in Ellsworth, Kansas, in June 19 13. Soon after the 
Civil war broke out, T. Y. Dickinson was appointed assessor and internal 
revenue collector for this county, and he leased the Press to J. F. Radcliffe, a 
printer in his employ, who appears as the editor of the paper in February, 
1862, although the ownership of the paper remained in Mr. Dickinson until 
after Mr. Baxter came out of the army in the fall of 1864. when he bought 
the paper from Mr. Dickinson. The Press continued under the ownership of 
the new proprietor until the spring of 1865, when he sold it to J. F. Radcliffe 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 



and Henry J. Long. Tliis partnership existed but a short time and Mr. Long 
sold his interests to Benjamin F. Kennedy, and the paper continued under 
the editorial head of RadclifYe & Kennedy until in September, 1868, when Mr. 
Baxter again became connected with the paper, having bought the half inter- 
est held by Mr. Radcliffe. Baxter & Kennedy then published the paper until 
1873, when Mr. Kennedy was forced to retire on account of failing health, 
holding his interest in the paper until 1875. 

On January i, 1884, Mr. Baxter sold out the Press to his brother-in- 
law, tiie late Frank W. Willis, and his nephew, Edward P. Dickinson, the 
only surviving son of the founder of the Press, T. Y. Dickinson. This part- 
nership existed a short time and then Mr. Willis became the sole owner, con- 
tinuing the publication of the Press until the great fire that visited Waterloo 
on February 12, 1896. While the presses were hot and the embers were 
still burning, Mr. \\'illis formed a partnership with his son, Herbert C. 
Willis, and the paper was continued without missing an issue, altTiough the 
fire occurred on the morning that the paper was to go to press. Phoenix-like, 
the Press arose from its ashes, and was but a few hours late in going to press, 
as a full sized paper, being seven columns, eight pages. This partnership 
continued until the death of the senior Mr. Willis, which occurred on May 
19, 19 1 3, when the paper was continued by his son and partner, and today 
stands foremost for the best principles of good citizenship, enjoying a wide 
circulation. It supports the Republican party. 

During the time that the paper was published by Baxter & Kennedy in 
1868 the office was destroyed by fire, but publication was resumed with but 
slight interruption. 

On the morning that the Press office was burned in 1896, at three o'clock, 
when the junior editor of the paper was circulating about the streets to find 
business men who had not suffered loss, soliciting them to take advertising 
space in the paper, and at the same time making the rounds to get items for 
the paper, the editor was accosted by J\Ir. D. L. Leas, one of the business 
men who had burned out, who remarked, "Well, we won't have a paper this 
week, will we?" The editor replied, "Yes, but we may be a few hours late." 
Mr. Leas thought that the answer was made in a jesting way, and said, "Oh, 
what a liar you are getting to be." On publication day Mr. Leas was sur- 
prised to see the Press issued in full size, seven columns, eight pages, the 
work having been accomplished in Fort Wayne. He looked up the editor 
and apologized, saving that he had no idea the editor meant what he said. 
(15) 



226 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

THE OLDEST PAPER IX THE COUNTY 

is the Waterloo Press, which lias been printed continuously for over half a 
century. The first copy that was e\-er printed is now framed and occupies a 
place in the office of the present publislier of the paper, who has a complete 
set of hound files of the paper for the last forty-four years. The editor of 
the Press set his first type in 1884 and has followed that trade ever since, 
working at the case during school vacations until he took up active work on 
the paper in 1891. 

MORE AUBURN VENTURES. 

In the fall of 1859 George KuJilman started another paper at Auburn, 
known as the New Era. This paper \\'as later continued by Joseph C. Love- 
land until in 1865, being called the Obserz'er and Reporter. Mr. Loveland 
moved his paper to Clyde, Ohio. 

The second paper to be called the DcKalb Deiiiocrat at Auburn was 
started by William H. Dills in 1864, who was later succeeded by Howard 
Coe as editor. Another paper known as the Democrat was published at 
.Auburn by H. 1). Carroll, luit it lived nnly a year and suspended publication 
in 1868. 

In l)eceml)er. 18OS, j. F. Radclifl'e started an opposition ])aper at Water- 
loo called the Air Line, but it met with many hard knocks, and in 1870 sus- 
pended for lack of patronage, then being published by James A. Barnes. 
The plant was sold to Tom Mays and removed to Auburn, where, on January 
I, 1 87 1, the Auburn Courier was launched. Before coming to Auburn. Mr. 
Mays had been connected with the Fort Wayne Sentinel, and was an ex- 
perienced newspaper man of that time. He continued the paper until July 
1, 1878, then selling the Courier to Theodore Reed, who came to .\uburn 
from Columbia City, Indiana. Shortly after his purchase he sold an interest 
to Robert J. Lowry, of Fort Wayne, who purchased Mr. Reed's interest in 
1880, and continued the paper until he died in 1880, after which time the 
paper fell into the hands of James A. Barnes and Daniel Y. Husselman, who 
li\-ed al Waterloo. They continued as partners until January i. 1S82, when 
l""rank 1'. EJlair bought Mr. Husselman's interest in the Courier, and in 
March, of the same year, he disposed of his interest to ]\Ir. Barnes, who 
continued the publication until about 1899, when his health began to fail and 
he formed a partnership with Mr. Coxey Miner, of Garrett, and later the 
Courier Company. Mr. Barnes still being connected wnth the paper until he 
died. During tlie time that Mr. Barnes was connected with the Courier he 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 22/ 

established the first daily paper in DeKalb county, and the publication of the 
Daily Courier continued until February 7, 1913, when the office was de- 
stroyed by fire. At the time of the fire W. H. Mclntyre, the automobile 
manufacturer of Auburn, was the owner, and then it was that a merger was 
formed with the Auburn Dispatch, daily and weekly, and the two daily papers 
suspended and by a comljined force of the former publishers of the two 
papers, the .luhuru Evcuiuy Star was launched, both the Courier and Dis- 
patch continuing their weekly pa])ers, being issued semi-weekly. 

THE FIRST PAPER IN BUTLER. 

W. T. Kinny started the first paper in Butler, known as the Herahi. 
This was in 1866, but it had a brief existence of one year. In 1868 another 
paper was started in Butler, called the Banner of Liberty, published by 
Emory Higly, the father of the present editor of the Butler Record. Mr. 
Higly, desiring to advance with the progress of the county seat, soon moved 
his paper to Aul)urn, styling it the Auburn Times, but it was short lived. In 
1874 R. Harry W'eamer began the publication of the Butler Xews, but in a 
short time had a vision of a Republican paper at the county seat and moved 
the plant to Auburn, where he launched the DeKalb Coionty Republican. 
Soon after going to Auburn he became associated with his nephew, and the 
firm name was Weanier & Weamer. In March, 1878, R. H. Weamer sold 
out his interest in the Republican to Calvin P. Houser. In May, the same 
year, Mr. Houser sold out his interest to George Weamer. who was then the 
sole owner, continuing the Republican until March, 1881. when Mr. Houser 
and Joseph Rainier bought the paper, but in Xoveniber of the same year Mr. 
Houser bought out Mr. Rainier's interest. In June, 1884, Myron li. Hois- 
ington bought an interest in the paper with Mr. Houser. 

From the publication of the Auburn Republican evohed the Auburn 
Dispatch, which paper is published at this time. 

After M. E. Smith sold out the Butler Record he secured the Republican 
at Auburn and continued the paper a short time until Wallace E. Campbell, 
now of Anderson, Indiana, came to Auburn, and with a printer partner, by 
the name of Stevens, who came from Faxon, Illinois, the Republican was 
changed to the Auburn Dispatch. 1liey continued the puljlication of the paper 
until in the early nineties, when Mr. Campbell, who had became the sole 
owner, sold the Dispatch to George W. Gordon, the veteran postmaster. For 
a while Mr. Gordon continued the paper alone, and later took in as a partner 
Charles Spake, his foreman i)rinter. This partnership existed until there 



228 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

were some differences and Mr. Spake started a job printing office and the 
Dispatch was again under tlie control of Mr. Gordon, who, at his age, was 
unable to carry on the hard work incident to the pubHshing of a paper, having 
in the meantime estabHshed a daily paper, known as the Evening Dispatch. 
The project finally failed and the paper was sold to James E. Buchanan, who 
was editing the Albion Nczv Era. This change was made about ten years 
ago, and Mr. Buchanan continued at the head of the Dispatch until his 
death, which occurred during the summer of 1913. Since that time his son, 
Vern, lias become editor and manager of the paper, and with the assistance 
of his mother, they are carrying on the publication along the plans of the late 
editor. 

The Evening Dispatch was discontinued early in the year, as stated in 
another part of this chapter, which covers the merger story with the Auburn 
Courier. 

FIRST NEWSPAPER IN GARRETT. 

Soon after the town of Garrett was started it was considered necessary 
to have a newspaper in order that the new town might be made an important 
factor, not only in the railroad circles, but in the business world as well. 

The Garrett Nezus was launched in October, 1875, by C. W. Wing & 
Company, as publishers, and Thomas Malony, as editor. It was but a short 
time when the publishers found the venture losing money and the\' decided to 
discontinue the paper. 

However, in 1877, Otho J. Powell tried another venture in Garrett, 
establishing the Garrett Herald^ and conducted it as a Republican paper. 
This paper also contained many religious stories, and the editor being of a 
religious turn of mind, gave religious subjects more space in his paper than he 
did news or politics, and there was a sentiment growing in favor of another 
paper of the opposite views on religion as well as politics. This led up to the 
establishment of the Garrett Clipper in 1884 by Henry E. and A. J. Little, 
brothers. This partnership existed until 1897 when they sold out to Solomon 
Ellis, who lived in Chicago, and desired to conduct a country newspaper. 
After conducting the paper for one year he sold the paper to Henry E. Little, 
and his son, Tracy C, now deceased. The father and son conducted the 
paper as a live wire until 1905, when the senior Mr. Little died, and the son 
conducted the paper until the year 1908, during which time he made consider- 
able money out of the newspaper business. He sold the Clipper to C. B. 
Hamilton, the present owner. The paper is a stanch Democrat newspaper, 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 229 

fearless and newsy. After Tracy C. Little sold out the Clipper he formed a 
partnership with his uncle, and former partner of his father, A. J. Little, in 
the Little Hardware Company, remaining there until his death in the spring 
of 1913. 

The Garrett Herald was continued and later bought by C. W. Miner, 
who with his son conducted the paper for a number of years, but finally closed 
out the paper about 1900. 

Other papers were started since that time, but all had a short duration. 
The Garrett Nezvs was the title of the paper which was conducted by Alfred 
Kist, who was also connected with the circulation department of the Fort 
Wayne Journal Gazette. Mr. Kist absconded and left his paper heavily in- 
volved and it was closed up by a mortgage foreclosure proceeding. 

THE BUTLER RECORD 

came into existence in March, 1877, with W. M. Kist as the editor and pub- 
lisher, who continued at the helm of the paper until 1880, when he leased the 
plant to R. Harry Weamer, now deceased, for a term of one year. Mr. 
Kist died during the year and at the end of the time for which the plant was 
leased his estate sold the paper to W. F. Garrison, a brother of Mrs. Kist. 
Mr. Garrison conducted the paper for a number of years and then the Record 
passed through several hands, becoming the property of Mr. Maxwell, who 
sold the paper to M. E. Smith, and later to Luther H. Higley, the present 
editor and publisher, who has built up a good printing business in connection 
with his paper. 

THE DEKALB COUNTY HERALD 

is the name of the Democrat paper published in Butler at the present time. 
It is the offspring of the Butler Reviezv. After Mr. R. H. Weamer had 
leased the Butler Record, before the death of Mr. Kist there seemed to be 
some misunderstanding as to the time which he was to continue the paper. 
By the death of the proprietor of the Record, a termination of the lease was 
made at the end of the year. This aroused Mr. Weamer to start a paper in 
opposition to the Record. To do this and make it pay, he believed it prudent 
to make it a Democratic paper. Mr. Weamer was a very stanch Republican, 
and so close did he draw the party lines, he could not write a Democratic 
editorial, so he conducted the paper as the publisher and proprietor and 
secured the services of John Baxter, then a Butler resident, to write the edi- 



230 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

torials. This arrangement continued until 1884, when, on the first day of 
October, he sold the plant to Edmund Calkins, who edited the paper until in 
March, 1885. It then was edited by George Lautzenheiser for three months 
and was sold to John J. Higgins who published the Reziew for several years, 
when he sold the plant to O. H. Downey, now editor of the Churubusco 
Truth. Mr. Downey conducted the paper a short time and then sold it to 
M. E. Gardner, now publisher of the Democrat, at Lansing, Michigan. In 
a short time Mr. Downey again became editor of the paper and in order to 
make some changes in appearance of the paper, and for the purpose of placing 
it more before the people as a democratic organ of the county, he changed 
llie name to the DeKalb County Herald. 

Later Mr. Downey disposed of the Herald to W. li. Keenan who had 
charge of the paper until five years ago \\hen it was sold to A. S. Powers 
who today is publishing a good paper. 

PAPERS OF SHORT EXISTENCE. 

These papers have been numerous, and some of them have been organs 
of spite and malice, while some have tried hard to maintain a circulation and 
gain a prestige. 

In the latter part of the eighties a paper was started at Corunna, known 
as the Corunna Hcadliglit. This was in small pamphlet form, and was an 
experiment along the line of the Ram's Horn. Joseph Loveland, an eccen- 
tric character, was the publisher of the paper, but it died after a short exist- 
ence, struggling to the last. During the time that he was editor of this paper, 
his sister, Miss Mary Loveland, a maiden lady, and his son, Joseph Loveland, 
Jr., learned to set type, and after the death of the senior Mr. Loveland, Mr. 
Loveland, Jr., and his "old aunt Mary" came to Waterloo and started a paper 
called the DeKalb County Democrat. This was in 1890, and the paper had a 
struggling life for nearly two years when O. S. Davison, then a photographer 
of Waterloo, made a venture and purchased the hand outfit of the Democrat 
and launched the Advocate. This paper was run during the campaign of 
1892 as an organ for the Patrons of Industry, but was found without sup- 
port enough to keep it going in less than a year and the paper was discon- 
tinued. The outfit was then bought by Charles Spake, an Auburn printer, 
who moved the plant to Auburn and started an opposition paper to the 
Auburn Dispatch. The new Auburn paper was- known as the Auburn Times, 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 23 T 

but had a short existence, when it was consoHdated with the Dispatch, and 
Mr. Spake became a partner of George W. Gordon, then the publisher of 
the Dispatch. 

Shortly after this, others saw what they thought to be an opening for 
a third newspaper in Auburn, and the Times was again launched with Frank 
Fluke and Frank Cline, brothers-in-law, as the editors and publishers. A 
new outfit was purchased and the two printers used what means they had to 
experiment on a money-making newspaper scheme, but they were compelled 
to retire. At this time R. H. Weamer again entered the field and took up 
the Times, but in only a short time he was convinced that a third paper m 
Auburn had no place and he moved the plant to Hudson where he published 
the Hudson Banner. This paper was conducted a number of years and was 
finally suspended when Mv. Weamer became too feeble to continue its publica- 
tion and unable to find anyone to take up the work. Mr. W'eamer's death 
followed the suspension of the paper. 

A brewers' paper. 

Just at the time William Jennings Bryan was coming into prominence by 
his free siher ideas, the Silver Daivn was conceived in Waterloo. Karl 
Gerner, hailing from Madison, South Dakota, struck this county after having; 
been in Owensboro, Kentucky, seeking a location for a silver paper. He 
launched the Silver Dawn in July, 1896, and sought subscriptions for the sum 
of a silver dollar. The silver dollars never increased the circulation to any 
extent and the publisher became restless, desired to make a disposition of 
the paper. He finally succeeded in leasing the paper to Lewis Barnett Fretz 
and Saxby Mcintosh, two printers, who conducted the paper for four months, 
when Mr. Gerner was forced to take the paper back. During this change in 
management the name of the paper was changed to the Dawn. 

During the local option campaign of 1909 Mr. Gerner sold the Dawn- 
to the Indiana Brewing Association, through the agency of Hon. S. B. Flem- 
ing, of Fort Wayne, with Alfred Kelley as local proprietor and publisher. 
Then it was that Enoch Moffett came to Waterloo to take charge of the paper 
and, while posing as a temperance man himself as to habits, a detective em- 
ployed by the temperance people came to the town and incidentally "birds of 
a feather flock together," and the detective became so "dry" that Mr. Moffett 
kindly offered to take his money and go to a drug store where he could get a 
bottle of whisky for him. The detective consented, and after being con- 



.232 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

vinced that the contents of the bottle were whisky, he labeled the bottle and 
dated it. with the name of the purchaser and seller. Later the bottle appeared 
in the grand jury room and the court did the rest. 

Tliis incident is mentioned to show the drift of the influence that the 
Dawn had and to explain that it was no wonder that it died in April. 1910, 
by "drowning," after fighting for a wet campaign. 

THE ASHLEY TIMES 

was started with the inception of the town of Ashley, located on the county 
line adjoining Steuben county, by George W. Strayer, who came along with 
the town boomers to make Ashley a railroad division point. Mr. Strayer 
conducted the paper for a number of years when his ofifice was completely 
wiped out by fire in the middle of an afternoon. Without loss of time, Mr. 
Strayer organized the Ashley Printing Company, and resumed the publication 
of the Times. He continued this paper until his death which occurred in 
1903, when the business was continued by his widow, who secured the services 
of Charles F. Kettering, who eventually leased the plant. It was running 
down hill and the new editor not being able to pay his rent, refused to re- 
linquished his lease on the paper. .A.n action was begun in the circuit court 
praying for a receivership. Judge J- H. Rose appointed Herbert C. Willis, 
the junior editor of the Waterloo Press, to take charge of the paper as editor 
and receiver, continue the business, close up affairs, collect accounts, and run 
the paper at the same time in order that it might be put in shape to be sold 
at receiver's sale. This was during the summer of 1904, and in November 
the plant was sold, Mrs. Strayer, the widow of the late George Strayer, and 
one of the stock holders, bidding in the plant. The business had been worked 
up and the paper placed on a basis that made it self-supporting. Mrs. Strayer 
in turn sold the paper to J.F. Coss, who conducted the paper for some time. 
Later Mr. Coss sold out his paper to the Angola Herald, which tried to print 
an Ashley paper in Angola, and have it circulated in the DeKalb-Steuben 
county town. This venture was not a success, and after some litigation the 
sale was annulled. In the meantime, and five years ago, John L. Gillispie 
bought the old Hudson Banner outfit and started up another paper in Ashley 
under the name of the Ashley Ne^rs. This he had a hard time to make pay, as 
two papers in Ashley (J. F. Coss going back in the newspaper business) were 
more than the town could support. Finally, Mr. Gillispie sold out the Ashley 
Ne7vs to A. C. Wolf, who has since conducted the paper, and Mr. Coss van- 
ished from this section of the country almost simultaneously. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 233 

THE ST. JOE NEWS 

was started at St. Joe, in the southeast part of the county, several years ago 
by Mort E. Olds. The paper was continued under his management several 
years and had a very successful career for a paper in a small town. Later the 
paper became the property of Lloyd Yeiser, who finally disposed of the paper 
to the present publisher, Fred J. Leighty, who has continually improved the 
paper, as an independent sheet. 

THE CORUNNA STAR 

was one of the late projects that faded away, and after a struggling existence 
of about two years. Rex B. Wood, the preacher and checker player who came 
from Wolf Lake to this county, discontinued the paper and his subscription list 
was taken up by the Waterloo Press, which paper is now filling the unexpired 
subscriptions. The Star was independent. 

THE AUBURN WEEKLY BEE. 

John C. Lochner, who has conducted a job printing office in Auburn for 
a number of years, and at one time was connected with the Auburn Courier, 
thought out a plan by which a weekly newspaper could be published for fifty 
cents a year. He launched his paper January i, 191 1, and since that time the 
paper has prospered and all subscriptions are received at the nominal sum of 
fifty cents per annum. Politically, it is independent. Mr. Lochner has in- 
stalled a new Intertype machine and issues a four page paper, all home print. 
It is worth the price charged. One of the features of his paper is to print a 
list of new subscribers each week, also the names of those who pay their sub- 
scriptions. 



CHAPTER X. 

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 
(By A. Byron Darby. M. D. ) 

Some years ago the writer attended the famil)- reunion, to which the pub- 
lic was invited, in honor of John Houlton, the first settler of DeKalb county. 
To an old lady who was among the earlier settlers, I asked the following 
question : "What were the greatest and most serious difficulties you had to 
contend with in your new home in DeKalb cnunty in those early days?" Tliis 
old lady very promptly replied : "The difficulties were most prominent in the 
order I mention them : The malarial fever, the doctors, the mosquitoes and 
the bears. But," she continued, "the bears are long since gone; our in- 
dustrious and progressive men have ditched and drained our low and swamp 
lands, so the malaria is also gone, and the mosquitoes are so scarce that they 
appear lonesome. The doctor we still have with us, but in such an improved 
type that he is no longer a dread, but, on the other hand, we feel that he is a 
new being, and we need him for his usefulness and skill, in both preserving 
our health b)' his advice, and restoring our health. But those first doctors — 
Oh my!" 

We do not marvel that the doctor was, in those days, placed in the list of 
unwelcome pests, when we know that the principal remedies were : First, the 
lancet, to take from the patient all the blood he could spare and still live, hop- 
ing thereby to destroy the tenement of the demon disease, and force him to 
seek some other abode, thinking that, perhaps like of old, by some miracle, 
he would be submerged in the sea. Then, second, the doctor had another 
indispensable remedy, "The Spanish-Fly Blister," which was applied upon the 
same theory, indiscriminately upon adult and child. Calomel and blue-pill 
were the universal internal remedies for all diseases determined by the doc- 
tor's diagnosis, and as a placebo when the doctors were uncertain in their 
minds. On these three remedies the doctors anchored their hopes of success. 
To work out of the system the calomel and blue-pills, after they had done 
their savage work, gamboge, castor-oil and senna, one or all of them, were 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 235 

freely administered. If the patient .survi\ed the first course, it was soon 
repeated until the patient, in the opinion of the doctor, was only suffering 
from the remedies, which he usually did. The surgeon in those earl_\- days of 
frontier life, ranked with the skilled carpenter and blacksmith. In fact the 
former made the doctor's splints and other appliances of wood, and the latter 
made his operative cutlery, forceps and other implements of steel. The 
writer has some of these relics in his possession. Is it any wonder that the 
old lady at the Houlton reunion referred to above associated the doctor with 
the afflictions of the early days, as practice has proved the doctors of that day 
in the frontier section were following traditions rather than scientific investi- 
gation, with independent thought, both in theory and practice. If the phy- 
sician in those early days, with his multiplied trials to contend with, could 
be enthusiastic in his efforts and carry conviction with what seemed to him 
to be the overwhelming weight of truth, what might be his exulting joy now, 
since the light of intervening years of scientific progress and investigation 
has so changed the theory of disease and remedies since the opening of the 
last century ? Both medicine and surgery have made greater progress in har- 
monv with scientific truth in the last half century than during all previous 
historv. Medicine, however, with its component sciences and surgery are not 
alone in this rapid and wonderful progress, which is world wide, but there 
has been a general awakening in the world of thought during this recent 
period, discovering and inventing the most wonderful aids to modern life. 
We can but marvel when we endeavor to tabulate the innumerable lists. This 
revolution has placed medicine, as a profession, a long way on the road of 
science. As nature, with its most intricate vital forces, is the superior physi- 
cian and first in charge of every case of human disability, the present doctor — 
"this new type, this new being" — is now on such friendly terms with nature 
that he lends rational assistance to his superior, and thereby gives most wel- 
come aid to the afflicted. 

The following vear after John Houlton had settled in Franklin township 
in DeKalb county, on Fish creek, September 4th, 1833, several families im- 
mediately followed and settled in that township. This fact from a distant 
view made a rosy field for the first doctor, who was William Sheldon, who 
settled on section two and remained about one year without much history, and 
was soon followed by Dr. William Pink, a native of England. He had form- 
erly, for a time, resided in the state of New York. He was unmarried, hav- 
ing had a wife and two children deceased. Doctor Pink made his home with 
John Fee, a I)rother-in-law of John Houlton. The doctor was a man of 



236 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

good manners and cultured intelligence, positive and tyrannical in his opinions. 
He was addicted to the use of intoxicating drinks, which too often rendered 
him incapable of serving his patients; but it is said that, during these periods 
of drinking, he had the discretion to positively refuse to give any attention 
to the sick. He frequently treated families with whom he would live until he 
had boarded out the professional claim. If the board suited him the claim 
was large, but if the family was not congenial, the claim was small. He died 
at the home of Adam Boyer, in Franklin township in 1846. Dr. Peter 
LaDue, of French descent, soon followed the arrival of Doctor William Pink 
and settled a little northeast of the center of Franklin township. He was a 
man of ill temper and impressed the people that he lacked sympathy. He 
was exacting and pedantic. In the early forties he moved to Enterprise, now 
Hamilton, just across the line of Franklin township, in Steuben county, and 
soon died from an accidental injury received when his horse fell through a 
bridge. In 1842 Dr. William Joice, a native of Pennsylvania, located near 
John Houlton on Fish creek. Doctor Joice was a man of culture, good 
habits and of sympathetic nature. He was conscientious in his professional 
duties and the pioneers all respected and even loved him. In 1848 he moved 
to Orland, in Steuben county, where there were additional advantages. The 
people of Franklin township and surrounding country regretted his departure. 
Doctor Joice resided in Orland until his decease. 

Previous to 1840 there were no roads cut out, only in a primitive manner, 
simply cutting away the brush and saplings sufficiently to permit the passage 
of ox team and' wagon. These roads were meandering on the highest ground, 
avoiding swamps as. much as possible, crossing swashy beaver dams. These 
beaver dams were all named, like buoys for the sailor. These trails took a 
course in the direction of some distant fort or settlement, where could be 
secured food and other necessities, to sustain life. Fort Wayne, Fort De- 
fiance and Jackson Prairie were the nearest. The St. Joseph river passing 
through the southeast part of the county, and emptying its waters into the 
Maumee at Fort Wayne, was an early channel which the settler could use for 
exporting and importing, by the use of pirogue or raft. From this fact, as 
early as 1834. settlement began along this river in DeKalb county. 

Dr. John Tatman located at Vienna, now Newville, in 1834 or 
1835, and made his home, a portion of the time, at Orangeville, a competing 
embryonic city, one mile by trail, down the river from Vienna. The doctor 
continued in practice a number of years. Doctor Tatman was noted for haste 
and bluster. He always rode a white horse and was invariably on the gallop 
where the conditions of the trail would permit. This hustle and haste and 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 237 

the white horse made the doctor quite noted. During these years Doctor 
Herrick engaged in practice at Orangeville. The writer can learn but little 
of him ; however, we learned that he met with a fatal accident. Attempting 
to cross the river in a boat, he lost control of it and was carried over the 
dam at Orangeville and was drowned. For the benefit of the lovers of the 
mysterious, I will say that, one of his patrons, a devoted Christian lady, had a 
vision two weeks previously, and had stated that the doctor would lose his 
life in the manner he did. 

From 1833 to 1842 was reall}- the prinie\al age of the medical profession 
in DeKalb county. The doctors labored under the most trying circumstances, 
it being difticult to obtain their own supplies or those for the comfort of the 
sick. There were no roads and they were often scantily clothed and fed. 
One thing, however, they always had a bountiful supply of fresh air. 

From 1837 to 1842 the emigration into the county was large, and home- 
seekers had located in all parts of the county. The county was organized, 
state roads laid out, and the leading ones partly opened. The first of these 
roads in the main followed the early trails. The settlers were rapidly cutting 
away the timber, letting the sun-rays directly upon the undrained soil, and 
its numerous sags holding water which disappeared only by evaporation. 
This increased the mosquitoes and malarial fevers, which made additional 
demands for doctors in various parts of the county. The following named 
doctors found a field for busy work over the entire county : Dr. Solomon 
Stough, a native of Tuscarawas county, Ohio, who located on Fish creek, 
in Troy township, in 1845. where he continued his extensive practice, ac- 
cumulating means to secure two hundred acres of excellent land, which he 
highly improved until it was considered the best farm in Troy township. In 
the early sixties he moved to Waterloo. He enjoyed an extensive practice 
for nearly sixty years. His death was accidental, he having been struck Iiy a 
Lake Shore train at a street crossing in the niglit. 

Dr. Jonas Emanuel, a native of Ohio, located at Spencerville in 1843. 
The doctor had an extensive practice and for many years was the only physi- 
cian in that section of the county. He was a man of energ\-, and was atten- 
tive to business, and financially was a success. 

Dr. William H. Madden, a native of Oliio, located at Xorristown, in 
Wilmington township; the name was changed from Xorristown to Jarvis and 
finally to Butler, its present name. The doctor enjo}'ed an extensi\e practice 
and had the confidence of all wlio knew him. 1 le was kind and indulgent and 
never oppressed his patrons Ijy hi> i)rofcs>ionaI charges. He once said to the 



238 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

writer, "I have had much more joy out of my efforts, and their results, in 
reheving the sufferings of humanity than I ever have had from the money my 
profession has made for me." Age and infirmities compelled, him to retire 
from practice, but he never lost his interest in the profession. He was 
especiallv unsellish and kind to his competitors, and his long and faithful 
friends mourn tlie decease of a good man. 

Dr. James r^lilligan, a native of Pennsylvania, located at Butler in 
1853, where he followed his profession for five years. The doctor was firm in 
his convictions and energetic, but lacked devotion to his profession. He 
bought a fine farm in Troy township, to which he retired, where he enjoyed a 
happy life to a good old age. The doctor had frequent periods of disgust 
with the practice ; and at one time said to the writer while living on his farm : 
"When I plant and sow for a crop of grain, I expect to reap a bountiful har- 
vest, but in medicine a doctor is always sowing to the wind, and he is for- 
tunate if he does not reap a whirlwind." 1 replied: "Doctor, }ou no doubt 
love agriculture, and you study nature, and the laws governing it. ""^'ou per- 
fectly prepare the soil, you carefull}- select the seed, you sow and plant in the 
season, vou skilfullv till and cultivate the crops, and you are blessed with a 
bountiful harvest. Would not a like study of nature in dealing with the 
human body, becoming familiar with the normal and abnormal conditions, 
and the functions of the organs, making yourself equally as familiar with the 
chemistry and specific action of remedies, and administered with like care you 
exercise in planting and sowing your seeds, would you not obtain fully as 
satisfactory results?" He replied : "That is all bosh." The doctor had an 
extensive practice through the country of that region, notwithstanding his 
dislike for his profession. He was ne\er known to ride his horses off a walk. 
He would say to any one, asking him to hurr\- : "If the patient is going to 
die, tliey will die anyway: and there is no use of killing a horse." 

Dr. Noyce Coats, a native of Pennsylvania, matured his boyhood 
davs in Wilmington township, near Butler. He took a course of lectures in 
Michigan University, and was appointed surgeon in the Federal army during 
the war of the Rebellion. He was a man of fine culture, companionable and 
sympatlietic. He died in 1S77, mourned by all who knew him. 

Dr. Hiram Jones located in Uniontown. now the first ward of 
Waterloo, in 1850. He was noted for his tall and angular physique, the 
colonial cut of his clothing, and he always wore a high silk hat. He was 
social and congenial and was fond of society: was fond of anecdotes and 
stories, and his were made rich by his nasal voice. He was an old bachelor 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 239 

and especially fond of the company of young ladies. He frequently boasted 
that no tricks could be successfully perpetrated on him. One winter's evening, 
after a drifting snow, he invited two jolly and very popular young ladies to 
accompany him to a spelling school at a distant school house. The roads 
were badly drifted with snow. \Vhile at the spelling contest the boys re- 
moved the bolts which held the box of his sleigh to the running gear, and 
when he started for home, w ith the young ladies, the first drift they reached 
the sleigh was dumped into the snow, and old "John," the horse, went home 
with the sleigh. The doctor never heard the last of this trip, and he deeply 
felt the humiliation, but said: "It was the most chilling and perplexing case 
in all my professional career." He retired from practice during the early 
sixties, married a Miss Johnson, of Steuben county, Indiana, who had in- 
herited her father's estate, and they migrated to Missouri, where snow drifts 
were seldom known. 

Dr. Isaac John Hornberger, a contemporary with Dr. Hiram Jones 
at Waterloo, was retiring in his manner, l)ut had the confidence of the people. 
He was conservatively liberal in his views and sympathetic. In the early 
sixties his health failed, and he retired from practice, dying about the time 
of the close of the war of the Rebellion. 

Dr. William Benier, a native of Ohio, located as a young phwsician in 
Salem Center, Steuben county, in 1848. Having had a very large patronage 
from the northern half of DeKalb county, in 1862 he located in Waterloo, 
DeKalb county. He made the treatment of chronic diseases a specialty. The 
doctor had a wide and deserving reputation : he had a superior knowledge of 
therapeutics, had an analytical mind, was quick of perception, and .seldom 
was in error in any detail of his diagnosis. He had the gift of memory to the 
extent that he could relate in detail every remedy he had used and its effect 
in every case in his fiftv years' practice. He died in ^^'aterloo at the age of 
eighty years. 

The physicians at Auburn during the primitive period of DeKalb county 
were Doctors Ross, Haynes, Cooper, Prichard, Oliver and Roe; in addition 
to these, prior to 1856, were Doctors J. H. Ford, W. B. Dancer, Hendricks 
and J. N. Chamberlain; all of these four men had more than ordinary ability; 
they were energetic, quick of perception and exercised superior judgment in 
their profession. Their everyday lives were convincing proof of their un- 
selfish interest in humanity. Each one of them was always ready to lend un- 
selfish counsel and aid to the younger members of the profession. They ha\e 
passed to their reward, but they still live in history as deserving noblemen. 



240 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

From 1842 to 1856 closes what might be termed the middle age of the 
settling of DeKalb county and its development. In 1856 the Lake Shore & 
Michigan Southern Air Line railroad was completed through the center of 
the county, causing the building of the thriving towns of Butler, Waterloo 
and Corunna. The Fort Wayne branch of the Lake Shore & Michigan 
Southern, through the center north and south, which passes through Summit, 
Waterloo, Auburn, Auburn Junction, St. Johns and New Era, quickly fol- 
lowed these railroads. The Eel River, now Vandalia railroad, was built from 
Butler to Logansport, passing through the city of Auburn, running from 
northeast to southwest through the county. The Baltimore & Ohio, built 
through the southern tier of townships, which caused the building of the town 
of St. Joe on the east in Concord township, and the village of Concord, 
Auburn Junction, and the city of Garrett, where are located the division and 
shops of the Baltimore & Ohio. The Wabash enters the county in Troy 
township, near the village of Artie, passing through the cities of Butler, St. 
Joe and Spencerville. The construction of these railroads caused the building 
of new towns and rapidly increased the growth of the older ones. From this 
wonderful development and increase of population, we can readily see that 
from 1856 to the present constitutes the modern age of DeKalb county in 
every respect. In this period the doctors have located in every inviting field. 
They have been mostly young men fre.^h from colleges and universities, ener- 
getic and intelligent. 

THE MEDICAL SOCIETY. 

The question of a medical society had for a long time lieen suggested and 
urged during personal interviews and prdfessional councils of the doctors as 
they chanced to meet throughout the county. 

In 1882 the doctors most interested in the advancement of the profession 
met in Auburn to organize 'a medical society. There was but one question 
which arose touching upon the laws and rules that should govern the society 
whicli called out discussion. This was whether a woman who had the accom- 
plishment of M. D. should be received into the society. During the discussion 
one grave and influential doctor arose somewhat agitated and said: "Mr. 
President : I think no one of us would be injured b\' the civilizing influence 
of women; unless you have lost all love for your mother and your wife, if 
you have one, I can see no earthly reason why women should not be allowed 
to become medical men in this society." This created an outburst of laughter, 
and there were no further objections. By unanimous consent women who 
were medical doctors were admitted. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 24I 

Upon the completion of the organization of the Medical Society of De- 
Kalb County, as an auxiliary of the Indiana State Medical Society, fifteen 
doctors were present and signed the constitution and by-laws. This meeting 
convened at the office of Dr. W. P. Carpenter in the city of Butler on 
July 27, 1882, following a meeting at the office of Dr. J. A. Cowen in the 
city of Auburn a few days before for making temporary arrangements for the 
organization. Out of the fifteen who signed the by-laws at that meeting, 
there are only two living at this date. There have been, since the organization 
of this society, in 1882, many doctors located in DeKalb county, who for some 
reason, best known to themselves, have not affiliated with the medical society. 

As a rule these doctors not affiliating have been transient or have failed 
to recognize the educational features of the society for the advancement of 
professional knowledge. 

The following named doctors have affiliated with the organization of 
the medical society since its beginning, and the society keenly feels the loss by 
death of many of these benefactors and their wise counsel : J. S. Barnett, J. 
J. Littlefield, J. B. Bennett, W. H. Madden, B. S. Sheffer, A. A. Ward, J. S. 
Kenestrick, C. E. Nusbaum, J. S. Yount,, D. M. Hines, S. M. Sherman, J. V. 
Lewis, V. Anderson, L. A. Hines, U. G. Souger, M. E. Clingler, A. A. 
Kramer, W. P. Carpenter, W. K. Mitchell, J. B. Casebeer, S. H. Snyder, T. 
C. Sargent, James N. Chamberlain, Mrs. L. A. P. Leasure, W. F. Shumaker, 
P. S. Kaadt, Frank Bevier, J. H. Ford, G. E. Emanuel, F. M. Hines, J. C. 
Baxter, W. W. Swartz, Frank Brown, W. K. Schlusser, J. A. Cowan, D. J. 
Swartz, F. W. Fanning, Mrs. Vesta M. Swartz, V. A. Humphrey, U. J. 
Ward, M. M. Bowen, N. J. Shook, J. O. Buchtel, J. A. Stough, A. Byron 
Darby, Frank Broughton, N. L. Hines, J. A. Clevenger, A. V. Hines, J. C. 
Emma, E. L. Fosdick, D. A. Sebring, A. S. Farrington, J. J. Wilkinson, R. 
Elson, H. W. Bowman, Charles S. Stewart, Z. H. Stamets, L. U. Geisinger, 
G. T. Mathena, J. T. Dunn, J. B. Adams, J. E. Showalter, W. H. Nusbaum, 
F. A. King, J. W. Thomson. 

The number of physicians now in practice in DeKalb county totals 
thirty-nine and are located as follows : In the city of Butler, five ; Newville, 
one; St. Joe, three; Spencerville, two; Waterloo, five; Auburn, twelve; Gar- 
rett, seven ; Corunna, two ; Ashley, two. 

These men now engaged in practice have the confidence of the com- 
munities in which they live, are intelligent and aspiring, keeping in the front 
rank with the most skillful in the state. 
(16) 



242 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

In conclusion, I am sure it will gladden the heart of every reader, 
whether doctor or layman, when I tell you that a more glorious epoch is at 
hand. Its dawning light will guide the medical profession into the unerring 
paths of scientific sanitation; and the doctor will be employed to prevent 
disease instead of being employed to cure disease ; which, at best, with all the 
profoundest skill that is, or will be, leaves the sufferer with physical loss 
which cannot be regained. When the doctor succeeds in preventing disease 
the millennium for the medical profession has come. It is in sight. The light 
will soon disperse all doubt. Then the doctor's regrets and sorrows from 
sympathies for the afflicted, blasted hopes through failures, and tears of 
sympathy shed when alone in his sanctum for the bereaved, will all disappear; 
and, instead, he will realize the pleasure of triumph, joy instead of sadness, 
hopes realized instead of failure, and smiles in place of tears. I know I 
voice the hopes of the profession, here and elsewhere, that unfailing science 
may direct us, and lead us into the light of truth, that we may more bountifully 
bless mankind, and restore man from his dwarfed and weakened condition, 
to the strong and beautiful creature that God created as the crowning glory 
of His omnipotent power. 



CHAPTER XL 

THE BENCH AND BAR. 

(By John ■«'. Baxter.) 

PROBATE COURT. 

When DeKalb county was organized, the law provided for a probate 
court, to be known as the Probate Court of DeKalb County. Such court had 
"original and exclusive jurisdiction in all matters relating to the probate of 
wills and testaments, granting of letters testamentary, and letters of adminis- 
tration, and of guardianship — the settlement and distribution of decedents' 
estates, the examination and allowance of the accounts of executors, adminis- 
trators and guardians," and also "concurrent jurisdiction in all suits at law, or 
in equity upon all demands or causes of action in favor of or against heirs, 
executors, administrators, or guardians, and their securities, and representa- 
tives when the amount in controversy shall exceed fifty dollars, and in parti- 
tion of real estate; and the assignment of the widow's dower; and the appoint- 
ment of a commissioner to make deed on title bond given by deceased obligor; 
and to authorize the guardian to sell and convey the real estate of his ward 
in certain cases." The judge of the probate court was elected by the voters 
of the county and commissioned by the governor of the state to serve for a 
term of seven years, and until his successor may be chosen and qualified, if 
the same shall so long behave well. The clerk of the circuit court and the 
sheriff of the county served the probate court as clerk and sheriff respectively, 
and the judge was authorized to call to his aid a jury for the trial of proper 
cases. 

The law provided that "no person shall be either elected, commissioned 
or appointed such judge of the probate court until he shall first have obtained 
a certificate from some one of the judges of the supreme court, or some one 
of the president judges of the circuit courts, that he is qualified to discharge 
the duties appertaining to said office of probate judge — provided, that such 
judge of the supreme or circuit court in the examination hereby authorized, 



244 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

shall have due regard for the legal qualifications of such person; and pro- 
vided also, that nothing in this section contained shall be construed so as to 
require any judge of said probate court to be a professional cliaracter." 

COMMON PLEAS COURT. 

The court was abolished by the Legislature in 1852, and its jurisdiction 
transferred to the court of common pleas, then established. Lott B. Herrick 
and John C. Wood at different times were elected and presided as judges of 
the common pleas court of DeKalb county. The court of common pleas was 
established by the Legislature of 1852, and our district was composed of the 
counties of Lagrange, Steuben, DeKalb, Noble and Whitley. At the Octo- 
ber election of that year John Morris was chosen judge of the common pleas 
court for the district, for the term of four years, when Egbert B. Mott was 
elected as his successor, and served for one term. These judges were both 
pioneer lawyers of DeKalb county, and brought to the bench rich learning in 
the law, and high ideals of honor and the business of the court and of the 
bar. Afterward, William M. Clapp, of Albion, Noble county, was elected 
judge of this court, and so continued until the court was abolished by the 
Legislature of i87'3. Its business and jurisdiction were transferred to the cir- 
cuit court. 

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 

The justices of the peace have had limited jurisdiction in both civil and 
criminal cases since the organization of the state and county. Their juris' 
diction in civil cases is confined to the township of their residence, but in 
criminal cases it is coextensive with the county. The justices of the peace 
generally have not been versed in the law, and often their educational qualities 
have been very limited, although DeKalb county has had many of these 
justices who have been endowed with fine qualities of judgment, and who 
rarely departed far from right conclusions upon cases brought before them. 
Of these the writer is reminded of George Beard, an early justice of Frank- 
lin township; George Barney, a pioneer justice of Concord township; George 
W. Maxwell, who served as a justice first in Wilmington township and after- 
ward in Richland. Also Cyrus C. Walter, who acceptably served for many 
years as justice of the peace in Auburn. These worthy squires, by their wise 
counsel, assisted in settling many annoying disputes to the advantage of both 
parties without suit, and when a cause could not be adjusted except by a suit, 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 245 

they fearlessly gave decision as justice and law required, and their judgments 
were rarely overturned by appeal. 

CIRCUIT COURT. 

The circuit court has been court of general, civil and crinn'nal jurisdic- 
tion since the organization of this state, and since the common pleas court 
was abolished in 1873. The circuit court has also had exclusive jurisdiction 
in guardianships and the settlement of the estates of deceased persons. 

In the early days of Indiana, when the settlements were small and scat- 
tered, there were many counties grouped together in one judicial circuit, and 
the judge of the circuit rode from one county to another in the judicial cir- 
cuit, accompanied by the lawyers, and held court in each county seat, until the 
business was disposed of, and as the inhabitants and wealth of the counties 
increased, bringing an increase in the business of the courts, the number of 
circuits was increased, so that fewer counties were included in each circuit, 
until at this time each of the larger counties of the state comprises a judicial 
district. DeKalb county has never attained to this distinction, but has al- 
ways been included with another county or counties in the formation of the 
judicial circuit. By the act of 1873 the thirty-fifth judicial circuit was made 
to consist of Noble, DeKalb and Steuben counties, and in 1889 the circuit 
was again changed, and since has been composed of DeKalb and Steuben 
counties. 

DeKalb county has not always been especially fortunate in the judges 
of its circuit court, but generally the bench of the court has been occupied 
by able and honest lawyers, and some of the most distinguished jurists of 
our state have presided as the regular judges of this court. Until the adoption 
of the state constitution of 1852 the circuit court consisted of a president 
judge of the circuit, who went from county to county with two associate 
judges elected in the county. The president judge could alone hold the court 
in the absence of the associate judges, or with either of them, if the other was 
absent, and in the absence of the president judge the two associate judges 
could hold the court, except in capital cases and cases in chancer}'. 

CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES. 

The following named president judges occupied the bench of the DeKalb 
circuit court : Charles Ewing, E. A. McMahon and J- W. Wright. The asso- 
ciate judges were : Ariel Walden, Thomas L. Yates, Samuel Widney, Nelson 



246 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Payne, Robert Work, David Martin, Abraham Cope and G. C. Mudgett. 
Since 1852 the following named men have presided as judge of this court: 
E. R. Wilson, then living at Bluffton; James Borden, then living at Fort 
Wayne ; Reuben J. Dawson, then living at Spencerville ; Robert Lowery, then 
of Goshen, but afterward removed to Fort Wayne, where for many years he 
presided as judge of the Allen superior court with marked ability, from 
which he retired to represent this district in the congress of the United States. 
Hiram S. Tousley, a lawyer of Albion, a kind and able judge, occupied the 
bench of this court both before and after his service as a soldier in the war of 
1861. Others were: James I. Best, then living at Waterloo, who made an 
excellent judge, but he resigned to return to the bar, where he always en- 
joyed an extensive practice, and where he was justly rated as one of the best 
of trial lawyers and an honorable antagonist; Joseph A. Woodhull, of An- 
gola, was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by Judge Best's resignation, and 
presided acceptably until the next election, when Hiram S. Tousley was 
elected for the second time, but his health failed and he died in office, and 
Charles A. McClellan, of Waterloo, was appointed and presided for about one 
year, until the next election, when R. Wes McBride, then of Waterloo, was 
elected and made an excellent judge for the term of six years. He afterward 
removed to Elkhart, where he practiced law for a short time before he be- 
came a judge of the supreme court of the state. He is now located at In- 
dianapolis, where he enjoys a large practice, largely in the supreme and ap- 
pellate courts. Stephen A. Powers, of Angola, was the next judge for a full 
term. AVilliam L. Penfield, of Auburn, was then elected, but resigned during 
his term, to accept a position as solicitor in the department of state at Wash- 
ington, D. C. Frank S. Roby, then of Auburn, was appointed to fill the 
vacancy caused by the resignation of Judge Penfield, and made a good judge 
until the next election, when Ezra D. Hartman, a good lawyer and a good 
man, was chosen, but diseases resulting from his army services had broken 
his health, and he died while in ofiice, and James H. Rose, a capable young 
lawyer of Auburn, was appointed and made an excellent judge until the next 
election. Emmet A. Bratton, of Angola, was then chosen, and served for a 
full term of six years as a most painstaking and conscientious judge. Frank 
M. Powers, of Angola, was elected to this office in November, 1910, and is 
still the judge of this court, and is engaging in the discharge of his duties 
with the same quiet business habits and thorough knowledge of the law 
which made him a successful lawyer. The business of the court has been 
badly interfered with by the loss of most of its records in a fire, which on Feb- 
ruary 8, 19 1 3, destroyed the building in which the court was held. 



DEKALR COUNTY, INDIANA. 247 



EARLY LAWYERS. 



The list of the lawyers of DeKalb county contains the names of many 
men who have ranked high at the bar and on the bench of this state. With- 
out presuming to give an altogether complete list, the following are re- 
membered by the writer, as the men who have practiced law while living in 
this county: Egbert B. Mott, of Auburn, also judge of common pleas court; 
Timothy R. Dickinson, of Auburn, afterward of Waterloo; John Morris, of 
Auburn, afterward of Fort Wayne, judge of common pleas court, and after- 
ward supreme court commissioner, a fine lawyer, a great scholar and always a 
gentleman; Reuben J. Dawson, of Spencerville, judge of circuit court; Abner 
F. Pinchin, of Hamilton, then at Butler, was district attorney in early days. 
All of the above named are deceased. William H. Dills, of Auburn, deceased; 
James B. Morrison, of Auburn, removed west; Guy Plum, of Auburn, de- 
ceased; James I. Best, of Waterloo, also judge of circuit court, and supreme 
court commissioner; Charles A. O. McClellan, of Waterloo and Auburn, 
judge of circuit court, and representative in congress, deceased; Lewis J. 
Blair, of Waterloo, deceased; James E. Rose, of Auburn, deceased; Edward 
W. Fosdick, of Butler, deceased; Joseph L. Morelan, of Waterloo, deceased; 
R. Wes McBride, of Waterloo, judge of circuit court and of supreme court, 
now at Indianapolis; Ezra D. Hartman, of Auburn, also judge of circuit 
court, deceased; Charles E. Emanuel, of Auburn, deceased; Price D. West, 
of Auburn, deceased; William L. Penfield, deceased; James M. Sommers, of 
Waterloo, deceased; Frank S. Roby, of Waterloo and Auburn, now of In- 
dianapolis; William T. Bope, of Butler, now at Bad Axe, Michigan; Andrew 
J. Baxter, of Butler, deceased; Frank C. Baxter, of Auburn, deceased; Ed- 
ward B. Dunton, of Butler, now in Mississippi; Daniel Y. Husselman, of 
Waterloo and Auburn, deceased; Hubert E. Hartman, of Auburn, now in 
Detroit; James H. Rose, of Auburn, now at Fort Wayne; Walter Penfield, 
now in Washington, D. C. 

THE PRESENT EAR. 

The active members of the DeKalb county bar at this time are as fol- 
lows : Daniel D. Moody, 1869; Publius V. Hoffman, i8y2; John W. Baxter, 
1875; James H. Rose, 1889; Willis Rhoads, 1894; James E. Pomeroy, 
1895; Daniel M. Link, 1894; C. M. Brown, 1892; Charles S. Smith, 1899; 
Charles O. Borst, 1895; E. W. Atkinson, 1913; L. B. Gatten, 191 1 : J. Glenn 
Miller, iqoy: Winthrop W. Ketcham, 1913; Frederick O. Shearer, 1913. 



248 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

These attorneys are in Auburn. In Waterloo are: William H. Leas, 1847; 
Cyrus M. Phillips, 1875; George W. Crooks, 1897; Henry J. Spackey, 1904. 
In Garrett are: Lewis J. Gengler, 1890; Edward M. McKennan, 1895; 
Willard W. Sharpless, 1891 ; Howard W. Mountz,, 1895 ; J. D. Brinkerhoff, 
1902. In Butler are: Cassius J. Coats, 1877; Frank A. Brink, 1878; William 
P. Endicott, 1910; Forest H. Ritter, 1910. 



CHAPTER XII. 



POLITICAI, HISTORY. 



The political history of DeKalb county is, in many respects, similar to 
that of the other counties in the state of Indiana. In fact, politics is a sub- 
ject that permits of various and equally truthful viewpoints. Graft, injustice 
and favoritism are, of course, present wherever men are chosen by popular 
vote to fill official positions; but, on the other hand, there are more clean 
elections and proper campaign tactics in force than a public is allowed to 
believe. The newspaper is the means of communication to the people, but 
upon reading two different papers, two theories, apparently each tenable, are 
learned. However, this is not the purpose of history, and in the discussion of 
DeKalb county politics, no recourse will be made to the party issues and the 
attitude of the voters and newspapers; an effort will simply be made to tell 
the facts, results and the general character of the county during the campaign 
times; also a complete list of the officers chosen in the county from the date 
of organization until the present year. 

FIRST ELECTIONS. 

The first election after the organization of the county of De- 
Kalb was held on August 6, 1838, and resulted in the ciioice of Luther Keep 
for commissioner, Wesley Park for sheriff, Lott Herrick for school commis- 
sioner, and Robert Work for coroner. These men had very little opposition. 
In addition, a representati\e was voted for, and David B. Herriman was 
chosen with a majority of fourteen. Peter Fair, A. F. Beecher and Samuel 
Widney were chosen commissioners in 1837, Ijut the county could hardly be 
said to have been organized at that date. 

The first presidential election in whicii the county participated was the 
one of 1840, when Harrison and \'an Buren were the candidates for 
President. Glowing descriptions have been given of the "hard cider^' 
campaign of that year, and the glorious and enthusiastic rallies where the 
slogan of "Tippecanoe and Tyler too" was sung by marching crowds. Harri- 



250 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

son was successful in the county, for of the three hundred and thirty-four 
votes cast, he received a majority of ten; thus the Whigs were strongest in 
DeKalb. 

Four years later, during the memorable campagin of 1844, the Wliigs 
had as their candidate Henry Clay, of Kentucky, and his chances were re- 
garded as very favorable. However, a compromising letter penned by this 
son of the "dark and bloody ground country" just before election caused his 
chances to decrease, and when election came the Free-Soilers, with James K. 
Polk at the helm, were victorious. Polk's plurality in the state of New York 
was but five thousand. It is interesting to note the "ifs" of this result — thus, 
had one-third of the votes given to James G. Birney in that state been given 
to Clay, the whole course of history would have been changed; New York 
would have given a majority to the Whig party, Clay would have been named 
President, and the annexation of Texas defeated, and the Mexican war of 
1849 would, in all probability, never have occurred. The total vote of this 
election was over twice that cast during the campaign of 1844. 

In 184S the Democrats nominated Cass and Butler, the \Miigs Taylor 
and Fillmore, and the Free-Soil men. Van Buren and Adams. DeKalb county 
tavored Cass in this election. 

The election of 1852 came just after the famous compromises of 1830, 
and before the renewal of the agitation over slavery, caused by Kansas- 
Nebraska troubles. Both Whigs and Democrats adopted platforms in favor 
of the 1850 compromises, but Genera! Scott, the \Ahig candidate, was not 
trusted by either the friends or enemies of slavery restriction. The result was 
that he carried only the states of Massachusetts, Vermont, Kentucky and Ten- 
nessee, while Gen. Franklin Pierce, of the Democrats, carried twenty- 
seven states. DeKalb county gave Pierce a majority of her votes. 

In 1852 a new state constitution was adopted, fixing the general annual 
election in the month of October. Previously, it had been held in August. 
The Whig party expired with the disastrous defeat of 1852, and the Republi- 
can party rose and nominated John C. Fremont for President. James Bu- 
chanan was the Democratic choice, and Millard Fillmore headed the Ameri- 
can party. Buchanan was elected. He received the largest number of votes in 
DeKalb, with Fremont second. 

ELECTION OF 186O. 

The presidential election of the year iSfio was easily the most import- 
ant of the government until that time, and afterward until the present. A 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 



big issue was existent, and the country was divided as it ne\er was nor 
probably ever will be. The Repubhcan party, representing tlie North and 
Uiiion, nominated Abraham Lincoln for the presidency; the Democratic 
party, for the South and slavery, chose John C. Breckenridge. The regular 
Democratic party, other than the Democratic party of the South, nominated 
Stephen A. Douglas, who advocated popular sovereignty, a middle ground. 
A fourth party, designated the Union party, named John Bell as candidate, 
but the party was of little importance in the campaign, as it had very indefi- 
nite views. By running Breckenridge, the South threw the presidency to 
Lincoln, when it nn'ght have supported Douglas as a whole, and won. 

DeKalb county gave Lincoln a plurality of one hundred and one, and a 
majority of seventy-five. Breckenridge received but two votes. The town- 
ships in favor of Lincoln were: Butler, Concord, Newville, Stafford, Wil- 
mington, Union, Franklin and Troy. Jackson, Richland, Fairfield and Smith- 
field gave Douglas the majority. 

The one-sided vote in DeKalb county does not represent tlie general 
spirit that prevailed here during those stirring times. The county was a 
hotbed, and political enthusiasm reached a high point. Meetings where in- 
flamed oratory abounded were numerous, and rallies, processions, and barrel- 
head speakers proclaimed the excitement of the people. There were many 
"butternuts" in DeKalb county, but upon becoming too oljstreperous they 
were promptly, sometimes with coercive measures, man-handling, forced into 
silence. 

LATER ELECTIONS. 

The Republicans drew a great deal of strength from the election of i860, 
and afterw-ard bore out this prosperity with repeated successes. In 1868 
U. S. Grant received a majority of twenty-four in DeKalb county, out of a 
total vote of three thousand four hundred and seventy-six. In 1872 Grant 
was again nominated by the Republican party, and the new division, the 
Liberal Republicans, nominated Horace Greeley. Grant was again victorious. 
The following paragraph, written in the Auburn Courier after the election, is 
interesting : 

"From a careful glance over the late battlefield, the probabilities are that 
we have met the enemy and they have somewhat gobbled us in. That's noth- 
ing. Twelve years' experience has taught us that Salt River is a navigable 
stream. The air at its headwaters is pure, but not so very 'healthy.' The 
countrv is inhabited l)v white men exclusively, and although manv of these 



252 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

are barefooted they submit with Christian fortitude. There is not a postoffice 
in the neighborhood. National banks are as scarce as hen teeth, and there is 
not a very large number of brigadier-generals in the country. A few army 
contractors are there, but they are as poor today as they were ten years ago. 
Our boat on this occasion started from the Ohio river and was propelled by 
Kentucky darkies. When we shall leave the country is not yet determined. 
It is only a question of time. We shall return to plague our enemies who 
have contributed so freely to send us 'up the river.' " 

And again: 

"We have a mournful pleasure, or a pleasing mournfulness, we don't 
know which, to perform. Greeley, you know Greeley. He was for Presi- 
dent. Now he ain't. Well, Greeley, he wore a-running for an orfice. and 
Grant, being on horseback, beat him. You see there was a hole, or a chasm, 
as H. G. called it, in the way, and he thought it was nothing, that he could 
reach across it just as easy as falling off a log. But he reckoned without a 
host (of voters). When U. S. came to it, he jumped it with his horse, but 
Uncle Horace, in attempting to shake with a fellow on the side, fell in, and 
that was the end on him. The main reason why H. G. was not elected was 
that he could not get enough states. If Grant hadn't been round, Greeley 
would have been ahead, as he beat O'Conor in every state. There was another 
reason, the hor(ac)se disease was bad in New York, and it kept spreading 
until it was everywhere. Whenever a thing spreads, then you may know it 
gets thin, and thus you may account for H. G.'s vote. We'll be opposed 
hereafter to having elections, when such things are around." 

PRESIDENTIAL VOTE IN DEKALB COUNTY. 

in 1840 Harrison and Tyler received one hundred and seventy-seven 
votes, and Martin Van Buren one hundred and sixty-seven. 

In 1844 Polk and Dallas received three hundred and twenty-seven votes; 
Clay and Frelinghuysen, two hundred and sixty-nine ; and James G. Birney, 
six. 

In 1848 Cass and Butler received nine hundred and si\t)--eight votes in 
the county, Tavlor and Fillmore, five hundred and seventy-seven; and Van 
Buren and Adams, three hundred and forty-seven. 

In 1852 Pierce and King received seven hundred and eighty votes: Scott 
and Graham, three hundred and ninety-one : Hale and Julian, one Inindred 
and sixty-four. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 253 

In 1856 James Buchanan received one thousand two hundred and forty- 
seven votes ; John C. Fremont, one thousand ninety-seven ; Millard Fillmore, 
seventy-five. 

In i860 Abraham Lincoln receixed fifteen hundred votes: Stephen A. 
Douglas, thirteen hundred ninety-nine; John Bell, twenty- four ; and John C. 
Breckenridge, two. 

In 1864 Lincoln received fourteen hundred and eighty-four; George B. 
McCIellan, fourteen hundred seventy-two. 

In 1868 U. S. Grant received seventeen hundred and fifty votes; and 
Horatio Seymour, seventeen hundred twenty-six. 

In 1872 U. S. Grant received eighteen hundred and sixty-one votes; 
Horace Greeley, fifteen hundred forty- four; and Charles O' Conor, ninety- 
four. 

In 1876 Samuel J. Tilden received twenty-five hundred and fifty-three 
votes; Rutherford B. Hayes, twenty-three hundred and eighty-one; Peter 
Cooper, thirty-eight. 

In 1880 Winfield S. Hancock received twenty-five hundred and eighty- 
two votes; James A. Garfield, twenty- four hundred and forty-one; James C. 
Weaver, one hundred and ten. 

In 1884 Grover Cleveland received twenty-seven hundred and ninety- 
nine votes; James G. Blaine, twenty-four hundred fifty-one; Benjamin F. 
Butler, ninety-five ; John P. St. John, fifty-nine. 

In 1888 Grover Cleveland received thirty-one hundred and sixty votes; 
and Benjamin Harrison, twenty-eight hundred seventy-nine. 

In 1892 Grover Cleveland, Democrat, received twenty-eight hundred 
and one votes in DeKalb county; Benjamin Harrison, Republican, twenty- 
four hundred and ninety-nine; Bidwell, Prohibitionist, one hundred ninety- 
eight ; and Weaver, Peoples, seven hundred and forty-six. 

In 1896 William J. Bryan, Democrat, received thirty-six hundred and 
seventy-eight votes; William McKinley, Republican, thirty-one hundred and 
thirty-seven; Levering, Prohibitionist, thirty-three; Palmer, Gold Democrat, 
twenty-five ; National ticket, fourteen. 

In 1900 Bryan received thirty-four hundred and eighty-eight votes; 
McKinley, thirty-two hundred and eighteen; Woolley, Prohibitionist, two 
hundred and fifty-nine ; the Social Democrats, Union Reform, and Peoples 
tickets received two, one and seven votes, respectively. 

In 1904 Alton B. Parker, Democrat, received two thousand eight hun- 
dred and twenty-seven votes ; Theodore Roosevelt, Republican, three thousand 



254 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 



four hundred and sixteen : Prohibitionist ticket, three hundred and forty- 
three; Peoples, sixty-seven; Socialist, one hundred fifty-four; Socialist 
Labor, twenty-nine. 

In 1908 William J. Bryan, Democrat, received three thousand six hun- 
dred and twenty- four votes; William H. Taft, Republican, two thousand nine 
hundred and ninety-one; Prohibition, two hundred eighty-seven; Socialist, 
sixty-three; Peoples, five; Socialist Labor, two; Independent, eighteen. 

In 1912 Woodrow Wilson, Democrat, received two thousand seven hun- 
dred and sixty-six votes in DeKalb county ; William H. Taft, Republican, one 
thousand one hundred twenty-five; Theodore Roosevelt, exponent of the new 
Progressive party, one thousand six hundred twenty-three; Prohibition, two 
hundred forty-four; Socialist, four hundred thirty-seven. 

ST.\TE SENATORS. 

Following is the list of senators who have served in the state Legislature 
from DeKalb county: Elias Baker, 1839-41; David B. Herriman, 1841-3; 
David B. Herriman, 1843-6; Madison Marsh, 1846-9; Reuben J. Dawson, 
1849-50; Robert Work, 1850-2; George W. McConnell, 1852-6; Miles Water- 
man, 1856-1860; Timothy R. Dickinson, 1860-2; William H. Dills, 1862-4; 
Enos B. Noyes, 1864-8; George A. Milnes, 1868-1872; William G. Croxton, 
1872-76; Samuel S. Shutt, 1876- 1880; Jesse H. Carpenter, 1880- 1884; La- 
fayette J. Miller, 1884-1888; Jackson, 1888-1892; James E. Mc- 
Donald, 1892-96; W. H. Nusbaum. 1896-1900; Charles H. Bruce, 1900-4; 
Cyrus E. Gallatin. 1904-8; Stephen A. Powers, 1908-1912; Glenn Van 
Auken. 1912-1916. 

STATE REPRESENTATIVES. 

The following list comprises the representatives who have served in the 
state Legislature from DeKalb county, or such territory as the county has been 
identified with: Asa Brown, 1839-41; Madison Marsh, 1841-3; Jacob Hel- 
wig, 1843-4; Jacob Helwig, 1844-6; David B. Wheeler, 1846-8; Reuben J. 
Dawson, 1848-9; Edward R. May, 1849-50; Edward R. May, 1850-1 ; Gil- 
man C. Mudget, 1851-2; E. F. Hammond, 1852-3; Robert Work, 1852-3; A. 
P. Clark and James Hadsell, 1853-6; Bushrod Catlin and W. I. Howard, 
1856-8; Miles Waterman, 1858-60; Henry Feagler, 1860-2; Miles Waterman, 
1862-4; Robert M. Lockhart, 1S64-6: Ezra D. Hartman, 1866-8; Lewis D. 
Britten, 1868-70; Lewis D. Britton, 1870-2; Samuel S. Shutt, 1872-4; Miles 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 255 

Waterman, 1874-6; William H. Madden, 1876-8; Samuel S. Shutt, 1878- 
1880; Samuel S. Shutt, (joint) and Daniel D. Moody, 1880-2; Eli B. Garber 
(joint) and Daniel D. Moody, 1882-4; William Barney (joint) and Daniel 

D. Moody, 1884-6; J. D. Leighty and William M. Barney, 1886-88; 

Jackson (joint) and Freeman Kelley, 1888-1890; Norman Teal (joint) and 
Freeman Kelley, 1890-92; Marion F. Franks, 1892-4; Frank A. Willis, 1894- 
6; Norman Teal (joint) and C. M. Brown, 1896-8; Charles M. Brown, 1898- 
1900; Jefferson W. Jackman, 1900-2; Russell S. Hull, 1902-4; Howard W. 
Mount, 1904-6; Luther W. Knisely, 1906-8; Edward M. McKennan, 1908- 
10; Edward M. McKennan, 1910-12; Edward M. McKennan, 1912-14. 

COUNTY SHERIFFS. 

From the year 1837 to 1850 Wesley Park, Thomas J. Freeman, Jonathan 
Puffenbarger and S. W. Ralston successively held the office of sheriff. Since 
1850 the following have held the office in DeKalb county: W. K. Straight, 
1850-4; Isaac Brandt, 1854-6; S. W. Ralston, 1856-1860; J. N. Chamberlain, 
1860-2; J. N. Miller, 1862-4; H. Willis, 1864-8;' J. Plum,"i868-i872 ; W. L. 
Meese, 1872-6; John St. Clair, 1876-8; A. S. Leas, 1878-1882; John W. 
Boyle, 1882-6; K. Garrison, 1886-88; J. Plum, 1888-90; Philip Plum, 1890- 
2; George C. Ralston, 1892-4; Henry P. Stroh, 1894-6-8; John Hathaway, 
1898-1902; George W. Bleeks, 1902-4: James W. Reed, 1904-6-8; R. L. 
Thomas. 1908-10-12; John P. Hoff, 1912-14. 

COUNTY CLERKS. 

John F. Coburn, 1837-1841 ; S. W. Sprott, 1841-1851 ; J. P. Widney, 
1851-5: S. W. Sprott, 1855-9: John Ralston, 1859-1867; J. R. Lanning, 
1867-1875; G. H. K. Moss, 1875-1880: John W. Baxter, 1880-4; D. Y. Hus- 
selman, 1884-6; George A. Bishop, 1886-98: George O. Denison, 1898-1904; 
Charles A. Jenkins, 1904-1908: Warren A. Austin, 1908-1912; John Hebel, 
1912-14. 

COUNTY AUDITORS. 

S. W. Sprott, 1841-2; Aaron Hague, 1842-9; Miles Waterman, 1849-55; 
M. F. Pierce, 1855-60; A. J. Hunt, 1860-2; George Kuhlman, 1862-6; W. W. 
Griswold, 1866-70; W. Mclntyre, 1870-4; Isaac Hague, 1874-8; Albert Rob- 
bins, 1878-82; Thomas H. Tomlinson, 1882-6; Cyrus C. Walter, 1886-90; 



256 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Herman N. Coffinberry, 1890-4; Frank A. Borst, 1894-8; Frank P. Seiler, 
1898-1902; Herman D. Boozer, 1902-6; Emery A. Shook, 1906-10; A. W. 
Madden, 1910-1914. 

COUNTY RECORDERS. 

The office of recorder was combined with that of clerk for the first four- 
teen years of the county's existence. The incumbents of the office since it 
was created have been: John McCune, 1851-5; W. W. Griswold, 1855-9; 
S. W. Widney, 1859-64; G. R. Hoffman, 1864-8; D. Z. Hoffman, 1868-76; M. 
Boland, 1876-84; John Butt, 1884-6; George M. Crane, 1886-90; Samuel 
Williams, 1890-4; Milton C. Jones, 1894-8; Daniel Herrick, 1898-1904; 
Juhn W. Henderson, 1904-8; Samuel G. Haverstock, 1908-12; William Mc- 
Nabb, I9i2-(deceased) ; Harvey O. Williams appointed to fill out unexpired 
term. 

COUNTY TREASURERS. 

Wesley Park, 1837-51; S. W. Ralston, 1851-3; J. E. Hendricks, 1853-5; 
E. W. Fosdick, 1855-7; Jacob Helwig, 1857-9; R- B. Catlin, 1859-61; 
George Barney, 1861-5 ; L. J. Blair, 1865-7; F- D. Ryan, 1867-72; Nicholas 

Ensley, 1872-6; Daniel Gonser, 1876-80; L. J. Miller, 1880-4; 

Brandon, 1884-6; John L. Davis, 1886-8; George W. Probst, 1888-90; Reu- 
ben Sawvel, 1890-2-4; David W. Fair, 1894-6; Henry Hines, 1896-8; Francis 
M. Hines, 1898-1900-2; George W. Probst, 1902-4-6; H. H. Slaybaugh, 
1906-8-10; John J. Oberlin, 1910-12. 

COUNTY SURVEYORS. 

Joseph Nodine, 1852-4; Joseph Nodine, 1854-6; Daniel W. Altenburg, 
1856-8; Daniel W. Altenburg, 1858-60; Marius Buchanan, 1860-2; Daniel 
W. Altenburg, 1862-4; Henry M. Stoner, 1864-5; George W. Weeks, 1865-7; 
Joseph W. McCasslin, 1867-70; Isaac K. Shaffer, 1870-2; Chauncey C. Clark, 
1872-4; Winfield S. Bangs, 1874-6; Jay J. Van Auken, 1876-8; J. J. Van 
Auken, 1878-1880; Azam P. Foltz, 1880-2; J. J. Van Auken, 1882-4; J. J. 
Van Auken, 1884-6; I. F. McDowell, 1886-8; Jacob M. Hook, 1888-90-2; 
Calvin E. Van Auken, 1892-4-6; J. H. W. Krontz, 1896-8-1900; Commodore 
P. Hamman, 1900-2-4; John Eakright, 1904-6-8; Charles L. Wagoner, 1908- 
10-12; A. L. Link, 1912-14. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 257 

COUNTY CORONERS. 

Robert Work, 1838-9; Byron Bunnell, 1839-40; Wesley Park, 1 840-1; 
John O. P. Sherlock, 1841-2; James Goetschius, 1842-3; O. A. Parsons, 
1843-5: David Weaver, 1845-6; Oaxid Weaver, 1846-7; Joseph Nodine, 
1847-8; John McCIellan, 1848-9; Charles C. Knapp, 1849-51; Lyman Chid- 
sey, 185 1-2-4; Lyman H. Coe, 1854-6; Jeremiah Plum, 1856-8-60; Henry 
Willis, 1860-2: Jeremiah Plum, 1862-4; George W. A. Smith, 1864-6; Henry 
Feagler, 1866-8; George IMetcalf, 1868-70-2; James J. Latson, 1872-4-6- 

8-80-82-84; Francis Picker, 1884-6; J. B. Casebeer, 1886-8; Wood, 

1888-90; Lafayette D. Miser, 1890-2-4; Vincent C. Bronson, 1894-6; J. W. 
Hughes, 1896-8; Emlin G. Campbell, 1898-1900; Charles Comesky, 1900-2; 
William H. Ettinger, 1902-4; John C. Baxter, 1904-6: Frank Broughton and 
Fred Briggs, 1906-8; Fred Briggs, 1908-10-12; E. Treesh, 1912-14. 

PROSECUTORS. 

Reuben J. Davidson, 1843-5; John W. Dawson, 1845-7; Reuben J. Daw- 
son, 1847-9; Timothy R. Dickinson, 1849-50; Egbert B. Mott, 1850-2; J. M. 
McConnell, 1852-4; John W. Dawson, 1854-6; Sanford J. Stoughton, 1856-8; 
James M. Schell, 1858-9; George D. Copeland, 1859-60; Augustus A. Chapin, 
1860-2; James H. Schell, 1862-4; Joseph W. Cunningham, 1864-6; Thomas 
Wilson, 1866-7; Thomas J. Smith, 1867-70; Thomas Wilson, 1870-2; Leigh 
H. Playmond, 1872-4; William B. McConnell, 1874-6; Daniel H. Moody, 
1876-8; George B. Adams, 1878-80; George B. Adams, 1880-2; Harry Rey- 
nolds, 1882-4; Francis M. Powers, 1884-6; E. A. Bratton, 1886-8; H. Leas, 
1888-92; Joseph Butler, 1892-6-8: Cyrus B. Jackson, 1898-1900; Joseph 
Butler, 1900-2; Alphonso Wood, 1902-4; Charles S. Smith, 1904-6; J. Delano 
Brinkerhoff, 1906-8; Joseph Butler. 1908-10: \\"i!Iiani II. Leas, 1910-12; 
James R. Nyce, 1912-1914. 

COMMON PLEAS PROSECUTORS. 

W. W. Griswold, 1852-4; Asa M. Tinker, 1854-6; Leland H. Stocker, 
1856-8; Abner Pinchin, 1858-60; Joseph W. Cummings, 1860-2; Alexan- 
der B. Kennedy, 1862-4; Asa M. Tinker, 1864.-6; Joseph D. Ferrall, 1866-8; 
William G. Croxton, 1868-70-2; Daniel Y. Husselman, 1872-4. The office 
was then abolished and the business turned o\-er to the circuit court. 
(17) 



258 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 



JUDGES. 



In the chapter, "Bench and Bar." is given a full list of the judges (com- 
mon pleas, associate, and circuit) who have served DeKalb county or terri- 
tories comprising the county. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



HISTORY OF EDUCATION. 



THE EARLY .SCHOOI.. 

The following is from the maniuscript of J- E. Rcse, being part of an 
address delivered before the Old Settlers' Association on June 15, 1882: 

"The first schoolhouse built in the county ^vas, I think, in the Handy- 
settlement, three miles south of tlie place where the town of Butler now is. It 
would be a curiosity now. Permit me to describe it today as it stood more 
than forty years ago. It was built of round logs, that is of unhewn logs, and 
sixteen feet wide and twenty-four long, with a puncheon floor and a sled- 
runner chimney; a fireplace extending across one end of the building, and a 
door near the corner in the side. The chimney was made of mud and sticks. 
and was so large at the top that much of the light that illuminated the literary 
path of the students during the weeks, or the spiritual path of the churchgoers 
on Sunday, came down the chimney through the smoke. At the end of the 
room opposite the fireplace, was the window which consisted of a row of 
'seven by nine' glass, occupying the place of a log that had Ijeen left out when 
the building was raised. The window was nine inches high and sixteen feet 
long, and when a snowball passing through the air without the aid of human 
agency (for no boy ever threw a snowball that hit a window"), and a pane of 
glass was broken, its place was sujiplied by a piece of oiled paper. 

"These were usually sup])lante<l with glass at the commencement of a 
term: the number of accidents of th;it mysterious nature that transpired dur- 
ing the term could be determined by the number of greased papers in the 
window, and as these unprovided panes of glass became nmnerous in the 
window and were not exceedingly translucent during cold, cloudy days, when 
the door must l^e kept shut, the whole school literally groped in darkness. The 
writing desk was a hewn puncheon placed against the wall, at an angle of 
forty-five degrees, in front of the window . and a seat at the writing desk was 



26o DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

a post of honor enjoyed only by the large scholars, and those who occupied it 
were envied as bitterly by the balance of the school as the senior class in col- 
lege is by the freshmen. The cracks between the logs were chinked with 
pieces of wood and daubed with mud outside and in. The ceiling was made 
of round poles extending from one side of the room to the other, the ends 
resting in cracks made large for that purpose on each side. 

"Over the poles mud was spread in copious profusion, which, when dried, 
formed a ceiling that bid defiance alike to piercing winds of winter and the 
scorching heat of the summer sun. The roof was made of clapboards held to 
their place by logs laid on top of them, called weight-poles. The seats were 
made of sassafras poles about six inches in diameter, split in two, the heart 
side up, and wooden pins or legs in the bottorh or oval sides. These were 
made to suit the comfort of full grown men, and hence were so high from the 
floor that the aid of the teacher was necessary to place the small scholars on 
their seats; and when there no little care was required on their part of avoid 
falling off. 

EAKLV TEXT BOOKS. 

"The text books used were the Western spelling book, the New Testa- 
ment, and for advanced scholars, the old English reader. The scholars who 
ciphered used such arithmetics as they could procure, but Dabold's predom- 
inated ; and when an industrious and studious scholar had reached the 'rule of 
three," the teacher, to avoid an exposition of his ignorance of the mysteries 
beyond, prudently required a review, and the mathematical ardor of the am- 
bitious youth was cooled by being turned back to notation and compelled to 
memorize the fine print and foot notes. As there was not a uniformity of 
books, there were no classes except spelling and reading classes, and each stu 
dent studied arithmetic 'on his own hook.' The advent of such a man as my 
friend Houser or Keeran into the neighborhood at that time, with their 
sample desks and ink wells, slate blackboards and crayon pencils, terrestial and 
celestial globes, Spencerian copy books, and a trunk full of eclectic spellers, 
readers, mental and practical arithmetics, grammars, geographies, histories, 
steel pens and pointers, would have attracted more attention and created more 
excitement among the pioneers than did the Rev. Lewis Hickman, lecturing on 
Millerism, with his illustrated map, as large as a bed blanket, on which were 
pictures of the great dragon that John the re\-elator saw, with its crowned 
heads and ten horns; with its glowing mouth and red hot fangs through 
which blue, sickening and sulphurous flames seethingly issued ; with its ser- 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 261 

pentinc caudal appendage drawing in its train one-third of the stars of 
heaven. 

"None of the modern improvements and discoveries to aid in the cause 
of a practical education was then known in this county. No graded reading 
books or spellers, no blackboards, steel pens or mathematical frames, no globes 
or varnished pointers. Then, we had pointers, fresh hickories cut from the 
adjacent thicket with the jackknife of the teacher. They were applied to the 
backs of the wayward youth to demonstrate the propriety of searching for the 
most direct route to obedience." 

EDUCATION IN THE TOWNSHIPS. 

In Franklin township the first school house was built on section twelve, 
the present site of section one, and was known in 1840 as the Houlton school 
house. The first teacher was Lucy Orton, of Angola, Steuben. 

The first school in Jackson township was taught in a log cabin on section 
twtnty-three by James P. Plummer in 1845. 

The first school house in Newville township was built of round bass- 
wood logs, about sixteen by twenty feet, with a "shake" roof held in place by 
weight poles. The house otherwise was similar to the other log houses, and 
was built in the spring of 1839, and the following fall the school was taught 
by Marietta E. Robinson for a dollar and a half a week. A new frame school 
house was built about 1843, afterward the site of the United Brethren par- 
sonage, and in 1850 a church and school building was erected under the lead 
of R. Faurot. In 1852 a select school was opened by Faurot, which was main- 
tained until 1861. After Faurot, the principals were: J. E. Hendrix, A 
Hartness, L. Barr and others. In 1861 it became a township school. The 
first school in the township, however, and also the first in DeKalb county, was 
taught in 1837, by Eunice Strong. The house was a frame, sided up with 
shaved clapboards, or whip shingles. It was the first frame house built in the 
county. It stood on section seven. 

In Richland township the fir-t ^cIkkjI bouse was erected at Green's Cor- 
ners prior to 1 84 1. In 1849 ^ fi'ame was put up by Charles Knapp on the 
old site. A year or two later L. D. Britton was a teacher in this building. In 
1842 a log school house was built a half mile northeast of Calkin's Corners; 
Loretta Dawson was the teacher, and she had fifteen pupils. Harvey Smith 
was the first male teacher. 

In Smithfield township Isaac B. Smith and Reuben J. Daniels put up a 
log school house on the corner of the farm of the latter during the year 1839. 



262 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Miss Murray was the first teacher, and Laura Phelps the second. The better 
financial condition of the farmers in later years was apparent in the erection 
of several frame schoolhouses at nearly the same date. Albert Blake. George 
Duncan and Peter Colgrove were a few of the early teachers. 

The first school house in Staffortl township stood in the \\'anamaker 
settlement. 

In Wilmington township the primitive log school house was supplanted 
by a frame structure in 1855, among the teachers in this being Hamlin Fay, 
Mrs. Wood, Miss Stroy, Mrs. Butler and J. A. Campbell. A three-story brick 
building was erected in 1867, at a cost of twelve thousand dollars. The first 
teacher in it was Deck. Thomas. The first regular school was opened by Rev. 
G. \Y. Bowersox. William H. Mcintosh, L. L. Hamlin, James Burrier. 
Leavitt, J. P. Rouse, D. D. Luke, C. A. Fyke. O. Z. Hubbell and T. J. San- 
ders were other principals of this school. 

The Husselman school in Union township, in what is now Grant town- 
ship, was originated in 1844 and 1845, and Mary Maxwell was the teacher. 
Of the thirteen pupils, six of them belonged to the Husselman family. The 
school house of that day was a little log house built in the woods. Jacob 
McEntarfer was the builder. It had two windows, one door, mud in the 
walls, clapboard roof, with weights to hold it on, no nails being used. Hunches 
were used, being six feet long, with hewed slabs and legs without backs, to sit 
on. Boards were placed on pins in the walls to write on. Goose quill pens 
were used, and the ink was made by boiling maple bark in copperas. The 
blackboard was two by three feet. .A fireplace supplied the heat. The study 
course was English readers, Cobb's speller, arithmetic, writing, and school 
was taught by saying "books." Sessions were from eight until half-past four, 
with three quarters of an hour for noon, and no other recess. The school 
house burned to the ground after being used for about four years, and other 
houses have been erected since, the present one being the fifth. The school 
term was three months in duration, and the teacher received fifty cents per 
day, with the privilege of boarding around. Pupils wore home-made clothes, 
and were guided through the woods on their way to school by blazed trees. 
From the school house, remains of Indian camps could be seen; deer would 
come up to the school, wild turkeys were in the woods, black, red and gray 
squirrels were plentiful. The latter were so numerous that the lads would 
chase a drove of eight or ten up a tree at one time. In the swamp lands sur- 
rounding, many snakes, birds, cranes, foxes, wolves and bears were seen. 
Venison, turkey, corn cake, etc., were the supplies carried to school by the 
children. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 263 

SCHOOL HISTORY OF AUBURN. 

In 1840, Mr. Sherlock, trustee, realized a necessity of teaching the chil- 
dren, so he went in search of a teacher, and found Miss Jane Bailey, who was 
engaged to teach a subscription school for the summer term. The school was 
held in a deserted, partly unfinished building, which was also used for 
meetings. 

In 1849, William Clark and Joel Hendricks are remembered as teachers 
in Auburn. Clark, famed for his instruction of elocution, taught in an humble 
frame school house that stood on a lot afterward owned and occupied by Mrs. 
Regina Weaver. Mr. Hendricks, a famous mathematician, opened and con- 
tinued a school through the winter of 1849 ^"d 1850, his school room being 
the northeast room of the second story of the then court house. The district 
schools in the winter of 1849 ^^ere kept by Paul A. McMynn, Michael and 
Cyrus Seiler, and Calvin P. Houser. Another teacher of the '49 period was 
William Reynolds, who died near the end of the year of typhoid fever. In 
the spring of 1849 ^ short term of school was taught by Sophia Merrill. 
In the autumn of 1850, John B. Clark came from Lagrange county and opened 
a select school. He was one of the most severe teachers ever in the county, 
although he was kindly. He followed strict rules of discipline, and conse- 
quently his pupils learned their lessons well. At one time he suddenly asked 
of his pupils: "If I call a sheep's tail a leg, how many legs has a sheep?" 
"Five," responded the eager pupils. After a moment, Clark added, "Does 
calling a sheep's tail a leg make it one ?" This was a lesson direct. 

ESTABLISHMENT OF UNIFORM SCHOOLS. 

The inauguration of the general and uniform system of schools in 
Auburn and DeKalb county was under the provision of the act passed June 
14, 1852. The school law was in force in August of that year, at which date 
its provisions were circulated in pamphlet form in the different counties of 
the state by authority, but it did not become practically operative until the 
first Monday in April, 1853, when township trustees for school purposes were 
elected in the townships of the counties. The first duties of the trustees were 
to establish and locate a sufficient number of schools for the education of all 
the children within respective limits. 

Before this time, shabby rooms had l>een employed for school purposes. 
Mr. Hendricks once used a room in the court house. Here and there in 



264 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

DeKalb county, the people had erected houses. On June 14, 1853, there 
was formed in Butler township, at the farm house of Orrin C. Clark, an 
organization known as the Union School House Educational Societ}'. Three 
trustees were elected, namely : Henry Clark, Harris and Jacob Dahman. 

In some townships and counties in the state in 1853, there was not a 
single school house of any kind to be found. In other localities, the log 
houses, dilapidated and poorly equipped, were worse than nothing. It was 
thought that fully thirty-five hundred schools should be built in the state. 

By provisions of the new constitution, each township was made a munici- 
pal corporation of which every voter was a member. The state had provided 
a system of public instruction and now intrusted its execution to its cities, 
towns and townships. No authority had been given to levy a special school 
tax without the consent of the voters, to be given at a general or special meet- 
ing. This restricted the development, for, in some places, no meetings were 
held, and, in others, the vote was adverse. 

Auburn citizens ordered the clerk to post notices of an election for school 
tru.'-tees and for a vote on tax or no tax for school purposes in Auburn. On 
May 14, 1853, the polls were opened, but only twenty-five men voted, twenty- 
two of whom were for the tax. 

There were in 1853, thirty-one schools in DeKalb county; nine of the.se. 
mostly built of logs, were in Concord township. As late as 1876, but few of 
the old log houses were standing and none was in use. Prof. Barnes, in a 
centennial article on education, published in the Waterloo Press, illustrates 
progress in school architecture as follows : "In one district in Butler town- 
ship, may be seen within a few rods of one another, the three representative 
school houses of the county. On the east side of the Fort Wayne wagon 
road, is the old log school house, on the west side of the road is the old frame 
house that succeeded it, and a few feet west of the latter stands the new brick 
school house erected in 1875." 

In Auburn, the log cabin of O. C. Houghton was rented for three months 
for two dollars, and was fitted up for school use. At a special meeting held 
November 29, 1853, it was decided to have two free schools in Auburn. 
Teachers were very scarce, as the wages were too small. The average was 
eighteen dollars per month to male, and ten dollars to female. The organiza- 
tion of every town and township into school districts greatly increased the 
demand for teachers. Few applicants for license could pass any examina- 
tion. W. C. Larrabee, state superintendent of public instruction, found here 
a difficulty. The law required him to appoint deputies in each countv to 




SS5SS=:|_'-'" — 



OLD ACADEMY AT AUBURN 
Burned October 16, 1875 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 265 

examine applicants for license, but no standard of qualification was made. 
The legislature of 1853, amended this law and transferred the authority to 
appoint examiners to the county commissioners and at the same time made a 
standard of qualification. The board of examiners for DeKalb county for 
1853 was composed of E. W. Fosdick, S. W. Dickinson, and L. D. Britton. 
The number of persons licensed to teach in 1853 was sixty-nine. 

There were no normal schools. However, teachers' institutes had been 
organized in some counties. In 1867. an institute was held in what was the 
Presbyterian church at Auburn, with an attendance of fifty, and Prof. Patch 
as the principal instructor. John Dancer and Abigail Wolsey were employed 
to teach in the two schools of Auburn, the former to receive sixty dollars for 
three months, and the latter forty-eight, and to pay own expenses. Schools 
were ordered to open on Wednesday, December 7, 1853. 

The books then used in the schools were: McGuffy's readers, Ray's 
arithmetic, Bullion's grammar, Mitchell's geography, Davis' geometry and 
algebra. Olnistead's philosophy and Webster's elementary spelling book. 

AUBURN ACADEMY. 

In March, 1859, Andrew Larimore made application to teach in the old 
academy, and was successful, and on August 8th, was employed as principal 
in what was known as Auburn Union School. In i860, school began to be 
more patronized. Students were in high school departments, and a new era 
seemed to be forthcoming. 

In 1858 the academy was built, and opened August 22, 1858^ inaugurat- 
ing the graded free school system in Auburn. The academy was of three 
stories. One outer door gave access to all of the rooms. Winding stairs 
led to the upper floors. The furniture on the interior was old-fashioned, 
very cumbersome and unsuited for use. On the first floor were the primary 
and intermediate rooms, on the second floor the grammar and high school de- 
partments, and on the third floor was the rhetorical room, with a platform at 
one end, on which students might try their lung capacity in recitation and 
declamation. By the year 1869 the academy was crowded with students. 
In this year education was progressing very rapidly all over the county. 
Butler had erected good schools, as also had many other places in the county. 

SPELLING MATCHES. 

Matters in the educational line were not confined to the schools, for in 
the >-pring of 1875 a spelling epidemic broke out and became the rage through- 



266 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

out the county. Auburn citizens took a lively interest in the spontaneous, but 
short-lived, revi\a! of the old-fashioned spelling school. Matches were held 
in which prominent citizens and their families participated. However, inter- 
est soon declined and the custom gradually fell into disuse. 

On July 5, 1875, the school board bought of J. H. Ford for six hundred 
and scnciUv-iiNi' dollars, lots number seventy-nine and eighty in west Auburn, 
upon which to build a ward school house some time during the summer. 
Bonds to the amount of three thousand dollars were authorized by the town 
trustees to provide the means. The contract for the proposed building was 
awarded during July to Messrs. Lewis Griffith and George S. .McCord, of 
Fort Wayne, for two thousand one hundred and fifty-seven dollars and fifty- 
six cents. The work was to be finished by August 20. The house was built 
of brick, and two stories. School was taught therein for a time, when the 
building stood vacant, the outlay seemed ill placed and premature, and the 
unattractive structure, surrounded by rank vegetation in the summer, sug- 
gested the unfinished university on a Kansas prairie. The necessities of 
cramped accommodations finally brought about the use of the building for a 
primary school. 

Meanwhile the school board added very much to the appearance of the 
new school grounds in the central western part of the town, by planting 
shrubbery, making walks, and surrounding them with a fence. S. B. Duncan 
furnished one hundred and fift)' evergreens at a cost of one hundred and 
twelve dollars and fifty cents, and eight chestnuts for six dollars, and Albert 
Wells received thirty-five and a half dollars for one hundred and fifty young 
forest trees. 

DESTRUCTION OF ACADEMY. 

The schools opened auspiciously, and the usual routine was being con- 
ducted on the line of study and discipline, when the schools were dismissed 
for the day, and, as it proved, to assemble no more in the old academy. In 
the early evening of October 16, 1875, an alarm of fire was given and soon the 
tidings spread that the school house was burning. Men were promptly on 
the spot, but they had no ladders nor other appliances to reach and attack the 
fire, which originated in the west end of the building. The population of 
the town crowded to the scene and looked on helplessly while the building in 
a short time enveloped in flames, slowly burned. Prudent forethought had 
placed three thousand dollars insurance on the building and five hundred on 
the furniture. This was a great help in the subsequent building. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 267 

The demand for a new school house was imperative, and in this emerg- 
ency the school board issued ten thousand dollars' worth of eight per cent. 
bonds, the last payable nineteen years from date. These bonds were taken 
by New York parties and the proceeds of sale were turned over to the school 
board to be applied in erecting a school house. 

FIRST HIGH SCHOOL. 

Work was begun upon the first Auburn high school building in the spring 
of 1876, under the general management of the school board. The site was 
well chosen, the structure was of brick two stories high, in dimensions sixty- 
one by seventy-five feet, and the highest point was sixty feet above ground. 
The foundation walls were of free stone, and supplied a roomy basement. 

The contract was let to James W. Case, who it will be remembered, was 
one of the builders of the academy. The job was awarded to him at nine 
thousand, six hundred and seventy dollars ; he was one of thirteen bidders. 

The building was erected in accordance with plans and specifications pre- 
pared by Messrs. Moser & Gibbs, of Toledo, Ohio. This school house was 
substantially built at a personal loss to the contractor, who erred in making 
his bid too low. The furniture consisted of modern and comfortable seats 
and desks, and was furnished by C. P. Houser for eight hundred dollars. 

Heat was effected by means of two Boynton patent hot air furnaces, 
which cost four hundred dollars. The entire cost of the first building was 
twelve thousand three hundred and thirty-two dollars. Michael Seller of 
Fairfield township was the first superintendent in this school at a salary of 
one thousand fifty dollars a year. 

This building was destroyed by fire on the evening of Tuesday, Novem- 
ber 30, 1880. The first was first seen near the heating apparatus in the base- 
ment, where it undoubtedly originated. It was of very small proportions 
when first seen, and with proper facilities could have been extinguished. 
However, the building was a total loss. 

Undaunted, the citizens and authorities at once took measures for the con- 
struction of a new building. 

PROGRESS OF EDUCATION. 

The Auburn Courier of January 22, 1891, published a very compre- 
hensive and entertaining article on the progress of education in DeKalb 



268 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

county between tlie years 1866 and 1891, written by William H. Mcintosh, 
one of the pioneer teachers of the county. The article in full is as follows : 

"That progress has been made and is still making in the system and 
appliances for common school education, not alone, though conspicuous, in 
our county, but in general throughout the state, is plain to the most casual 
experienced observer. 

"Not until thoughtful attention has been directed to this all-important 
subject, however, do the striking changes for the better and along the lines 
of genuine and permanent advancement in all that pertains to schools and 
school teaching, become evident. 

"It becomes an unexpected pleasure to have found ample grounds for 
encouragement for trustees, parents and teachers in a partial presentation of 
testimony that the great cause of popular education is being advanced in grand 
movement towards approximate perfection. There is no need to unjustly dis- 
parage the past to honor the present. Indiana's complete school system is 
the combined and adequate effect of long and tireless effort. Good schools 
in village and district, there were a quarter century ago. Earnest, efficient 
and successful educators unexcelled since in all the essentials of pedagogy 
were not wanting, and they were recompensed measurably according to 
deserts by intelligent patrons whose wise forethought secured their services. 

"In the face of difficulties now unknown, those intrepid, enthusiastic 
leaders in teaching inspired pupils with love of learning, pride in their schools 
and noble ambition to excel ; they enlisted the ready sympathy and co-opera- 
tion of parents, and filled the community at large with confidence and desire 
to increase school facilities and to augment the number of such educators. 

"Inscribed upon the roll as the first to avail themselves of the State 
Normal school at Terre Haute, and to pioneer the way to better things and 
educative methods in DeKalb county, stand the honored names of C. P. 
Houser, and the brothers Cyrus and Michael Seller. Since their day even 
our state institutions have been pleased to secure as teachers in advanced 
branches the services of young men from this county whose ambition was in- 
cited and fostered by those and such like progressive instructors. 

"But while these few in the van upheld and aroused school interest, the 
general mass of teachers were woefully deficient in theory and practice of 
teaching, the people in contentment of ignorance of the character of their 
school never or rarely inspected them and the standard of education remained 
apparently stationary at the close of term after term. 

"But agencies were at work, destined to revolutionize these conditions, 
and the normal schools conducted by school examiners, the powerful influence 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 269 

of the county institute, the selection for township trustee of live men and 
leading local schoolmasters, awakened a sentiment whose fruition is mani f est 
in various progressive measures to which attention is briefly directed in a 
retrospection commencing with the school site and closing with the teacher at 
work. 

''We have, then, first, better school sites as to area and location. The time 
is recent when trustees with good sense and no small degree of courage, im- 
periled their popularity by geographical locations of school sites, and when 
the apology for a school house built upon the very field corner had but the 
ground it occupied, itself the focus whence fences diverged as from an angle. 
The public highway was the only playground, and there was absolutely no 
provisions for privacy. 

"There were no wells for water, no sheds for wood, no trees for shade, 
and children were given less consideration than stock upon the farms. 

"Gradually, these injurious and shameful conditions have been changed 
till the worst features have been eliminated, but gross evils easily remedied 
yet exist. 

"The proper area for a school site — an acre of ground — has in many 
districts been purchased, arrangement has been made for separate play- 
grounds, conveniences in the interest of health and morality have been sup- 
plied, and permanence reached in central, healthful and ample sites. 

"In all communities there exist those progressive and those obstinately 
opposed to progress, and the traveler sees in the size and location of school 
grounds indisputable indications of the predominant district influence. 

"Secondly, the number of districts has been reduced. Instead of twelve 
illy located schools, there are but nine in the full congressional township, and 
each district theoretically complete comprises four sections. This hard-won 
improvement has reduced the cost to the towmship o f its schools, increased the 
number attending each and enabled trustees to pay higher salaries and to ex- 
tend the terms. 

"No live teacher but feels encouraged when the consolidation of two 
weak schools has given him the stimulus of full classes, in one strong one. 
A notable illustration of this fact appeared in the union of numbers five and 
six, Wilmington township, under the able management of J. J. Eakright, vet- 
eran district teacher of the school at Moores Station, successfully contesting 
the honors of leadership in interest, atcndance and scholarship, not only in the 
district but in the town schools. 

"Third, there has been great improvement in the style and material of 
school buildings. Twenty-five years ago, the age of log houses had been 



2/0 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

succeeded by that of frame structures, and in these later years they in their 
turn have been superseded by spacious, convenient, and attractive brick edifices 
of handsome exterior and interior. Most have been fully supplied with 
slated blackboards, modern seats and desks, boxes for firewood, some appa- 
ratus and heating stoves, designed with falling window sashes to secure even 
temperature and proper ventilation. 

"What caricatures of houses those old, weather-Iseaten. dilapidated frame 
buildings were! Outside rough, heavy shutters, swayed by winter winds, 
swung creaking back and forth, slamming against sash and clapboard. Within, 
a red-hot stove was encircled by a favored few, while others at their seats, 
sufifered with the cold. 

"The air was unwholesome and heated in some, and the recess or noon- 
ing-time brought in pure atmosphere like a breath from Paradise. 

"What seats! Inconvenient, immovable, ink-splashed, knife-notched. 
What lack of blackboard and seats for recitation ! 

"That good work was done under great disadvantages heightens claim 
to honorable recognition of the faithful labors of the teachers of that time, 
and emphasizes a silent, but conscious, demand tiiat present progi-ess shall be 
proportionate to the ratio of modern advantages. 

"Popular interest has been awakened and interested in school archi- 
tecture and the election to the office of trustee of competent progressive men. 
Often leading teachers in their townships ha\e made the schoolroom pleasant 
and healthful as the home. 

"Fourth, progress and change mark the method of raising the money 
wherein to recompense teachers. 

"In 1854, the income derived from school fund was but $159,501.17', 
from loans at seven per cent, interest. Two and a half per cent, of this was 
paid the county auditor and the treasurer for their services, leaving but $143,- 
551.06 for distribution. This gave thirty-five cents per child enumerated, 
between the ages of five and twenty-one years. The state levy was ten cents 
on each one hundred dollars valuation, and fifty cents on each poll. 

"In 1866, the rate school was obsolete, and salary was a compound of 
board and wages. Teacher boarded in families such times as the number of 
children in the family bore to the number of days in the term. Local tuition 
taxes were unknown, and from the state was derived the common school fund 
based upon the annual enumeration of children of school age. 

"After successive changes, always in the line of economv, school taxa- 
tion has varied until it falls hea\ily and directly upon the land owners in 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 2/1 

respective townships of the county, and declares plainly the cost of free 
schools. Last year the state sold upward of four million dollars' worth of 
three per cent, bonds to eastern capitalists, and applied the proceeds to pay- 
ment of its indebtedness to the school fund. Till then the state and other 
borrowers had paid interest at eight, then seven i)cr cent. ; later, when these 
vast sums had been distributed to the counties, the rate was still further re- 
duced to six per cent., always payable in advance. 

"Present sources of revenue are school fund interest, state tax, township 
tuition tax, surplus dog fund, and moneys for liquor licenses. The people 
are content when satisfied that for each dollar paid a dollar's worth is re- 
ceived. The state school fund disbursed in DeKalb in 1889 was eighteen 
thousand dollars. The tuition home levy was twelve thousand dollars and 
the special, sixteen thousand dollars. 

"Fifth, there has been progress in the increased number of branches re- 
quired taught, the uniformity of text books, cheapened in cost, the gradation 
of instruction and the system of honorable graduation. 

"Physiology and history, formerly exceptional, are now regular studies. 
Where it was common to find in one school, among those of the same ability, 
classes in Kidd's or Putnam's elocution and fifth and sixth readers, Pinneo's 
and Clark's grammar, McNally's and Mitchell's geography. White's, Ray's 
and Robinson's arithmetics, now is seen one strong class in each branch of 
study, resulting in time saved, more time to recitation, and the greater in- 
terest in greater numbers. 

"Formerly there was no sequence to instruction of a previous term. 
Teachers, by trial, found where to commence pupils, or left it to them to begin 
in what and wherein they pleased. Winter schools absorbed most interest 
and money and the cheap summer school was a parody on teaching. Now 
the terms are equalized and connected by hiring one person for both, records 
are kept and successive teachers continue each grade where their predecessors 
left off, and the course of studies, systematically arranged, provides for grad- 
uation on its completion. This again simplifies the teacher's labors, and 
stimulates the school to better attendance and effort to reach the goal of their 
aspiration. 

"Sixth, there is improvement in the supervision and payment of teach- 
ers. Formerly no provision was made for inspection of schools and it is on 
record that Spencer Dills and myself, while serving as county school exam- 
iners, and in the performance of that all important duty, at a compensation 
of three dollars a day, were officially notified by county commissioners who 



272 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

were then acting within the law, to cease from such school visitation, as no 
allowance would be made therefor. Their act voiced popular opinion that 
school supervision was an unnecessary expense. The young teacher had no 
experienced superintendent to set him right, the disheartened had no one to 
cheer him, and the incompetent time server met with no one to show his unfit- 
ness. 

"Teachers met only on occasion of the county institute, at which the 
best efifort possible was put forth in their aid. They rarely, if at all, held 
meetings among themselves, and later it was difficult to get them out to 
township institutes. Now superintendent and trustee are required by law to 
visit schools, to encourage, to suggest beneficial changes, to create and foster 
feelings of responsibility, local ambition and professional pride, to make so 
far as practicable the poor schools equal to the best. 

"Formerly teachers at county institute were entertained by the people 
gratis and enjoyed a very good diet in boarding around, now they are salar- 
ied, pay their board, are paid janitor's fees, allowed for day's attendance at 
township institutes, and these changes contribute to self-respect, independence 
and personal health, comfort and time for improvement. 

"Seventh, all these foregoing evidences of progress are subsidiary to 
the one great and all important condition that teachers of good moral char- 
acter and fairly qualified be obtained in sufficient numbers to conduct the 
schools. 

"It has ever been the intent of school legislation to eliminate from the 
profession all that class who owed their employment to misdirected sym- 
pathy, and to lax examination of qualifications. Ignorant pretenders and 
failures elsewhere no longer caricature keeping school, and gradually the 
standard of proficiency and ability has been elevated in favor of higher 
grades of teachers. To whatever extent this object has been realized, pro- 
portionate progress in education has been made, for it is not to be questioned 
that the character of schools for morality, discipline and study is based upon 
the possession and practice of those virtues by those who influence, govern 
and teach in them. 

"In the primitive condition of pioneer settlement, each locality neces- 
sarily hinlt its own house and provided and paid its own schoolmaster. Young 
men and women attended in winter, and such scenes were witnessed and 
enjoyed as have been recently enacted in Huntington county, where the 
county superintendent, on his visitation, after finding several teachers locked 
out for a Christmas treat, at length entered the school house to find the 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 273 

schoolmaster bound fast to his desk and his insurrectionary pupils perform- 
ing, to the clatter of ash bucket and dinner pail, a parody of the Sioux ghost 
dance. From 1855 to 1875 it was legal and customary for householders of 
any school district, at their annual meeting, to designate by vote their choice 
of a teacher, and the trustee was obligated to hire such person, providing he 
obtained a license to teach. 

"It not infrequently happened that persons so chosen proved utterly un- 
qualified, and knowing this the people petitioned the examiner to exempt 
them from examination in more or less of the branches, notably physiology 
and history, on the ground that theirs were backward schools, and these 
studies would not be taught in them. 

"The climax was reached in my own experience, when a girl whose 
average of seventeen was the lowest of all, brought me a paper signed by 
every householder in the district, petitioning for the issue of a license, ac- 
companied by a statement that she was good enough for them. 

"Abrogation of this popular privilege and the placing of this duty 
solely with the trustee has enabled that officer to locate his teachers to ad- 
vantage, and rendered them less dependent upon their patrons. Enforce- 
ment of legal requirement in granting license created a scarcity of teachers 
and enabled those qualified to demand an advance in wages, and forced those 
desirous of teaching to measures for self-improvement. 

"The examination fee of one dollar has been abolished, and the exam- 
ination made free, while the widely varying estimates of examiners has 
been made uniform by state supply of questions to superintendents. A great 
change has transpired in teachers past and present. It was the rule to employ 
men in winter, women in summer, and such as reversed this condition were 
regarded as out of their proper place. 

"The winter teachers were energetic and capable young men, residents 
of the township preferably, and these living at their homes secured higher 
wages than are now saved. Those teachers were experienced, ambitious and 
of excellent character and cannot be surpassed, present or future, whatever 
changes otherwise occur. 

"They are remembered with pride and affectionate regard and recog- 
nized as having been strong and hearty co-workers with patrons and officials 
in the noble work of promoting the great cause of education. The change 
caused by hiring one teacher for the school year threw out these teachers 
and caused an irreparable loss, viewed from the standpoint of a winter term, 
(18) 



274 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

but the gain to summer schools, and the encouragement offered to become pro- 
fessional teachers doubtless largely compensated, by continuous and intelli- 
gent work for the year, for the apparent loss. Hiring for the year did away 
with discrimination in wages, left the field largely to young women and 
equalized the importance and compensation of the two periods of the year. 

"I have faith and \'igilance in the courage of Indiana teachers. As her 
volunteer soldiers reckoned not of limb or life in the fight for national in- 
tegrity, so her great army of teachers will not prove recreant to the cause 
of education, and the schools of DeKalb will continue under her teachers to 
improve and progress in the line with the foremost and the best." 

EDUCATION IN GARRETT. 
(By J. R. SkiUing.) 

In the spring of 1876 the town board appointed the first school trustees 
for the town of Garrett as follows : Dr. S. M. Sherman, Dr. A. S. Parker 
and N. W. Lancaster. As soon as these gentlemen were qualified and or- 
ganized they at once commenced preparing for the construction of a school 
house. Two architects at Toledo, Ohio, were employed to draw plans and 
specifications for the proposed building. These were promptly executed and 
furnished for a building to cost sixteen thousand dollars. 

Objections were raised by the town trustees and many of the citizens, 
who protested against involving the young town with such an enormous and 
unnecessary bonded debt, claiming that a six thousand dollar school house 
would be sufficient. Public meetings were called, and many objections ex- 
pressed against this move, as this was in the time of the panic of i87'3, ^nd 
the tidal wave of the boom of the new town was about to recede to low ebb, 
as many of the citizens were in debt for their homes. So, after much parley- 
ing and contention, the school trustees let the contract to build the school as 
per plans and specifications to J. W. Harvey, a Chicago contractor who had 
just finished the Baltimore & Ohio shops. The construction of the school 
house was commenced in the latter part of 1876. and, it being in a heavy 
wood, the first work was to cut down the large oak trees. 

During the time of the construction of the new building there were two 
schools opened. The first was a select school, which was opened about the 
first of September, 1876, in the new Catholic church, with Josephine Bisset 
as teacher. Mr. Frank Moody was trustee of Butler township and he had 
furnished new seats and desks for a district school, so he turned the old 
seats and desks over to Garrett school trustees. They put them in the News 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 275 

printing office building on the corner north of the Baptist church. About the 
time that the district schools were opening in the fall of 1876 for the winter 
term, there was a school opened in this building with Mrs. A. S. Parker as 
teacher. Work was rushed on the new building so that the first public school 
was opened in Januar}^, 1877, to fill out the unexpired term of that year. 
There were one hundred and twenty pupils enrolled in September, 1876. In 
September, 1880, there were two hundred and twenty-eight pupils enrolled, 
and in 1882 two hundred and fifty-four. 

The first graduating class of the (iarrett public school was composed of 
Charles Sembovver, William Ward, Lulu Milbourne and Maud Tarney. The 
graduating exercises were held at the Methodist Episcopal church on Friday 
evening, May 27, 1885. 

Since 1885 Garrett has taken the lead in this county in the progress and 
development of education. There was a new school house built on the north 
side in 1900 at a cost of five thousand dollars, and in 1906 our promoters of 
education and public improvements liad a magnificent and modern high 
school building constructed at a cost of twentv thousand dollars. 



SCHOOL STATISTICS. 

At present there is a total enrollment of two thousand and twenty- 
seven pupils in the schools of DeKalb county. There are one hundred and 
three school houses in the county. The average daily attendance for the last 
year has been one thousand two hundred and seventeen. There has been a 
total of one hundred and forty-three thousand three hundred eighty-nine 
dollars and sixty-four cents spent in the last year for the support of the 
schools. 

TEACHERS AND OFFICERS. 

The following list comprises all of the teachers and officers of DeKalb 
county in 1912 and 1913 : County superintendent, Dr. Lida Leasure, of 
Auburn; township trustees, Butler, G. W. Burtzner; Concord, Samuel Mu- 
maw; Fairfield, Clark Hemstreet; Franklin, Oliver Oberlin; Grant, Harry 
Reed ; Jackson, S. H. Nugen ; Keyser, S. H. Downend ; Newville, John White- 
hurst; Richland, George Shafifer; Smithfield, J. W. Mortorfif; Stafford, C. 
W. Webster; Spencer, W. G. Erick; Troy, Daniel Burkhart; Union, Frank 
Pyles; Wilmington, F. W. Nimmons; truant officer, Ed. Van Fleit, of Garrett. 

The city and town school boards are as follows : Auburn, M. Boland, 



276 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

president; J. A. Mclntyre, secretary; Fred Knott, treasurer. Butler, Sam G. 
Stone, president ; George W. Geddes, L. C. Bewhrer. Garrett, J. F. Thomp- 
son, D. B. Van Fleit, Warren McNabb; Altona, F. L. Rodenbaugh, G. W. 
Fretz, Theo. Houser; Ashley, I. N. Cox, Daniel Rhinesmith, A. W. Gonser; 
Corunna, O. C. Smith, Eugene Treesh, W. A. Kennedy; Waterloo, D. L. 
Leas, J. E. Showalter, Harry Beidler. 

The city and town teachers are as follows: Auburn, J. A. Langston, 
superintendent; high school, P. W. Kiser, C. E. York, Mary E. Mulvey, 
Maud S. Armstrong, Lulu M. Bateman, Blanche E. O'Brien, Agnes U. 
Jeffrey; Harrison building, Clarence Wyant, principal, Myrtle Clark, Roy C. 
Nugen, Pearl Mason, Myrtle Hornberger, Belle Cooper, Nellie Wilderson, 
Bonnie Seiler, Bertha Maegerlein ; DeSota building, I. M. Cosper, principal, 
Martha Rupley, Grace Hines, Gertrude Renner; Riley building, Lydia Teet- 
ers, principal, Delia Maginnis, Sadie Houston, Josephine Bryant. In Gar- 
rett F. M. Merica is superintendent; James H. Green is principal of the high 
school, and the teachers are Geraldine Sembower, Maude Camp, Vera Van 
Auken, Bessie Berry ; South Side building, Will Franks, O. V. Franks, Gladys 
Halter, Benjamin Miller, Lottie Miles, Marie Warren, Martha Dick, Pauline 
McFann, Georgia Sembower, Jessie Brown, Beatrice Bowers, Pauline Kings- 
bury and Ada Chew; North Side building, John Reinoehl and Maybelle Sny- 
der. In Butler H. E. Coe is superintendent; Geneva Kimmel is principal of 
the high school, and the teachers are Carrie B. Lipe, B. L. Baily, Hazel Har- 
rison and Ethel Weick ; other teachers in grades are Nellie Gary, Coral Scho- 
ville, Muriel Baker, Myra Scott, Grace Maginnis, P. D. Hamman, B. L. 
Bailey. A. L. Moudy is superintendent at Waterloo, G. E. Roop is principal. 
Teachers are Edith Masters, Mary Chapman, Blanch Betz, Etta Wittmer, 
Cora Stanley, Scott H. Rhoads, Bess Showalter, Anna Snader. Ashley has 
A. N. Faulkerson as superintendent, and Marie Thrush as principal. The 
teachers are as follows: Alma Husselman, Dora Baird, Charles Parsell, 
Clara DeCamp. In Spencerville, J. F. Slaybaugh is superintendent, Sylvia 
Yager is principal. Teachers are Zona Horn, Melvin Howey and Jennie 
Steward. St. Joe is represented by L. A. Thatcher, superintendent, Frank 
Baltz, Roy Maxwell and Ethel Leighty. M. T. Markley and Cordice Hal- 
lett are teachers at Corunna. Robert Ulm and Myrtle Griffin serve at Altona. 

The following are the district teachers, preceded by the number of their 
school: Butler, one, Anna Bevier; two. Lulu Heitz; three, Lovina Pfaff; five, 
Carl Shull; six, Claude Miller. Concord, two. Glen Freeborn; four, Ida 
Widney; five, Ralph Sechler ; seven, Mary Scholes. Fairfield, three, Grace 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 277 

Widdicombe ; four Louise Kuckuck; six, Lena Stomm; seven, William Mc- 
Intyre ; nine, Isaiah Wert ; ten, Grace Seery. Franklin, one, L. C. Wyncoop ; 
two, Letha Enzor; three, Orla Fee; four, Elva Albright; five, Grace Water- 
man ; six, Lena Cameron ; seven, Blanche Smith ; eight, Grace Whetsel ; nine, 
Blanche Whetsel. Grant, one, Mae Mcintosh; four, Ethelyn Rowe; five, J. 
A. Husselman; six, Ethel Hallett. Jackson, one, Florence Berry; two, Ida 
Reed; three, A. C. Maurer; four, John Nugen; five. Elsie Farver; six, Jesse 
Provines; eight, Mabel Lochner; nine, Nellie Berry. Keyser, one, Naomi 
Brady; two, Jennie Lasch; three, Jay Olinger; four, Grace Zerkle; five, Cora 
Miller ; six. Ruth Smurr ; seven, Bess Kinsey ; eight, Lulu Kinsey. Newville, 
five, Ray Davis; seven, Clyde Hart, Merritt Maxwell, Gr^ce Kain. Rich- 
land, F. M. Wiltrout; three, Alma Leins; five, Carl Becker; seven, Alida 
Walter; eight, Perry Foote; nine, Mabel Brecbill. Smithville, Ward Par- 
sell; one, Clyde Betz; four, Ada Bair; five, Austin Benjamin; six, Helen 
Shull ; seven, Harriett Seery ; eight, Gladys Kain ; nine, Edna Bickel ; ten, 
Perth Grays. Spencer, Clara Shull. Stafford, one, Hilda Whitman ; two, 
Clara Apt : five, Ross Abel. Troy, one, Bernice Clark ; two. Hazel Gunsen- 
houser; three, Leeta Eddy; five. Garnet Brink. Union, five, Zora Martin; 
six, George Wilson; seven, Lida Pfaff. Wilmington, two, Pearl Brink; 
three, Sura Shumaker; four, Grace Murch; five, George Beams; six, Maude 
Kennedy; seven, Walter Carper; eight. Winnie Snuirr; nine, C. O. Krise. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



AGRICULTURE. 



Upon the agriculture of a county are based the prosperity and welfare 
of the people. Other sources of revenue, such as railroads, manufactures, 
public institutions or mines, are valuable, but not so greatly as the yield of 
the native soil. It was the search for productive soil that brought the first 
settlers to DeKalb county, and led them to banish the native Indian to the 
westward. History does not grow fluent with the description of the early 
crops; methods were primitive and implements crude, and the sowing and 
harvesting had not reached the scientific point that they now occupy. The 
hoe, hand rake, scythe and small sickle were the tools, and sheer force of 
labor was responsible for a good crop, if such were had. The task of clear- 
ing the land precluded any attempt at systematic farming during the early 
days, but the stanchness and courage of the first tillers made possible the 
versatile farmer of today, who understands crop rotation and farm science 
as an engineer knows his machine. 

On the average, the soil of DeKalb county is the equal of any of the 
Northwest, being very fertile and tillable. John Houlton is remembered as 
the first pioneer, and as he planted potatoes in 1834, he might be said to have 
been the first farmer. The early forests dropped their leaves in the autumn, 
and these, decaying, left a heavy loam upon the ground that has provided 
this excellent soil for the farmer of today. The pioneer found this extreme 
fertility when he was enabled, from a small bit of land, to raise sufficient 
grain to keep his home well stocked. It is related in another portion of this 
book how an early settler planted five bushels of potatoes, and in the fall of 
the year dug eighty-six bushels from the earth. The grain which the pioneer 
could not use was transported by wagon and ox-team to Fort Wayne, Toledo 
and Hillsdale, and we already have a few accounts of the hardships under- 
gone upon a journey of that kind. 

FARM LANDS. 

It is interesting to note the statistics in relation to the present DeKalb 
county. First, it might be well to say that the population of the county is 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 279 

twenty-five thousand and fifty-four people, according to the last census. The 
number of farms in the county is two thousand five hundred and eighteen, 
sixty less than there were ten years ago. Of native white farmers there are 
twenty-four hundred and twenty-nine, and of foreign born white, eighty-nine. 

There are four farms in the county of an area under three acres ; from 
three to nine acres, there are one hundred and ten; of ten to nineteen, 
eighty-eight; of twenty to forty-nine, four hundred and twelve; of fifty to 
ninety-nine, one thousand and twenty-eight ; of one hunched to one hundred 
seventy-four acres, seven hundred and thirty-live; of one hundred seventy- 
five to two hundred fifty-nine, there are ninety-nine; of two liundred and 
sixty to four ninety-nine, there are forty-two farms. 

The approximate land area of DeKalb county is two hundred and thirty- 
six thousand eight hundred acres. Of this amount, there are two hundred 
and twenty-one thousand nine hundred and three acres in farm lands. The 
improved land in farms amounts to one hundred and seventy-eight thousand 
six hundred and forty-nine acres, an increase of over ten thousand acres in 
the last ten years. Woodland in farms totals thirty-five thousand five hun- 
dred and eighty-four acres ; and all unimproved land in farms is seven thou- 
sand six hundred and seventy acres in farms. Thus the per cent, of land 
area in farms is ninety-three and seven-tenths; of farm land improved, eighty 
and five-tenths; average acres per farm, eighty-eight and one-tenth; average 
improved acres per farm, seventy and nine-tenths. 

VALUE OF FARM LANDS. 

The value of all farm proptTty in DeKalh county, irrespective of kind 
and quality, is nineteen million seven hnmlred twenty-two thousand five hun- 
dred and eighty-five dollars, being an increase of over eight million during 
the last ten years, a per cent, of increase of seventy-six and nine-tenths. The 
value of the lands is twelve million six hundred and thirty thousand four 
hundred and sixty-eight dollars: of buildings, four million three hundred and 
forty-nine thousand seven hundred and twenty-one; implements and ma- 
chinery, seven hundred and four thousand five hundred and sixty-one dol- 
lars; domestic animals, poultry and bees, two million thirty-seven thousand 
eight hundred and eighty dollars. 

The per cent, of value of all property is ; In land, sixty-four per cent. ; 
in buildings, twenty-one and one-tenth; in implements and machinery, three 
and six-tenths; in domestic animals, etc., ten and three-tenths. 



28o DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

The average value of the land per farm is seven thousand eight hundred 
and thirty-tliree dollars; the average \alue of the land per acre is fifty-six 
dollars and ninety-two cents. 

DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 

There are twenty-four hundred and seventy-nine farms reporting do- 
mestic animals. In DeKalb county there are sixteen thousand two hundred 
and fifty-six head of cattle, the value being four hundred and sixty-seven 
thousand seven hundred and forty-nine dollars. There are eighty-five hun- 
dred and ten horses, representing a value of one million ten thousand three 
hundred and ninety-eight. There are one hundred and fourteen raules, value 
fifteen thousand nine hundred and twenty-five dollars. There are thirty-six 
thousand three hundred and thirty-five head of swine, with a value of two 
hundred and fifty thousand six hundred and sixt\-five dollars. There are 
forty-two thousand sixty-three sheep, valued at one Inmdred and eighty-six 
thousand eight hundred twenty-three dollars. Of goats, there are thirt\-one, 
\alued at sixty-three dollars. There are one hundred and eighty-nine thou- 
sand nine hundred and ten pieces of poultry, worth one hundred and four 
thousand one hundred and four dollars. There are eight hundred and nine- 
teen bees in the county, valued at two thousand one hundred and fifty-three 
dollars. 

PRINCIPAL CROPS. 

The principal crop in DeKalb county is corn. There are thirty-three 
thousand four hundred and ninety-six acres devoted to this grain, and the 
yield is one million two hundred and forty-five thousand five hundred and 
ninety-two bushels. Twenty-five thousand five hundred and one acres are 
devoted to oats, which area yields nine hundred and sixty-six thousand one 
hundred and thirteen bushels. Twenty-one thousand four hundred and ninety- 
eight acres are sown in wheat, producing three hundred and ninety-one thou- 
sand and eighty-four bushels. There are eight hundred and forty-six acres of 
barley, producing twenty-one thousand four hundred and thirty-two bushels. 
There are fourteen hundred and eighteen acres of rye, producing twenty- 
three thousand eight hundred and fifteen bushels. Twelve hundred and fifty- 
one bushels of clover seed comprises this crop. Potatoes cover ground to the 
extent of two thousand one hundred and ninety-one acres, and make two 
hundred and twenty-four thousand two hundred and five bushels. Hay and 
forage is gathered from thirty-six thousand six hundred and thirty-four 
acres, weighing forty-eight thousand and thirt\--nine tons. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 281 



PROPRIETORSHIP OF FARMS. 



There are one thousand seven hundred and twenty-two farms in DeKalb 
county operated by owners, and representing a value of eleven million one 
hundred and ninety-five thousand two hundred and sixty-four dollars. There 
are seven hundred and eighty-two farms operated by tenants, value, five 
million five hundred sixty-seven thousand four hundred and twenty-five dol- 
lars. Farms operated by managers number fourteen, valued at two hundred 
and seventeen thousand five hundred dollars. 



It is said that the first attempt to hold a fair was a small exhibit made on 
the old Baker farm, then owned by Thomas Ford. Leonard Hoodlemire 
built the fence enclosing, and during the fair the main attraction was a foot 
race. In the fall of 1855 a fair was held on the court house grounds, at which 
a horse race was a sensation. Tlie next fair was held in the same jilacc in the 
fall of 1858. 

Realizing the advantages to farmers nf association and the benefits 
naturally to be enjoyed at Auburn of a fair ground and an annual fair at 
which competitive exhibits could he held and impro\ement in stock, ma- 
chinery and handiwork encouraged, Wesley Park, on April 2, 1859. leased 
to the directors of the DeKalb County .\gricultural Society about seven acres 
of ground lying north of Park's addition to the town plat, or just west of the 
public road running from Auburn to Waterloo. The lease was for a term of 
eight years, and was made in consideration that the society should within 
sixty days build a substantial board fence se\'en feet high along the north 
and east sides of the groimds and the remainder within one year. Shade 
trees were to have been planted and a track laid out. At the expiration of 
the lease the ground and fence were lo l?e gi\en up. the society reserving lum- 
ber, sheds and such fixtures. At tliis time |. X. L'liamberlain was ])resi(lent of 
the society, and M. F. Pierce, secretary. The president before Chamberlain 
was S. W. Sprott. and succeeding the former was W. \\'. Griswold. The open- 
ing of the Civil war in t86t obviated rin\ attempt to hold a fair and conse- 
quently for a time it was abandoned. 

In 1871 leading citizens of Waterloo and elsewhere, prominent among 
them being J. N. Chamberlain, John and A. S. Leas, R. J. Lent, S. J. 
Locke, C. A. O. McClellan, R. :\I. Lockhart. B. B. Long and R. W. McBride, 



282 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

organized the Northeastern Indiana Agricultural Association on the stock 
plan. A tract of land comprising thirty-one and one-quarter acres, adjoining 
Waterloo, was bought and fitted up for holding fairs. The fair was held 
annually in October, and the stock of the association was fixed at ten thou- 
sand dollars. 

The first fair here was held on October 15, 16, 17 and 18, 1872, and 
was a big success. Prizes were given for exhibits, racing was held, and large 
attendance was had. The county fairs continued during the years until the 
early nineties, when they were abandoned for various reasons. The DeKalb 
County Free Fall Fair has taken the place of these exhibitions, and is quite as 
successful, if not more so. 

THE DEKALB COUNTY FREE FALL FAIR. 

The DeKalb County Free Fall I'air is promoted by Auburn business 
men, merchants and manufacturers, and maintained and supported by the 
Commercial Club. 

It is held each autumn in Auburn, and is similar to the county fairs in 
other counties, but is. held about the coiut house square and in the main 
streets of Auburn. It is absolutely free. 

A large list of premiums is annually donated by the merchants and 
business men. The farmers, manufacturers and others exhibit their best 
products, and it is claimed that the fair by its exhibitions has brought about 
a raise of ten to fifteen per cent, in farm values in this county. 

It is not merely a street carnival, but is a real county fair. It has been 
held in Auburn each year except 191 1, when it was held at Garrett. ]\Iany 
amusements are provided in the way of shows, brass bands, etc., and on the 
closing day a Mardi Gras parade is held. The fair is attended usually by a 
crowd of fifteen to twenty-five thousand people daily. The Purdue Agricul- 
tural Experiment Station and School of Agriculture sends an exhibit, and 
Prof. G. I. Christie, or another from the faculty, assists in judging the ex- 
hibits. The premiums range in value up to one hundred dollars. Every 
year some noted man of the state attends and delivers a lecture. 

The officers of the fair are: H. G. Judson, chairman; Miles Baxter, 
secretary; U. S. Rant, treasurer; H. R. Culbertson, C. M. Brown, George 
Bishop, Pres. Wilcox, H. H. Strole. J. R. McDowell, board of directors. 
Culbertson and M. Boland are members of the committee on judges. 



DEKALB COUNTYj INDIANA. ' 283 



In the early part of 1874 the farmers began to organize what has since 
been known as tiie Grange movement. The growth was wonderful and en- 
thusiasm unbounded. The mo^-ement spread like wildfire. Granges were 
formed in every township, councils in each county, and were given direction 
and force by state and national Granges. Interest \vas increased by gather- 
ings, where oratory and food abounded ; and entire families gave the day to 
enjoyment with the object of consolidating their power. Middlemen were 
deemed superfluous, and steps were taken by appointing of purchasing agents 
and stcoking of Grange stores, to bu_\' supplies at a])proximatelv wholesale 
prices. 

Along in February, 1874, the impulse made itself known in DeKalb 
county. On the 17th a Grange was constitiited at the llusselman school house 
with R. N. Crooks, master; S. Kutzner, secretary; W. Lessing, overseer; C. 
W, Scattergood, lecturer; J. C. St. Clair, treasurer; R. S. Reed, steward, and 
Mrs. Reed as his assistant. 

Smithfield farmers organized on the loth, electing F. Kelley. E. R. 
•Shoemaker, S. B. Mottinger, J. Hemstreet and Henry Hood as officers. 

Four days later Jackson Grange was formed with John Cool,' James 
McClellan, J. G. Lawhead and M. Owens as officers. In rapid succession 
others followed, until the territory was fully occupied. 

A county council of Patrons of Husbandry was organized on May 8, 
1874. in Grangers' hall, Waterloo, by delegates from subordinate Granges. 
At this council R. N. Crooks was chosen president; Ephraim Boyle, vice- 
president ; M. Waterman, secretary ; F. Kelley, treasurer ; and J. G. Law- 
head, doorkeeper. The board of trustees was composed of A. D. Moore, John 
Lowe and Hugh Nelson. A committee was appointed to elect a purchasing 
agent, and the objects of the order were stated to be the welfare of the far- 
mer and to "bring producer and consumer together to the exclusion of the 
middleman." 

However, the Granges in this county .soon stranded, went out of exist- 
ence after a brief but brilliant and suggestive career. It taught farmers 
their strength and encouraged them to persevere, and trust in co-operation, 
and believe that "in union there is strength." 



284 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 



HORTICULTURE IN DEKALB COUNTY. 
(By H. M. Widney.) 

In the early history of our county apples, pears, peaches and all other 
tree fruits adapted to temperate climes grew when planted and produced 
abundant crops of the finest fruits. Little care was observed by the planter. 
Little did our pioneers know about the coddling moth, San Jose scale, or any 
of the many fungus diseases at that time ; the only purpose in those days 
when planting a tree was to produce a home supply of the much needed 
fruits for the betterment of health conditions in the home, and the giving to 
the youth the food demanded by nature. So, all of the earliest orchards of 
our county were planted from the home-supply standpoint, and those who 
thought of the commercial side of the question were but few. However, 
these orchards grew beyond the expectation of those who planted, and it has 
not been many years since the apple-buyer was expected each year to gather tlie 
surplus and pack the same in liarrels. then ship to some distant city market. 
The peach was never so fortunate in those days, and many who are yet with 
us can tell stories of wagon loads of big. luscious, yellow peaches lying on the 
ground, rotting for want of a near market, a market close enough to warrant 
the owner caring for them and marketing them. Pears and plums grew 
well, but were never planted in such quantities as the peach and the apple. A 
more natural climate for the production of tree fruits than our county in 
pioneer days would be hard to find. But for the fact that cities were but 
villages, towns but country cross-roads and the present villages unknown, the 
demand would have been vastly beyond the resources of the time. Horticul- 
ture remained to a great degree undeveloped. If demand at that time had 
been as it now. Hood River would ha\e l:ilushcd with cn\ y at the jiroduct of 
old DeKalb. 

Thus, in the early history of fruit growing, no worms, no fungus and no 
scale plant attacked the tree. The ricli virgin soil and protected conditions 
made by -the forests gave the fruit-bearing trees an ideal home, and the result 
was a luscious, perfect crop, with but little effort. But as the county became 
better settled and orchards more plentiful, the natural enemies came also. 
Near the seventies came the coddling moth, who, by his habits, gave us the 
wormy apple, the curculo, who robbed us of our plums and ruined our 
peaches ; then the fungus enemies to scab over our apples, pears and peaches ; 
then, seemingly bent on utter destruction, the San Jose scale, to kill outright 
the trees. But it lias been said that "neces«itv is the mother of in\-ention." Our 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 2»5 

county has developed, our towns are now cities, and so man studies the con- 
ditions. He replaces the humus and fertility that our forefathers unconsciously 
robbed from our soil ; he plants trees now because he can see great financial 
returns in the future for so doing; he has learned how to meet the enemies 
which seemed sure to destroy the fruit-bearing trees, the coddling moth, the 
curculo, the fungus diseases and the San Jose scale. These marauders must 
submit to the science of man. Thus, while for a time the fruit product of 
DeKalb county was a disgrace to her name, we now can truthfully boast of 
her wonderful progress in developing this department of her agricultural life, 
and her sons should always see to it that her l)anner floats near the top, and 
then their recompense will be plenty. 



CHAPTER XV, 



RAILROADS AND TRANSPORTATION. 



EARLY ROADS AND ROAD CUTTING. 

Few of the present generation realize the diificiilty of travehng in the 
woods of the early country. In these days one may cross the country in a 
few hours over a steel road, or by excellent wagon roads he may travel with 
facility and ease. The hardy immigrant with his small wagon load of neces- 
sary furniture followed a trail made by the Indians, when possible, and for 
the last two or three miles cut his own road through the brush and woods 
with axe in hand. The road thus made was of the rudest character when 
dry, and in the spring of the year was nearly impassable. At times one right 
fore wheel and one right hind wheel would be high in air on stumps or logs; 
then the fore wheels would plimge into a mud hole, while the rear of the 
wagon mounted high in air. Again he would slide along in a slough with the 
mud over the hubs, and suddenly run over a stump. To travel with safety 
in a wagon he must brace himself with both feet in the corners of the box, 
with every muscle tense, and use both hands to drive, leaving his face, neck 
and hands entirely at the mercy of the hungry mosquitoes swarming around. 
The miring of a horse or the breaking of a wheel was the worst fate that 
could befall the traveler. The extreme slowness of travel over a newly cut 
road through the forest in the wet springtime is told without exaggeration by 
a pioneer. He had been to a mill with a wagon and a yoke of oxen, and 
arrived within one mile of home at seven o'clock in the evening, but the re- 
maining one mile took four hours to cover. On reaching home at eleven 
o'clock his wife told him that she had heard him calling to his oxen ever 
since seven o'clock. 

The Indians, possessing no wheeled vehicles, carrying on little trade, 
using no machinery, found the trace or trail sufficient for their needs. Be- 
tween the villages of the Pottawatomies and trading posts were well beaten 
trails. Two main trails traversed the land of DeKalb county. One from 
White Pigeon forked near Lima, one branch terminating near Fort Wayne. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 287 

the Other leading southeast and at the St. Joseph river intersecting a trail 
from the east. The other trail, from the direction of Toledo, followed a 
southwesterly course, crossed the Fort Wayne trail near the Lake of the 
Woods, south of the Tamarack House, a pioneer tavern of Lagrange. The 
trail was a path worn in places to a depth of six inches by moccasin and pony 
hoof, and making wide detours for marsh and lake. Pioneer roads followed 
the trails as far as practicable. Joseph Miller (first county surveyor) cut a 
narrow track from the river through to Cedar creek, below Auburn, and also 
from Auburn to Blair's mill. Miller stated that the logs were left in the 
track, and that articles were hauled by oxen attached to a sled constructed as 
follows : A sapling was cut, having a fork at the top, consisting of stout limbs 
several feet long; the limbs were used as runners, and the body of the stick 
formed the tongue: a box was then fixed on the runners. Wesley Park and 
Mr. Miller afterward widened this road to admit the passage of a cart. The 
trail was known then as "Miller's trace." 

In July, 1837, Wesley Park, Cornelius Gilmore and Seth W. Murray 
were appointed commissioners to lay out the Coldwater and Fort Wayne 
state road, running nearly north and south through the county. They did so, 
making their report on September ist. Wesley Park and one Hostetter were 
to lay out the Goshen and Defiance state road, east and west through the 
county. The work was performed by Park alone, and the legislature after- 
ward legalized this. Joseph Miller was tlic surveyor, and Henry Feagler 
and John Miller carried the chain. Other first roads were located as follows : 
The state road from Auburn to Fort Wayne via Vandoler's mill, by T. L. 
Yates and Benjamin Miller; the state road from Angola to Fort Wayne, 
west of Auburn, by Daniel Moody, Solomon Showers and Henry Miller; a 
road on the southwest side of Fish creek, by Simon Aldrich, Peter Boyer and 
Roger Aldrich ; a road on the northwest side of the St. Joseph river was sur- 
veyed by R. J. Dawson, and afterward corrected by John Blair, John Web- 
ster and Hector Blake, and a road from Enterprise to Uniontown by Daniel 
Kepler, Michael Boyer and John Farlee. 

At the May session of 1838 the commissioners appropriated two thou- 
sand dollars from the three per cent, fund, as follows : Eight hundred dol- 
lars on the Goshen and Defiance road; eight hundred dollars on the Fort 
Wayne and Coldwater road, and four hundred dollars on the state road on 
the northwest side of the St. Joseph river. The commissioner of the three 
per cent, fund was also directed to have constructed a bridge over the Big 
Cedar creek north of the village of Auburn, where it was crossed by the Fort 



288 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Wayne and Coldwater state road ; another over the Little Cedar creek, near 
the house of Joseph Stroup, where it crossed the state road; another over the 
Big Cedar creek, at the crossing of the Goshen and Defiance state road near 
Auburn; a bridge over each of the three principal branches of the west 
branch of Cedar creek, where it was crossed by the same road, and a bridge 
over the Twenty-six Mile creek, where it was crossed by the state road near 
the house of Byron Bunnel. 

These first bridges were poor affairs, and though built at little expense, 
were more costly in the end than the bridges which have since taken their 
places all over the county, particularly the fine bridges at Newville, Waterloo 
and Auburn. In 1842 Isaac Swarthotit and J. R. Corper, while journeying to 
visit at Kendallville, crossed with a yoke of oxen and a two-horse wagon a 
bridge over Cedar creek, which Joseph Miller had constructed for three hun- 
dred dollars. This wagon was the first to cross the structure, and its weight 
broke a stringer. Hiram Iddings had previously crossed it in a one-horse 
buggy. But with increasing experience and growing wealth, the quality of 
bridge and highway building progressed, until it has reached the splendid 
standard of today. 

GENERAL SUMMARY. 

Before giving any detailed history of the five railroads now crossing the 
county of DeKalb, it is well to present a short sketch of each of the roads in 
order to facilitate the understanding of future discussion. 

The first road to be built was the Air Line division of the Michigan 
Southern & Northern Indiana, now known as the Lake Shore & Michigan 
Southern. Surveys were made as early as 1852-3, and along the proposed 
route the villages of Corunna and Lawrence and the towns of Butler and 
Waterloo became existent in 1855. On May 27, 1856, the forty-one inhabi- 
tants of Butler learned with joy of the completion of the road to their town. 
This heralded the growth of Butler, and today it is one of the foremost cities 
in the county, being third in population. The road enters the eastern side of 
the county, passes through the northern parts of Stafford, Wilmington, Grant 
and Richland townships, altogether traversing a distance of twenty miles in 
the county. 

The Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw railroad was opened to traffic on 
October 5, 1870, but after a few years of operation went into the hands of a 
receiver, and was absorbed by the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Com- 
pany. It enters the county from the south, and passes through the townships 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 2»9 

of Butler, Keyser, Union, Grant and Sniithlield, crossing the Vandalia and 
Baltimore & Ohio at Auburn Jnnction and the main branch of the Lake 
Shore at Waterloo. There are o\er nineteen miles of road in the county. 

The Detroit, Eel River & Illinois, later the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific, 
and now the Vandalia of the Pennsylvania system, was the first railroad be- 
gun in the county, but the fourth to be completed. It was projected early in 
the fifties, but lacked sufficient support for completion. In the closing months 
of 1872 the line was completed from Logansport to Auburn. Here it again 
rested. By efforts of stockholders in DeKalb county an effort at consolida- 
tion with the Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw railroad was defeated. After 
this defeat the road pushed eastward and reached Butler on October 18, 1873. 
The road has a little over eighteen miles of track in the county. 

The Chicago division of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad was projected 
soon after the war. After many controversies, related fully on the following 
pages, the first train run througli the county in November, 1875. The line 
passes through Garrett, Auburn Junction and St. Joe, running east and west. 

Crossing the extreme southwestern corner of DeKalli county is the 
Grand Rapids & Indiana railroad, with no station within the county's liounds. 
About two miles of track are in the county. 

The Wabash railroad, the Detroit division, was built in 1901 and 1902, 
from Butler to New Haven, six miles east of Fort Wayne, where it connected 
with the main line. It was put into service in 1902. Division point was first 
established at Ashley, on the DeKalb and Steuben county line. After a few 
years, however, this point was transferred to Montpelier, Ohio. 

RAILROAD HISTORY. 



The first sur\-ey made througli the count_\- for a railroad was run in 
June, 1853, by the Southern Michigan Railroad Company. This survey 
started from Toledo, Ohio, passed through northern Indiana and intersected 
the Southern Michigan road at Elkhart, Indiana. This was for the Air 
Line, or Northern Indiana, road. The survey for the Eel River railroad 
was made at the same time. This started at Logansport, Indiana, and ex- 
tended northeast, passing on the south side of Auburn and intersected the 
Air Line at a point in DeKalb county then called Norris. later Jarvis, and now 
Butler. The work of clearing oft' the right-of-way for these two roads was 
(19) 



290 DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 

begun in tlie autumn of 1853, but on account of some embarrassment the 
work of construction on the Eel River road was suspended indefinitely in 
1854. So this proposed road lay dormant until 1875. when it was revived 
and completed. The work of constructing the Air Line road continued 
during the years 1854-5-6-7, and as this was prior to the steam shovel period, 
the grading was done with picks, shovels, hand-barrows and horse-carts. In 
the early days there was an Indian trading point established on the north 
side of Cedar creek, about six miles northeast of Auburn, and named Cedar- 
ville, but the name was changed to Uniontown on account of being included 
in Union township. As the Air Line railroad was located on the south side 
of the creek, about half a mile from the village, there was a station established 
there and named Waterloo. This new town soon became one of the chief 
trading posts in the county. Four miles west of Waterloo another station was 
located and named Hudson, and later changed to Sedan. The Sedan post- 
office was "Iba." Every effort was put forth to build up a town at Sedan. 
Parties who owned the land donated town lots free of charge to anyone who 
would agree to build a house on the lot, this being the only consideration re- 
quired. An elevator was erected, and during the first ten years it was a popu- 
lar grain market. The late William Mclntyre, of Auburn, was agent for the 
railroad company for about ten years prior to 1872. During this time Sedan 
flourished, Iiut on his retirement the town lost its prestige. 

RAILROAD BEGINNINGS. 

The Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw railroad and the Eel River rail- 
road were built in 1870 and put into operation in 187 1. The Baltimore & 
Ohio railroad was constructed in 1872 and 1873, and in 1874, in November, it 
was put into active service. The Detroit division of the Wabash railroad 
was built in 1901 and 1902. from Butler to New Haven, six miles east of 
Fort \\'ayne. where it connected with the main line. It was put into service 
in 1902. 

INTERURBAN RAILWAY. 

The Toledo & Chicago interurljan railway was put into service in 1906, 
from Fort Wayne to Garrett, where it branched off to Kendallville by way of 
Avilla, and to Waterloo by way of Auburn. In 19 13 this road was absorbed 
by the Fort Wayne & Northwestern Railway Company. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 29I 

I'^ORT VVAVXE, JACKSON & SAGINAW RAILROAD. 

In 1870 the Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw railroad was constructed 
under the pretext of being a farmers' railroad. An extensive canvas was 
made among the farmers and townspeople along the proposed route for the 
sale of stock in the enterprise. The shares were fifty dollars each, and every 
one was induced to take at least one share. Farmers through whose prop- 
erty the road was built were solicited to donate the right-of-way, and many 
of the transfers were made without other consideration. Other farmers fur- 
nished their teams and labor to grade the road, for which they were paid in 
railroad stock. Citizens of Waterloo, prominent among whom were the 
Hale brothers, general merchants, contributed liberally to the building of the 
road, for, situated on the only railroad between Fort Wayne and Southern 
Michigan, the town was the center of an extensive territory. The wheat and 
corn, the live stock, and wood, the butter and eggs, poultry, and the products 
of the orchards from southern DeKalb to northern Steuben, found a market 
there. During the marketing of the grain Market street was thronged with 
loaded wagons from near and far, awaiting their turn to dri\e up the incline 
and unload at the elevator. 

With the completion of the new railroad, elevators were built at the 
various stations along the line, and it became the market place for what had 
formerly been taken to Waterloo, thus depriving that town of much of its 
prestige. Six miles north of Waterloo was Mottinger's and Gramlin's Cross- 
ing, the point of greatest elevation on the road, and consequently the station 
was called Summit. The station was hard to reach by north-bound trains on 
account of the grade, and many of the indifferent engines of that day were 
compelled to take the train up in two sections, after vainly puffing to a stand- 
still. For years Summit was the leading wood station on the line, as they 
fired the engines with wood in those days. A thriving town sprung up at 
Summit, with stores, saw mill, l)Iack,smith shop, brick mill and saloons. A 
few dilapidated buildings now mark the site of Summit and Sedan. After 
the Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw railroad was operated a few years it 
went into the hands of a receiver and was sold to and absorbed by the Lake 
Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad Company. The original stockholders 
were permitted to retain their certificates of stock as reminders that they 
were once stockholders in a railroad. 



292 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

THE BALTIMORE & OHIO RAILROAD. 

The survey of the Baltimore & Ohio & Chicago railroad, known as the 
Chicago division, was made in 1871, under the supervision of Chief Engineer 
James L. Randolph, assisted by Charles Archanhiel, T. G. Baylor, W. A. 
Pratt and a Mr. Manning. The survey was started ofif the old Sandusky 
City, Mansfield & Newark railroad at a point two miles south of Centerton. 
This starting point was called Chicago Junction. The Baltimore & Ohio 
Railroad Company had previously leased the Sandusky City, Mansfield & 
Newark railroad. The survey was made through Ohio and Indiana and into 
Illinois, where it intersected the Illinois Central railroad eight miles south of 
Chicago and t-wo hundred and sixty-two miles west of Chicago Junction. 
The point was named Baltimore Junction. Baltimore Junction is now called 
Brookdale. 

"water, WATER, EVERYWHERE, BUT NOT A DROP TO DRINK." 

There were many laughable incidents related by the engineers in making 
this survey, one of which I shall mention. The country, or, in other words, 
the wild forest, where Deshler, Hamler, Holgate and Standly were estab- 
lished, was known as the Black Swamp and was submerged in water, so the 
surveyors were compelled to wear hip gum-boots. Somewhere in this terri- 
tory they came to a log cabin and they were surprised to see a backwoodsman 
standing in a log canoe with a long pole in his hands and a tin cup attached to 
one end of the pole. He was propelling his canoe around in front of his cabin, 
and occasionally searching around in the water with his pole. Being surprised 
at his maneuvers, they inquired, "What are you hunting?" The backwoods- 
man replied that "he was hunting his well to get a drink." 

AN UNFORTUNATE IMBECILE. 

There was an unfortunate imbecile by the name of Christ Long, who 
owned forty acres of land where Garrett is located, who was more deserving 
of pity than censure. He lived in a one-story log cabin which was located 
between the present Baltimore & Ohio saw shop and the car shops. These 
buildings and the coal chutes were erected on the land owned by Long. There 
was no floor in his cal)in except the ground, and here Long lived and slept with 
his hogs. .Another man had taken Long's wife, oxen and wagon and eloped 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 293 

with the outfit to Michigan a few years previous. When the engineer corps 
would approach Long's land they were met at the boundary line by Long, 
armed with a pitchfork, and notified not to enter, which would lead to consid- 
erable parleying. On one occasion Charles Cochran, the front chainman, 
pointed the transit rod at Long, and he, thinking it was a gun, took to his heels 
and kept out of sight during the day. There was considerable trouble obtain- 
ing a clear title to Long's land on account of his wife's untimely elopement. 

TRESTLES AND TROUBLES. 

As the Baltimore & Ohio was located through a heavily timbered and 
undeveloped country, timber at that time was very plentiful. Therefore it 
was considered advantageous and more expedient to construct trestles of 
timber over the swamps and ravines than to fill by grading. Therefore, there 
were three hundred and ninety-six trestles and bridges constructed in build- 
ing the Chicago division. Number one was in the Chicago Junction yard, 
and number three hundred and ninety-six was between South Chicago and 
Baltimore Junction (Brookdale), making over nine miles of continuous trestle 
work if they had been connected. 

Trestle number two hundred was at the bottom of the incline of the Gar- 
rett coal chutes, which was filled in 1881. There were over three miles of tres- 
tles between Chicago Junction and Garrett, and over six miles west of Garrett, 
the largest trestle being west of Garrett. Number two hundred and ninety, 
about four miles west of Bremen, was known as the Big Marsh trestle. This 
trestle was three thousand eight hundred and thirty-two feet long, and con- 
tained three hundred and nineteen pile trestles. Four piles were driven for 
each trestle. This trestle was filled in 1882 with sand out of the pit on the 
south side of the Walgerton coal chutes. The highest trestle was four miles 
west of Defiance, which was thirty-five feet high. There was a saw mill at 
the east end of it and a spur track. This was known as White's mills, and all 
local trains stopped there. 

I think this trestle was number one hundred and forty-nine. It was filled 
in 1883, after a twelve-foot arch culvert had been constructed. Trestle number 
two hundred and one was west of the Garrett coal chutes, over the tamarack 
swamp. This trestle was one thousand one hundred and forty-two feet long. 
The early pioneers will remember this swamp was covered with brush and 
tamarack trees, so dense that the lake in the center of it was not visible from 
the railroad. The tamarack trees were converted into cross ties and tele- 



294 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

graph poles. There was about three hundred feet in the middle of this swamp 
covered with a crust of peat about eight feet thick. Under this there was an 
open lake. It broke in in 1873, when the road was being graded. Then it 
was piled for trestles. The contractors claimed they drove some of the piles 
six hundred and twenty feet, which led to a case of litigation between the 
company and the contractors. The general opinion was that the piles angled 
off into the lake underneath, as Engineer Manning, who made the survey, 
testified that he took the soundings when he made the survey, and the deepest 
sounding was eighty-two feet. This trestle was filled in 1886 and 1887. The 
filling was commenced with clay, which soon crushed down through the peat, 
forming an open lake, and the water in the lake north of the trestle soon be- 
came the color of the clay that was being dumped in at the trestle. The piles 
commenced to give away, which let the frame trestles turn over on their side. 
The filling in with clay was discontinued at once and cribbing up with old 
timbers was adopted, and filling with cinders which were not so heavy as clay. 
The track was supported on a pontoon of old car sills and bridge stringers. 
Every morning the track would be down, as the pontoons would settle during 
the night, some nights as much as two feet. I had charge of this work, and to 
my personal knowledge, there was sixty feet of pontooning of this descrip- 
tion crushed down in this sink. 

The construction work was commenced at the various railroad crossings, 
where engines, cars and tools were delivered, and the work was rushed for- 
ward each day. One of the construction engines was shipped from Toledo 
to Defiance on the canal, where it was placed on the Baltimore & Ohio track. 
It is presumed that it was not as large as the present Baltimore & Ohio 
engines. There was some trouble encountered in crossing the Michigan 
Central tracks, which place is now known as Willow^ creek, of which I will 
give a brief sketch. The Michigan Central people objected to the Baltimore 
& Ohio people crossing their track on a grade crossing, requesting the latter 
to construct an elevated crossing. The Baltimore & Ohio refused to comply 
with this request. The case was carried into court, and the decision was re- 
turned in favor of the Baltimore & Ohio. The Michigan Central ignored this 
decision by placing all kinds of obstructions at this point. 

About three hundred men, from appearance supposed to be "Chicago 
roughs," were established here, evidently preparing for a "pick and shovel" 
fight in case the Baltimore & Ohio attempted to put in the crossing. The 
Baltimore & Ohio, being overpowered, called on the sheriff of Porter county 
for protection. The sheriff responded W'ith a corps of deputies and their 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 295 

entreaty and authority were impertinently ignored. The sheriff at once re- 
ported the situation to Thomas A. Hendricks, governor of Indiana. Two 
companies of soldiers, in charge of Captain Whiteman, were dispatched to 
the scene at once. At early sunrise, on the morning in November, 1874, the 
pick and shovel brigade located at this barricade was amazed at the transparent 
luster which was reflected from two brass cannons mounted on a flat car, 
which slowly approached in front of a train from the east, followed by cars 
with the boys in lilue. who were at once lined up in battle array. 

Captain Whiteman then took a stand and addressed the opposing faction, 
advising them that he had not come there hunting trouble, but had been sent 
there by legal authority to prevent trouble, stating that they had the decision 
of the court to put in the crossing and they were going to put it in. The men 
were lying around, some on the ties which were piled up as an obstruction, and 
they would not move when ordered, as the order did not come from the 
parties by whom they were employed. There were quite a number of Michi- 
gan Central and Baltimore & Ohio officials present. The former officials 
maintained silence, and gave no orders, therefore the men would not move. 
The sheriff was present with a corps of deputies. After parleying and 
maneuvering all forenoon, the sheriff commenced arresting the Michigan Cen- 
tral ofncials until there were thirteen under arrest and imprisoned in a 
caboose, which was run to Michigan City. 

The order was given to put in the crossing. Flagmen were sent out on the 
Michigan Central track each way. A force of the Baltimore & Ohio track 
men, in charge of supervisor John Marion, soon cleared the way, and the 
Michigan Central track was cut, the crossing frogs put in place, and every- 
thing coupled up in good condition in two hours' time. This being accom- 
plished, gave the Baltimore & Ohio the right-of-way into Chicago. 

LAND BUYING. 

When the construction of the road was about finished, in 1874, six of the 
Baltimore & Ohio officials organized a company in Baltimore and it was in- 
corporated as the Baltimore Land and Improvement Company. John King, 
first vice-president, and William Keyser, second vice-president of the railway, 
were the principal members. Washington Cowen, father of John J. Cowen, 
who was chief attorney for the railroad, was a retired farmer of Holmes 
county, Ohio. He was selected as agent for the Baltimore Land and Im- 
provement Company, to locate the division point on the Chicago division. 



296 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

In September, 1874, the road was not yet opened up for travel. Cowen 
went to Kendallville on the Lake Shore road and drove through the country 
to a point on the Chicago division of the new railroad, four miles east of 
Albion, known as Wash Easter's crossing. Mr. Cowen selected this place for 
the division point. Every movement of the Baltimore & Ohio officials at this 
period was being critically observed by enthusiastic speculators ready to buy 
up the land where the division shops were to be located. Mr. Cow-en, being 
aware of this state of affairs, was compelled to use the greatest caution in 
all of his movements so as not to create the impression that there would be 
a town located here, and that the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company would 
make this point a division of the road and erect shops. Cowen, on arrival at 
this place, immediately commenced contracting with the farmers for their 
farms, saying that he had two sons and two sons-in-law back East, whom he 
desired to locate together as near as possible, and that he had a little daughter 
twelve years old, and he wanted about thirty acres as a home for this young 
daughter and himself. After he had contracted with two or three farmers, 
and had advanced some money on the contracts, the other farmers with whom 
he had not contracted, raised the price of their land so high that Mr. Cowen 
was compelled to abandon the enterprise at this place. So he settled up with 
those with w^hom he had contracts, which cost him about four hundred dollars. 
I obtained part of this information from Mr. Cowen and part from the 
farmers who were interested. 

Mr. Cowen then went to Kendallville, from there to Waterloo and then 
to Auburn Junction. Here the section men took him on a hand-car to the 
present site of Garrett. Mr. Cowen very quietly commenced negotiating with 
the farmers, using the same tactics that he had used at Easter's crossing in 
Noble county, and on the 8th and loth of October, in 1874, he closed the 
deal with the owners of the land where Garrett is situated, and the deeds were 
executed October 22 and 24, 1874, to Washington Cowen, in trust as agent for 
the Baltimore Land and Improvement Company, as follows : John Kitchen, 
forty acres; C. Hoick, fifty-five acres; Mrs. W. J. Anthrop, forty-four and a 
half acres; J. L. Smith, one hundred acres; Holmes Link, eighty acres; 
Samuel and S. Link, thirty acres ; Jacob and Catherine Link, ten acres ; Christ 
Long, forty acres; F. C. and M. Bartles, forty-five acres; Joseph Leason, 
forty acres ; G. E. Matthews, forty acres ; G. Rodenbaugh, eighty acres. The 
total was six hundred and four and a half acres. 

Each of these twelve farms had log cabins for dwelling houses. Mr. 
Cowen had considerable trouble with Christ Long, as I stated in a former 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 297 

article. Long being mentally unbalanced. Cowen purchased his forty acres 
for one thousand six hundred dollars, and Long would not accept anything 
but gold as pay. Cowen finally paid him in gold. Long lived in a deplorable 
condition, all alone in his log hut, and he refused to move out, claiming that 
he had lost five hundred dollars of the money. He did not vacate until 
crowded out by the improvements. Long's wife had eloped with another 
man a few years previous, taking with them Long's ox team and wagon. 
Mr. Cowen could not locate her for about two years. After tracing her by 
writing to the postmasters in Michigan, Illinois, Kansas and other states, he 
finally located her in Nebraska, and then had to pay her fifteen dollars to get 
her to sign the deed. 

While the Chicago division was tmder construction there were several 
enthusiastic speculators on the alert, ready to buy up the land where the shops 
would be located. Riggs D. Thomas and a Mr. Toland arrived here from 
London, Ohio, about the same time that Cowen did, and were quietly watching 
Mr. Cowan's movements. Thomas was sent as agent for the London Bank- 
ing Company. Cowen, being aware of the situation, very quietly secured the 
twelve farms at forty dollars per acre, while these two gentlemen were at their 
hotel in Auburn. Then came the excitement — the division point was estab- 
lished. Up went the price of land, from forty to eighty-five and one hundred 
dollars per acre. These two gentlemen then bought several farms adjoining 
those purchased by Cowen. hence the names of Thomas' south and east addi- 
tions and Toland's addition. Thomas'. south addition was laid out by Engineer 
T. G. Baylor, under the supervision of Engineer W. A. Pratt, and agent R. D. 
Thomas, in the fall of 1875, ^"^ the plat was filed at Auburn November 19, 
1875. The plat of Toland's east addition was entered for record at Auburn 
November 30, 1875, and the sale of lots began. Engineer W. A. Pratt at 
this time was engineering the construction of the Baltimore & Ohio shops. 

Of the twelve parcels of land purchased by Mr. Cowen, eight were in 
Butler township and four in Richland township. Therefore the town was 
located in two townships, and the shops were built on the line. About two- 
thirds of the round house, machine and blacksmith shops were in Richland 
township, and about one-third in Butler township, and also on the center line 
extending north and south, through the two townships, public roads having 
been established on these lands. The township line was about where the 
Baltimore & Ohio freight house is located. Randolph street is on the original 
section line from the north to where it intersected the township line at the 
freight house. Here there are one hundred and thirty feet of an offset to 



298 DEKALB COUNTYj INDIANA. 

the west, where the section line extended south through the center of Butler 
township. The alley on the west of the postoffice is about on the line of the 
old wagon road. There was a log house owned by one of the Links where Dr. 
Thompson's brick stable now stands. When the county commissioners ac- 
cepted and approved the town plat in the spring of 1885 this vacated these 
public roads. 

FIRST TRAINS. 

As soon as the division point was located in Garrett in 1874, the railroad 
at once erected a frame engine house forty by two hundred feet, on the north 
side of the main track directly north of the present round house, with two 
tracks running lengthwise through it, provided with engine pits. A "Y" was 
constructed at each end of the engine house for machine and blacksmith shops. 
These two buildings were destroyed by fire in November, 1875. Commencing 
with the running of trains in November, 1874, freight trains were run from 
Chicago Junction to Defiance, from Defiance to Bremen and from Bremen to 
South Chicago. Passenger trains were run through from Chicago Junction 
to Chicago by running eight miles on the Illinois Central tracks from Balti- 
more Junction, which is now known as Brookdale. 

F. H. Sembower and R. Lantz were the first two engineers to pull 
passenger trains into Chicago. Sembower had run a construction engine con- 
structing the Chicago division and on the 7th day of November, 1874, with 
William Lane as conductor, he pulled the first Baltimore & Ohio passenger 
train into Chicago. Train dispatcher G. W. Fordyce gave the order. R. 
Lantz, who had been running a passenger train on the Lake Erie division be- 
tween Sandusky and Newark from 1870 until this time, was transferred to 
the new division, and on November 8. 1874, he pulled the second passenger 
train into Chicago, arriving there at eight o'clock p. m. He had engine No. 
five hundred and nine, which had the name "David Lee" lettered on the side 
of the cab, as it was customary in those days to name the engines in honor of 
the officials of the road. F. H. Sembower is still a passenger engineer here. 
R. Lantz retired from actual service in 1908, after forty years of continual 
service as passenger engineer with the Baltimore & Ohio. 

In reflecting back to January, 1875, we see the new engine house, the 
machine and blacksmith shops, the "Y" all ready for operation, a small shanty 
with boards up and down ready for a telegraph office, two passenger coaches 
and a baggage coach set out on the north side of the main track north of the 
present blacksmith shop, to be used as a dining and lunch car, and the baggage 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 299 

coach for a kitchen. A Mr. Tubbs was put in charge of the cuHnary depart- 
ment. 

George M. Hoffman was the first supervisor of trains, or trainmaster, in 
Garrett. He was the first to come and the last to go of the officials here, 
so he remained until the first of March, 1876, when he was superseded by H. S. 
Morse. The first master mechanic was Mr. Hibbard, and the first dispatchers 
were George W. Fordyce, W. T. Backus and W. F. Perdue. 

The town was not yet platted or the new shops selected in January, 1875, 
when this temporary arrangement was made for the accommodation of trains. 
The trainmen were all notified that Garrett was the only division point on 
the Chicago division and to make arrangements to lay over here in place of at 
Defiance and Bremen, but some of them were so blinded with invincible 
prejudice that they resigned from the service rather than obey the order. 

RAILROAD BOARDING HOUSES. 

In 1875 there were no accommodations for the men required for the 
construction of the roundhouse, machine shop and blacksmith shops. There 
were a few log cabins which the land owners had occupied, and a few rude 
shanties and tents hastily established, but these were all packed brimful, in 
some four men occupying one bed. So arrangements had to be made for the 
accommodation of the men, and for that purpose a large boarding house was 
built on the southeast corner of Cowen and Keyser streets, which still stands 
as one of the old landmarks, east of the Baptist church. Tins was called the 
"Chicago House." Later a second house was built on the south side of it. 

In September, 1875, there were eighty-five men boarding and lodging in 
these two houses and they were a lively, jolly set of fellows. They did not 
appear to have any grievance with the situation and cheerfully co-operated 
with each other. The dining room was on the first floor of the comer build- 
ing, but there were not beds enough to accommodate half of the boarders. 

THE "grand march." 

In the evenings the first in would take possession of the beds and those 
who came in later were forced to take lodging on the floor, bunks or any 
place they could find to stretch their wearied bodies out to rest, with a block 
of tamarack wood for a pillow and their coats for a covering. They had a 
mutual agreement that at twelve o'clock each night, they were to have the 



300 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

"Grand March,"' in which al! agreed to participate. So every night at twelve 
o'clock, the signal trumpet was sounded. Each and every one was compelled 
to report for duty, and if anybody failed to vacate his bed at the call, he was 
quickly pulled out. At the close of the "Grand March," would come the 
grand rush for the beds. The agreement was that the first man was to take 
possession on a pre-emption right, and the other fellow was to look out for 
himself. People who lived in the neighborhood, complained that it was not 
only the boarders in the Chicago House who were awakened by the "Grand 
March." 

BUILDING OF THE SHOPS. 

The brick laying of the shops was not commenced until in September, 
1875, commencing with the round house, which was formally put into service 
on Christmas day, but not completed until about the first of March, 1876, 
when the new machine and blacksmith shops were all opened. The weather 
was very favorable for outside work that winter, as it was the most open 
winter ever known in northern Indiana. There were four or five days of 
cold weather, with a light fall of snow in November. After that the frogs 
were out and croaking all winter till in March, 1876, when there was another 
fall of snow on the mud. There was no ice put up that winter, and the 
snakes and frogs were out on the first day of 1876. 

A SINK HOLE. 

When the Air Line road was first built through this county, a portion of 
the track, three miles west of Waterloo, and some forty rods in length, sunk 
through into a subterranean lake. It was then for some time known as the sink 
hole. Immediately after the track fell through, a new track was constructed 
around the edge of the marsh under which the lake lay. and efforts were made 
to fill in the sunken tract by carting earth from the surrounding bluff. After 
laboring several months, however, the project was given up, as the water was 
found to be from forty to sixty feet in depth. Various plans were proposed 
for overcoming this ugly crook in the Air Line, until the latter part of 1865, 
when it was proposed to place all the old ties that could be gathered along 
the line into the sunken space, and the work was commenced early in the sum- 
mer of 1866. The ties were put down in layers, cobbled at right angles, and 
interlaced with long timbers, so knit together as to form a continuous bridge, 
or network. The result was highly satisfactory, and in a few months a track 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 3OI 

was laid across the old break, and the work, though slow in accomplishment, 
was not so very extensive as feared at one time. 

WHAT THEY DID. 

The Air Line created Corunna, Waterloo and Bvitler, but killed Sedan, 
already arrested by the growth of Auburn and Newville, and made Union- 
town an isolated suburb of Waterloo. The Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw 
boomed Auburn. The Detroit & Eel River helped Auburn and Butler. The 
Baltimore & Ohio helped Auburn and Auburn Junction, and created St. Joe 
and Garrett. The Wabash created Ashley. 

EARLY GARRETT. 

Trains stopped at Garrett City for refreshments, but the city was yet to 
be, and the view to the visitor was wild and discouraging. Several cars had 
been placed alongside the track and served for a dining hall. 

During the latter part of November, 1874, a freight train drawn by 
engine number fi\e hundred and nineteen, left Defiance, Ohio, bound for South 
Chicago. The crew had no pilot, but had heard that the division headquarters 
were to be at Garrett. It was night when they approached the place, through 
which they passed at the rate of forty miles per hour. On their return, by 
daylight, they saw a large, barn-like structure and a "Y" track. On the right 
was a spur track, upon which stood a construction train. They slackened 
speed, learned that it was Garrett, and in disgust, put on steam and sped away 
at a lively rate. Another trip, and there were two long sidetracks, a track 
from the shed, a coal track, a temporary frame boarding-house, several log 
cabins and two hundred people there. 



CHAPTER XVI. 



BANKS AND BANKING. 



Although DeKalb county has not been entirely free from banking troubles 
during her seventy-five years or more of life, no lasting weakness has been 
imposed upon the county by poor banking, such as will be found in some terri- 
tories. What misfortunes there were may be traced to the fact that the old- 
time banking system allowed anyone, irrespective of nationality or occupa- 
tion, to start a bank, in consideration that he won the confidence of the peo- 
ple and could persuade them to trust him with their funds. No strict quali- 
fications were necessary, such as exist today, and no examinations of the ap- 
plicant for banking privileges were necessary. Under such a state of affairs, it 
is not singular that trouble arose, and it did arise, in some sources. This was 
aptly called the free-for-all banking system. The issue of paper currency for 
circulation as money was free and open. Any banker had the privilege of 
issuing such currency, which would be as valuable as his bank was well known. 
Bills of practically all banks would be current somewhere, at some price, but 
largely they were taken only at a discount, the discount depending, as men- 
tioned before, upon the general reputation of the bank. Thus, many unde- 
serving institutions would issue a quantity of currency, which would float at a 
fluctuating valuation, and then die in the hands of the holders, to the loss of 
everybody except the original issuers, who obtained face value when they 
issued the same. Again, strong institutions would issue currency in their 
own locality, which would be accepted readily by the people at face value, but 
in adjacent communities would be subjected to a slight discount, this discount 
increasing the farther away from home the currency traveled. The incon- 
venience of this is obvious. 

Counterfeiters were also plentiful in the early day. It was an easy 
matter to counterfeit, apparently, and a much harder matter to distinguish 
between good and bad money. A man one thousand miles from home would 
stand small chance of being able to pass a bill upon his home bank, no matter 
how stanch and reliable he knew the institution to be. The paper money was 
redeemable only over the counter of the issuing bank. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 3O3 

The first steps taken to remedy this palpable evil was the establishment 
of the "state banks," in the early thirties. This was a material improvement 
over the "wild cat" system formerly in vogue. Of course, the system of state 
control and supervision was in a crude and primitive state, but it had the 
merit of securing reputable people as the responsible heads of these banks and 
branches. 

FIRST BANK IN DEK.\LB COUNTY. 

In the matter of banking, tlie town of Waterloo became the pioneer in 
DeKalb county. 

In May, 1873, W. C. Langan, of Lima, Ohio, became formally associated 
with O. T. Clark, J. I. Best, and C. A. O. McClellan, of Waterloo, for the 
purpose of doing a general banking business in that place, under the name of 
the DeKalb County Bank. On July 24th, their safe, weighing fourteen thou- 
sand pounds, arrived from the manufactory of Diebold, Kiengle & Company, 
of Canton, Ohio, and was placed in the office, located in the south side of what 
was known as the Clark building, north of the Lake Shore railroad crossing. 
The capital of this early bank was placed at fifty thousand dollars. Mr. 
Langan became the cashier and business manager of the bank, and the enter- 
prise gave much satisfaction to the general public. 

BEGINNINGS IN AUBURN. 

In the beginning of the year 1874 there was no bank in Auburn, but the 
tirr;e had arrived when such an institution v^'as a necessity. There were citi- 
zens who were willing and had enough capital to engage in banking, but they 
had no experience and, distrusting their own ability, they invited the coming 
of someone to take the initiative. 

On March 2nd, two men named Riley and Mots, from \\"abash: visited 
Auburn, to look over the ground preparatory to establishing a bank. The 
need was evident for a medium to facilitate business transactions and by 
secured deposits to find employment for otherwise idle currency. These men 
met several citizens at the Swineford House, to whom they expressed them- 
selves well pleased with the location and their proposals met unqualified 
encouragement. 

All seemed favoralile and the front part of the Cool building was en- 
gaged for an office. It was intended to commence business within a month, 
with a capital of fifty thousand dollars, of which sum the people of Auburn 



304 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

were to have supplied two-fifths. Nothing was done and, save several futile 
assurances, the subject lapsed until near the close of the year, when George 
Hazzard, a stranger from Newcastle, this state, made his appearance, and re- 
newing the subject of a bank, won the confidence of the people. He pro- 
posed to open a bank in Auburn with a capital of fifty thousand dollars, to 
which sum he asked the citizens to subscribe fifteen thousand dollars. This 
offer was taken, and arrangements made for a speedy organization. There 
was a question in the minds of the people as to whether a state or a national 
bank would be the best. The national bank was supposed to be the most 
profitable to the stockholders, but the general trend was in favor of the state 
institution. However, the decision was in favor of a national bank, and on 
December 19, 1874, the First National of Auburn, Indiana, was organized, 
by electing a board of directors, consisting of Nicholas Ensley, William 
Mclntyre and Orrin C. Clark, of Auburn, and George and James Hazzard, of 
Newcastle. 

A small frame building on Seventh street, just west of the later Farmers" 
Bank building, was occupied, a strong safe was procured and put in place, 
and James V. Hazzard, the youngest of the brothers, was made cashier. 
Deposits were at once received; United States bonds were purchased and 
deposited in the national treasuiy. Sheets of crisp, new national bank notes 
in denominations of fives, were received from Washington, and being signed, 
their issue commenced, and business opened auspiciously, the date being April 
I, 1875- 

This bank was afterward involved in many difficulties, and was threat- 
ened with insolvency. Faulty investments and misuse of moneys caused no 
end of trouble for the institution. 

In 1878 it was discovered that George Hazard, heaviest stockholder, had 
hypothecated his stock with other banks; drawn heavily from the bank on 
worthless notes, accepted by his brother, the cashier; sold the bonds of that 
bank and replaced them with ones drawing a lower rate of interest, and, to 
cap the climax, replaced the worthless notes with others of leading citizens. 
Seventeen out of twenty-one thousand dollars was recovered. 

PRESENT DAY BANKS. 

In Auburn there are three banks : The Auburn State bank, the City 
National bank, and the Savings, Loan and Trust Company. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 3O5 

AUBURN STATE BANK. 

The Auburn State bank was organized in the year of 1904, with a iirst 
capital of $50,000. The present capital of the bank is $75,000. The surplus 
is $12,000, and the amount of mone}' on deposit is $450,000. In the report of 
the condition of the bank, published on October 21, 1913, the following re- 
.sources are shown: Loans and discounts, $372,653.50; overdrafts, $610.10; 
other bonds and securities, $526.26; banking house, $20,000; furniture and 
fixtures, $3,384.90; due from banks and trust companies, $54,398.12; cash 
on hand, $20,760; cash items, $20; all making a total of $472,352.88. Lia- 
bilities, besides capital stock and surplus already mentioned, were: Undi- 
vided profits. 663.37; exchange, discounts and interest, $2,053.97; demand 
deposits, $169,464.24; demand certificates, $213,671.30; making a total of lia- 
bilities, same as the resources. 

The present oflkers of the Auburn State bank are : President, J. 
Schloss; vice-president, I. D. .Straus; cashier. C. B. Weaver. 

CITY NATIONAL BANK. 

The City National Bank of Auburn w as organized in 1902. F. M. Hines 
is president; Charles M. Brown, vice-president; Willis Rhoads, cashier; F. 
W. Knott, assistant cashier. The capital stock is $50,000 ; the surplus, $20,000, 
and the deposits total $325,000. 

SA\aNGS, LOAN AND TRUST COMPANY. 

The Savings, Loan and Trust Company of Auburn was organized in the 
vear 1903. The present capital is $50,000; the surplus is $10,000; and the 
am.-iunt if deposits is $260,000. P. D. West is president; W. M. Swaysgood, 
vii-f- president ; VV. C. Henderson, cashier. 

GARRETT STATE BANK. 

The Garrett State bank is located at Garrett, Keyser township, DeKalb 
county. Indiana. This bank was originally named the Garrett Banking Com- 
pany This first bank was organized on January 3, 1893, with a capital of 
$25,000. In 1907 the capital stock was increased $35,000 and a surplus of 
(20) 



306 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

$15,000 was created. The late H. N. Coffinberry and the Kniselys, of Butler, 
this county, started the bank and Coffinberry was the first president. Thomas 
Mitchell was the first cashier. He was succeeded in a couple of years by 
Charle.< W. Camp, and the latter has been actively connected with the institu- 
tion ever smce. 

I he new charter of the bank, wherein the name was changed to the Gar- 
rett State bank, was issued on November 25, 1912. This reorganization was 
necessary on account of a provision of the constitution of the state of Indiana 
that the charters of banking corporations shall expire in twenty years from 
the date they are issued. 

The present capital is $50,000; the surplus, $8,750; and there is on de- 
posit in the bank, $265,000. The present officers are as follows : President, 
H. W. Mountz; vice-president, J. Singler, cashier; H. M. Brown; assistant 
cashier, H. W. Wert. 

GARRETT SAVINGS, LOAN AND TRUST COMPANY. 

This bank is located at Garrett, this county, and was organized in No- 
vember of the year 1908. Monte L. Green and J. N. Ritter were the men 
responsible for the establishment of the institution, and their first capital 
consisted of $25,000. The charter is dated November 8, 1908. The present 
capital totals $40,000; the surplus, $3,000; and the ainount of deposits, 
$60,000. Monte L. Gren is president ; J. N. Ritter is first vice-president ; J. A. 
Clevengcr is second vice-president; and Laura A. Shutt is secretary. The 
resources and liabilities each, according to the sworn statement issued October 
31, 1913, equals $101,842.58. The bank is a four per cent, bank, and is a 
depository for the United States postal savings, Garrett schools, city of Gar- 
rett, town of Altona, Altona schools, Keyser township, and DeKalb county 
treasurer. The bank writes insurance of all kinds, rents and sells property, 
makes loans on collateral and mortgage, issues money drafts on New York and 
Chicago, sells high grade bonds, acts as executor, administrator, guardian, 
etc., and rents safety deposit boxes in steel burglar proof vaults. 

FIRST NATIONAL BANK. 

This bank is located in Butler, DeKalb county, Indiana. The bank was 
organized in the ye^:- 1908. The present capital stock of the bank is $25,000, 
and the amount of deposits is $75,000. The record of the bank shows that 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 3O7 

the deposits have been more than doubled in the past two years. A beautiful 
bank building is at present under course of construction. The bank is now 
without a president, and no clianges will be made until the annual meeting. 
E. A. Farnham is cashier and manager, and E. A. Farnham, Jr., is assistant 
cashier. 

KNISELY BROTHERS & COMPANY STATE RANK. 

This banking institution is located at Butler. It was organized in the 
year 1882. The date of the present charter is April i, 1907. The present 
corporation succeeded Knisely Brothers & Company private bank in the year 
of the charter date. The present capital is $60,000; the surplus, $16,000; and 
the amount of deposits, $263,000. T. J. Knisely is president; W. A. Mason 
is vice-president ; O. T. Knisely is casliier. and C. R. Decker is assistant cash- 
ier. The bank erected an excellent bank building in 1903, costing when com- 
pleted, $20,000. This includes a private heating plant. 

CITIZENS BANK. 

The I)ank known as the Citizens liank i< iDcated in Waterloo, DeKalb 
county. This bank was organized in the early seventies, with a first capital 
stock of $25,000. This early date or organization marks the bank as one of 
the oldest, if not the oldest, in the county. The present capital amounts to 
$10,000. H. K. Leas is president and cashier, and Grace Wilcox is assistant 
cashier. The bank is not chartered. The present bank building was erected 
in the year 1876, at a cost of $4,500; $190,339.74 is the amount each of re- 
sources and liabilities. 

THOMAS EXCHANGE BANK. 

This bank is located in the town of Corunna, DeKalb county, and was 
organized in the year 1897 by Milo J. Thomas, with a first capital of $5,000. 
The present capital is $10,000; the surplus is $11,000; and the amount of 
deposits is $63,000. Milo J. Thomas is president of the institution and 
cashier; M. C. Guthrie and Bertha M. Thomas are assistant cashiers. A 
handsome bank building was erected in 1909, which cost, complete, $1,200. 
The sworn statement issued October 21, 19 13, places the liabilities and re- 
sources each as $94,149.39. This was divided as follows: Resources, loans, 
$70,480.90; cash in other banks, $18,338.63; cash on hand, $2,329.86: furni- 
ture and fixtures, $1,800: building, $1,200. T.iabilities, capital, $10,000; im- 
divided profits, $11,089.15; deposits, $73,060.24. 



308 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

ST. JOE VALLEY BANK. 

The St. Joe Valley bank is located at St. Joe, DeKalb county, and was 
organized in 1888, by J. D. Leighty, E. Case and W. C. Patterson. The in- 
stitution was incorporated in the year 1913. It is a state bank. The first 
capital entered was for the amount of $6,000, but today the capital stock 
totals $25,000. There are $70,000 on deposit at this bank. The date of the 
charter is August i, 1913. The present bank succeeded the St. Joe Valley 
private bank on the date of the above mentioned charter. E. Case is the 
president and W. C. Patterson, vice-president and cashier. 

THE COMMERCIAL BANK. 

The Commercial bank at Ashley was reorganized in 1910 with a capital 
of $25,000, the same as at present. E. F. Mortorff is president; E. F. Smith, 
vice-president: A. W. Gonser, cashier; G. W. Clark, assistant cashier. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

LODGES AND SOCIETIES. 



FREE AND ACCEPTED M.\SONS. 

On May 28, 1857, DeKalb Lodge No. 214, Free and Accepted Masons, 
was chartered, and on June 5th was instituted. The first officers were : Mil- 
ton F. Pierce, worshipful master; John Butt, senior warden; Alva O. Espy, 
junior warden; Aaron Wolf, treasurer; Eli Weaver, secretary: Joseph H. 
Ford, senior deacon ; James Barclay, junior deacon ; William E. Rush, t\ler, 
and John Butt, James Barclay and A. O. Espy, trustees. 

In 1 91 3 the lodge has one hundred and sixty-two members, and the fol- 
lowing officers: Joseph N. Grover, worshipful master; Philip Holman, senior 
warden; Donald P. Sprott, junior warden: Fred W. Knott, treasurer; Thomas 
H. Sprott, .secretar}-; Ira A. Thrush, •senior deacdu; John E. (iraham. junior 
deacon; Thomas C. Ford, senior steward: W. Gage Zigler, junior steward; 
George W. Rudolph, tyler; James L. Lewis. James Y. W. McClellan, John E. 
Graham, trustees. 

William Hacker Chapter No. 63, Royal Arch Masons, was organized 
under dispensation on September 3, 1866, and chartered May 23, 1867. John 
Butt was high priest until 1878. The chapter now has sixty-two members, and 
is officered by the following: William H. Leas, high priest; Joseph N. 
Grover, king; Charles H. Kjiapp, scribe; James L. Lewis, treasurer; Thomas 
H. Sprott, secretary; William C. Howard, captain of host; Harr\- M. Rich- 
wine, principal sojourner; Daniel J. ^^'lli])ple, royal arch captain; James Y. 
W. McClellan. master third veil : Noah A. Bash, master second veil : George 
A. Bishop, master first veil ; George W. Rudolph, guard. 

DeKalb Council No. 57, Royal and Select Masters, was chartered on July 
13. 1885. The council has a present membership of forty-five, and has the 
following officers: Harry M. Richwine, thrice illustrious master; Willis 
Baughman, deputy illustrious master: Sam F. Davenport, illustrious principal 
conductor of work; Price D. West, treasurer; Thomas H. Sprott, recorder; 
William C. Howard, captain of guard: Howard A. Marvin, conductor of 
council: F. L, Rodehaugh, steward, and George \\'. Rudolph, sentinel. 



3IO DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Auburn Chapter No. 103, Order of Eastern Star, has a good membership. 

Waterloo City Lodge No. 307, Free and Accepted Masons, was or- 
ganized in Waterloo in 1861. The charter is dated May 26, 1864. At present 
there are sixty members, and the officers are: Clark Campbell, worshipful 
master; Frank Fisk, senior warden; J. Harris Reed, junior warden; C. Ells- 
worth Montavon, treasurer; William H. Leas, secretary; W. R. Newcomer, 
senior deacon ; W. E. Montavon, junior deacon ; John J. Rohm and A. H. 
Erwin, stewards; John J. Lightner, tyler; N. T. Jackman, J. J. Lightner, John 
W. Frick, trustees. The Masons own their own hall, and part of the Abbey 
block, which they use as an annex. 

Waterloo Chapter No. 142, Order of Eastern Star, has about ninety-six 
members at Waterloo. 

Garrett City Lodge No. 537, Free and Accepted Masons, was united 
under dispensation on July 17; 1876, and the charter is dated May 15, 1877. 
The present lodge has about two hundred and thirty-five members. The offi- 
cers are: Harry E. Wert, worshipful master; Howard A. Marion, senior 
warden; Harry B. Hill, junior warden; Harry M. Brown, treasurer; Job C. 
Smith, secretary. 

Garrett Chapter No. 129, Royal Arch Masons, was united under dis- 
pensation on May 23, 1903, and tlie charter is dated October 22, 1903. The 
chapter has a menilx>rship of aliout one hundred and twenty-five, and is offi- 
cered by the following: Franklin Rodebaugh, high priest; Thomas A. 
Smith, king; Edwin Van Fleit. scribe; Harry M. Brown, treasurer; Job C. 
Smith, secretary. 

Harmony Chapter No. 67', Order of Eastern Star, has aliout one hun- 
dred members in Garrett. 

Ashley Lodge No. 614, Free and Accepted Masons, has about fifty 
members. A. N. Ellis is worshipful master; C. H. Bruce, past master; W. N. 
Folkerson, senior warden; Jess McClugen. junior warden; L. C. Hunt, sec- 
retary; C. A. Lakins, treasurer. 

Ashley Chapter No. 229, Order of Eastern Star, has a good membership. 

Forest Lodge No. 239, Free and Accepted Masons, at Butler, was or- 
ganized in 1858. with the following as first officers: H. S. Madden, wor- 
shipful master; W. W. Straight, senior warden; W. R. Chilson, junior war- 
den ; Jason Hubbell, secretary ; J. H. Boon, treasurer ; W. H. Madden, senior 
deacon ; A. Lampson, junior deacon, and Z. Handy, tyler. The charter is 
dated May 25, 1859. The present membership is one hundred and twelve, 
and the following are the present officers: Marion M. Knepper, worshipful 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 3 II 

master: Charles H. Miller, senior warden; Clifford R. Decker, junior war- 
den; Samuel G. Stone, treasurer; Charles T. Apt, secretary- ; C. H. Grube, 
senior deacon; George A. Powers, junior deactm ; Hugh T. Berkey and Harry 
M. Hatch, stewards ; Peter Whitman, tyler. 

Butler Chapter No. io6. Royal Arch Masons, at Butler, was chartered 
on October 22, 1891. At present there are seventy-three members. The 
officers are: Clyde J. Shaffer, high priest; M. M. Knepper, king; Henry 
Grube, scribe; Frank P. Stump, treasurer; Charles T. Apt, secretary; C. H. 
Grube, captain of host; John A. Daniels, principal sojourner; J. Bruce Pes- 
sel, royal arch captain ; O. C. Waterman, guard master third veil ; Frank P. 
Stump, guard master second veil; Ed. A. Karle, guard master first veil; 
Peter Whitman, guard. 

Butler Council No. 83, Royal and Select Masters, at Butler, was char- 
tered October 20, 1909. The present membership totals thirty-eight. The 
following are the officers : Walter J. Mondhank, thrice illustrious master ; 
Clyde J. Shafer, right illustrious deputy master; Oris C. Waterman, illus- 
trious principal conductor of work ; Morrison Brunstetter, treasurer ; Charles 
T. Apt, recorder; M. M. Knepper, captain of guard; Henry M. Showalter, 
conductor of council ; F. P. Stump, steward : Peter Whitman, sentinel. 

Forest Chapter No. 44, Order of Eastern Star, was chartered at Butler 
on April 15, 1880. 

KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS. 

Auburn Lodge No. 191, Knights of Pythias, was chartered on May 4, 
1888, and now has a membership of three hundred and thirty members. T. 
L. Boodelmier is chancellor connnander; Guy Clement, vice commander; L. 
F. Moore, prelate; Arthur Grube, master of work; D. C. Norris. keeper of rec- 
ords and seal; W. C. Kettering, master of exchequer; E. E. Shilling, master 
of finance; F. H. Fury, master at arms; R. A. Gramling, inner guard; Charles 
E. Kingsbury, outer guard; F. D. Smith, Charles E. Renier, Dr. D. N. 
Fitch, trustees. The hall is in the third story of the building at Seventh and 
Cedar streets. The property is valued at six thousand dollars. 

Butler Lodge No. 158, Knights of Pythias, was organized on Decem- 
ber II, 1886, and at present has a membership of two hundred and sixty-five, 
being the largest lodge in Butler. The lodge owns the second storj^ of the 
Oberlin block, and the property, including fixtures, is valued at six thousand 
dollars. The officers are : A. A. Kramer, chancellor commanck-r ; W. P. 
Endicott, vice commander; George W. Geddus, master of finance; T. J. 



312 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Knisely, master of exchequer: C. W. Campbell, secretary; Roy Johnson, 
master of work: W. R. Lennon, inner guard: J. O. Gee, outer guard; trustee, 
R. C. Campbell. 

Butler Temple No. 126, Pythian Sisters, is also active in Butler. 

Garrett City Lodge No. 130, Knights of Pythias, was organized on 
June 2, 1886, with fifteen charter members. The present membership totals 
seventy-nine, and the lodge is officered by the following : Carl Moyer, chan- 
cellor commander; C. PI. Hamilton, vice commander; L. Stoner, prelate; J. 
Hill, master of work ; D. C. Beehler. keeper of records and seal, also master of 
finance ; J. A. Moore, master of exchecjuer ; L. J. Gengler. master at arms ; S. 
E. Boogher, inner guard : Louis Eberle. outer guard. 

Ruth Temple No. 56. Pythian Sisters, was organized at Garrett on 
June 17, 1892. 

St. Joe Lodge No. 400, Knights of Pythias, was organized on February 
28, 1894, and chartered on June 6. 1894, with the following charter mem- 
bers : Sol Barney. H. M. Widney. S. Openlauder. J. C. Hull. J. A. Culbert- 
son, Daniel Hamm, W. C. Patterson, Frank Barney, Leo Bleeks, J. P. Bon- 
nell, John Williams, Ed. Leighty, C. H. Brown, B. F. Walter, John Deets, 
Jo.seph Harrods. Logan Fuller, B. S. Sheffer, John Alten. F. J. White, F. H. 
Abel, D. J. Baker, L. Gee, J. L. Stewart, William Curie, J. C. F. Abel, C. A. 
Patterson, O. M. Savior and Ballard Bowen. F. W. Ahel was the first chan- 
cellor commander. C. H. Brown, H. M. \\'idney. C. A. Patterson. J. C. F. 
Abel. Frank W'alters, D. J. Baker. John Allen and Ed. Leighty were other 
first officers. At present writing there are se\enty-six members in the St. 
Joe lodge, and the officers are Edwin Cox. chancellor commander; William 
Curie, vice chancellor: Wilson Kock. prelate: Clarence Hart, master of work; 
J. C. Hull, master of exchecjuer ; Abner Copp, master of finance ; B. S. Shef- 
fer, keeper of records and seal ; Charles Collins, inner guard ; Ira Bowen, outer 
guard; H. M. Widney, Joseph Haifley and Ed. Leighty, trustees. Azalea 
Temple No. 152, Pythian Sisters, is active in St. Joe. 

Leonidas Lodge No. 205, Knights of Pythias, was organized about fif- 
teen years ago in Waterloo. At present there are one hundred and seventy- 
two members, and the officers are : Frank Walker, chancellor commander ; 
Isaac Johnson, vice commander: Charles Barton, prelate: Henry Link, keeper 
records and seal; J. J. Beck, master of exchequer; W. H. Leas, master of 
finance ; John Mann, master at arms : Dan Rumm. inner guard ; Roy Shuman. 
outer guard. 

Ashlev Lodge No. 394. Knights of Pythias, was instituted on July 12. 
1893. and at present has forty-one active members. The officers are as fol- 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 3I3 

lows : Frank Baughman. chancellor commander ; Jesse Camp, vice com- 
mander; George Parks, prelate; S. C. Hunt, secretaiy; Dave Forney, master 
of exchequer; F. P. Hoover, master of Finance; Frank Jennings, inner guard; 
Jacob Hood, outer guard. 

Ashley Temple No. 98, Pythian Sisters, has a membership of thirty-nine. 

Corunna Lodge No. 248, Knights of Pythias, has a small membership. 

INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS. 

The IndeiJendent Order of Odd Fellows was first introduced in Auburn 
at a very early date, but the records have been destroyed, A charter was 
granted to Bradford C. Cosgrove and others on July 21, 1852, and on July 21, 
1853, Auburn Lodge No. 116 was instituted. The first officers were: Wesley 
Park, noble grand ; W. H. Straight, vice grand ; W. W. Griswold, secretary, 
and S. W. Ralston, treasurer. The fire of January, 1856, destroyed the hall, 
and the lodge reorganized on June 25th, with A. O. Espy, noble grand ; S. W. 
Ralston, vice grand; W. W. Griswold, secretary, and Wesley Park, treasurer. 
In the fall of 1872 a brick building was begun on the north side of Seventh 
street opposite the court yard. In October a storm ruined the structure and 
bankrupted the lodge. The charter was returned and the members disbanded. 

A new charter was granted January 17, 1882, as Mentor Lodge No. 591, 
and on January 30th of the same year the lodge was instituted. The first 
officers were: F. T. Zimmerman, noble grand; P. Noel, vice grand; W. H. 
Rakestraw. secretary, and G. W. Gordon, treasurer. The lodge at this date 
has one hundred and fifteen memliers, and is officered by the following : 
Kent Provines, noble grand; Lester Cobler. vice grand; E. C. Altenburg, 
recording secretary ; J. F. Baughman, financial secretary ; F. E. Draggoo, 
treasurer; A. A. Rowland, trustee. The lodge owns its hall and equipment. 

St. Joe Lodge No. 671, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was char- 
tered on March 18, 1891, with the following as charter members: William 
Curie, John Y. Davis. James K. Stafford, J. R. Culbertson, Sol Barney and 
L. L. Stanton. At present there are one hundred and three members. The 
officers are: Jay Rickets, noble grand; Ray Herrick. .secretary; W. A. G. 
Smith, treasurer ; Fred Reeder, vice grand ; Frank Kinsey, financial secretary. 
Sol Barney, of this lodge, is district deputy grand master for DeKalb county, 
having held the office for fifteen years. St. Joe Valley Lodge No. 505, Re- 
bekahs, was chartered on January 16, 1896. 

Garrett Lodge No. 602, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was in- 
stituted August 29. 1883, with T. C. Sargent as nnT)le grand: H. M. Rick- 



314 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

nell, as vice grand; Charles \Y. Camp, as secretary, and B. D. Thomas, as 
treasurer. The present enrolhnent numbers two hundred and thirty-five men. 
The hall was remodeled in 1901, and now has a valuation of twelve thousand 
dollars. The charter members of the order were : Charles W. Camp, T. C. 
Sargent. A. H. Philips, Thomas H. Stewart, Charles S. Stewart, H. M. Bick- 
nell, B. D. Thomas, H. F. Sembower, Lyman Lockwood and Heniy Schelter. 
The present officers are : Howard Ross, noble grand : J. L. Ghrum, vice 
grand I ^\'illiam Watson, secretary; S. D. Johnston, treasurer: G. W. Rowe, 
trustee. 

Butler Lodge No. 282, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was insti- 
tuted May 22, 1867, and the five charter members were: Leonard P. Water- 
house, Jacob Apple, John T. Champion, William Macartney and Warren 
Closson. There are now one hundred and twenty-four members. The elec- 
tive officers are : Jacob Farner, noble grand ; William Tefft, vice grand ; C. A. 
Engles, recording secretary; S. G. Stone, treasurer; Charles IMumaw, finan- 
cial secretary. There is also a lodge of the Rebekahs in Butler. 

Butler Encampment No. 160, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was 
established on March 17, 1S84, with seven charter members. 

Waterloo Lodge No. 221, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was or- 
ganized in Waterloo, DeKalb county, in i860. There are now about ninety- 
five members, and the elective officers are: O. B. Arthur, noble grand; 
Henry Shultz, vice grand; D. E. Newcomer, recording secretary; R. W. 
McBride, financial secretary, and C. J. Myer, trustee. 

Ashley Lodge No. 829, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, has twenty- 
five members, and w-as organized by Sol Barney, of St. Joe. The present offi- 
cers are: Arthur C. Wolfe, noble grand; Ira Moortorfi^, secretary; C. S. 
Thomson, treasurer, and Thomas Robinett,' vice grand. 

GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC. 

DeLong Post No. 67, Grand Army of the Republic, was organized and 
chartered at Auburn on Mav 8, 1882. The charter memloers were: Henry 
C. Peterson. P. W. Silber, George W. Gordon, Michael Ensley, Henry Wolf, 
John Otto. Ezra D. Hartman, J. J. Littlefield, John A. Cowan, H. E. Alten- 
burg, Adolph Pairan, C. P. Houser, Fred Abel and William Schneider. The 
post was named in honor of Colonel Solomon DeLong, of the One Hundred 
and Twenty-ninth and Forty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. The past 
commanders have been : Nicholas G. Ensley, Phillip Noel, John Otto, A. P. 
Green, Joseph Ranier, J. O. Davidson, D. C. IMarvin, Robert Simpson, Joseph 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 3I5 

Davidson at present, and on Januan^ i, 19 14, O. H. Widnc}' assumes the 
office of commander. In December, 19 13, there are forty-three living mem- 
bers of the DeLong Post. A special room has been provided for the veterans 
in tlie new DeKalb county court house, a room in which will also be kept the 
records and relics of the post. 

John C. Carnes Post No. 144. at St. Joe, was organized in March, 1883, 
and named after the first man killed from Concord township in the Civil war. 
Carnes was killed at Paducah, Kentucky, while mounting a cannon. There 
were about thirty-six charter members, and the post was organized in the 
hall over Jacob D. Leighty's store. Leighty was the first commander of the 
post. They remained in the hall until about 1889, when they occupied the 
hall over the St. Joe Valley bank. In 191 o a monument was erected in the 
cemetery, commemorating the heroes of "61. This monument is twenty-two 
feet six inches in height, cost twenty-two hundred and sixteen dollars, and 
was dedicated on May 30, 1912. 

Charles Ca.se Post No. 233 existed at Garrett, but has been disbanded. 
The post was organized in 1883. 

Waterloo Post No. 52 was mustered in March, [882, and is still existent, 
with a good membership. 

Meade Post No. 44, at Butler, was mustered in February. 1882, w ith C. 
S. Stov as commander. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



PATENT MEDICINES. 

The reign of the patent medicine king was high during the fifties and 
sixties. Newspapers were filled with florid and startling advertisements advo- 
cating the various "sure cures." Townsend's Sarsaparilla. Helmbold's Ex- 
tract of Buchu, Warner's Safe Kidney Cure, Black Draught. Wine of Cardui. 
Wistar's Balsam of Wild Cherry, Dr. Guysott's Improved Extract of Yellow 
Dock and Sarsaparilla. were among those most extensively advertised. 

MARKET PRICES IN THE FIFTIES. 

Sixty years ago sugar sold sixteen pounds for one dollar. Cofifee was 
fourteen cents a pound. Molasses was thirty-seven cents a gallon. Tobacco 
was from ten to seventy-five cents a pound. The Auburn market in Septem- 
ber, 1856, quoted the following: Flour, per barrel, six dollars and a half; 
wheat, per bushel, one dollar : corn, per bushel, thirty-one cents ; rye, per 
bushel, fifty cents; oats, i>er bushel, twenty-five cents; flaxseed, per bushel, 
one dollar; potatoes, per bushel, sixty-two and a half cents; butter, per pound, 
twelve and a half cents; eggs, per dozen, eight cents; timothy seed, per 
bushel, one dollar and a half; clmer seed, per bushel, six dollars. 

MARKET PRICES OF I913. 

Of interest to the reader of a score of years hence w ill be the prevailing 
prices of the DeKalb county markets in 19 13. Prices at this period fluctuate 
considerably, due to the restricting action of corporations and trusts. \Vheat 
sells for ninety- four cents per hundredweight; corn, eighty cents, and oats, 
thirty-seven cents. Timothy seed sells for two dollars per bushel ; potatoes, 
fifty to sixty cents per bushel ; onions, ninety cents to one dollar a bushel ; eggs, 
thirty cents a dozen ; butter, twenty-five to twenty-eight cents ; apples, eighty 
cents to one dollar per bushel: fowls of all kinds, around twelve cents per 
pound. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 7,1 J 

pioneers' association of DEKALB COUNTY. 

Not until the year 1878 were steps taken by the old settlers of DeKalb 
county to organize into a band to perpetuate the memories of the early days. 
The first meeting was appointed for July 4, 1878, at Auburn, at the celebra- 
tion there of Independence day. The committee of arrangements for this 
day comprised G. W. Gordon, R. H. W'eamer, Henry Bashelier, John Leas- 
ure, L. J. Hopkins and T. ]\lills. Dr. Ford was chosen president; T. C. 
Mays, officer of the day The following committee of old settlers was ap- 
pointed to arouse interest in their respective localities : Butler township, 
Peter Simmons; Jackson, Alexander Provines and Henry Feagler; Concord, 
J. F. Coburn; Newville, B. E. Blair; Stafford, Henry Dickerhoff; Wilming- 
ton, Samuel Headley; Union, John Butt, S. Bassett, S. W. Ralston, Major S. 
W. Sprott, D. Altenburg, J. O. P. Sherlock and George Ensley; Richland, 
James Goetschius; Fairfield, George Emerick: Smithfield, E. R. Shoemaker; 
Franklin, George P. Firestone ; Troy, Samuel Learned ; Keyser, O. C. Clark. 
T. D. Gross was named as superintendent. 

A good representation of the pioneers was present on the day appointed, 
and after the Fourth of July exercises they met to organize. T. D. Gross 
called the meeting to order. James R. Cosper was chosen president and T. 
D. Gross, secretary. The following resolution was immediately adopted by 
those present : 

"Resolved, That when this meeting adjourns, it will adjourn to meet at 
Auburn, September 12, 1878, and that all who were citizens of the county 
prior to January i, 1846, are cordially invited to attend and participate in 
the meeting." 

On motion, a committee of two from each township was appointed to 
ascertain the number of old settlers in their respective townships and notify 
and induce them to attend the next meeting and perform such other duties 
as in their judgment would be for the best interests of the meeting. The 
following were appointed : Butler, Peter Simmons and J. A. Miller ; Jack- 
son, A. D. Goetchius and Henry Brown; Newville, B. F. Blair and John 
Plattner; Concord, Samuel Wasson and J. Rhodes; Stafford, C. B. Wane- 
maker and C. L. Thomas ; Wilmington, George Egnew and Nathan Mathews ; 
Union, T. D. Gross and Miles Waterman; Keyser, O. C. Clark and William 
Embra ; Richland, G. Showers and Thomas Dailey ; Fairfield, W. Childs and 
P. Gushwa; Smithfield, R. J. Daniels and Jerry Hemstreet; Franklin, John 
N. Clark and John Hammond ; Troy, William Emerson and John Stearns. 



3l8 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 



FIRST MEETING. 

On the I2th of September the meeting was held at Auburn. Major S. 
W. Sprott was appointed chairman, and T. C. Mays, secretary. Nelson Pren- 
tiss, of Noble county, was present, and was called upon to suggest a way to 
proceed to organize an old settlers' association, which he did after the man- 
ner followed in Noble county. He read a synopsis of the by-laws of the 
Noble County Old Settlers' Association, which were amended and adopted. 

The following officers were elected for the year: Elder S. B. Ward, 
president; P. B. Nimmons, vice-president; W. H. Dills, secretary; Cyrus 
Bowman, treasurer; J. E. Rose, biographer and librarian. Articles of asso- 
ciation were drawn up, in which it was stated that the association was to be 
called the Pioneers' Association of DeKalb County, Indiana. Persons who 
had been residents of the county before January i, 1846, were eligible to 
membership. 

Those in attendance at this first meeting, and the date of their settle- 
ment is given in the following: William Smith, May, 1836; Samuel Wasson, 
December, 1833; S. D. Long, March, 1845; J. E. Rose, October, 1836; Sam- 
uel Headly, September, 1836; Philip Gushwa, March, 1845; S. B. Ward, 
January, 1842; William Carr, February, 1839; J. D. McAnnally, September, 
1840; N. H. Matthews, October, 1839; C. P. Coleman, December, 1842; R. 
Culbertson, October, 1843; P- G. Daniels, January, 1837'; P. B. Nimmons, 
August, 1844; N. Griffith, April, 1839; James Draggoo, October, 1841 ; A. D. 
Goetschius, June, 1836; Paul Long, February, 1841 ; John Hogue, June, 
1842; D. McDaniel, June, 1843; Isaac Diehl, June, 1843; A. J. Ralston, 
December, 1842; James Johnson, August, 1844; N. Ensley, October, 1841 ; 
J. E. Shilling, April, 1845 ; G. W. Gordon, October, 1841 ; Henry Clark, Octo- 
ber, 1842; O. C. Clark, October, 1842; J. C. Wells, June, 1844; D. Alten- 
burg, November, 1837; R. B. Showers, February, 1839; W. Jacques, October, 
1845; Thomas D. Daily, March, 1841; Levi J. Walsworth, November, 1837; 

C. Bowman, October, 1839; Henry Feagler, September, 1836; M. Whetsel, 
May, 1837; John McClellan, October, 1844; J. H. Ford, November, 1844; A. 
Blodgett, August, 1842; Peter Treesh, October, 1842; Henry A. Shull, Sep- 
tember, 1844; David Weaver, August, 1838; A. S. Casebeer, September, 
1837; G. W. Husselman, May, 1845; Abraham Eakwright, September, 1836; 

D. Z. Hoffman, May, 1845; J. C. Somer, August, 1841 ; S. W. Sprott, July, 
1840; T. D. Gross, March, 1841 ; Guy Plum, June, 1843; Henry Willis, Octo- 
ber, 1843; Charles Gillett, October, 1843; Cornelia P. Cole, June, 1842; 
Sarah Bowman, March, 1841 ; Eliza Wason, September, 1837; Caroline 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 3I9 

Whetsel, September, 1841 ; M. J. Husselman, October, 1845; Anna McDaniel, 
May, 1843; Mary Siebert, August, 1836; Maria Ingman, August, 1836; 
Almira Martin, May, 1836; S. A. Griffith, November, 1839; Anna Kline, 
August, 1841 ; Mary McClellan, August, 1841 ; Rachel Treesh, October, 1842. 

OTHER MEETINGS. 

Interest continued unabated through the years, and today the ranks of 
the old settlers are still in formation. Thinning rapidly, it is true, but those 
who stand, remain stanch and sturdy for the record of the old time. Meet- 
ings are held every year at different points in the county, and interest never 
wanes. Orators and music enliven these gatherings, and a stimulus is pro- 
vided, productive of happiness to the aged man who meets there his brother. 
In time these first pioneers will all be departed from this earth, but their 
deeds and lives are perpetuated, not alone by the workings of the pioneers' 
association, but by the children who survive them and treasure carefully the 
records. The last meeting of this association was held at Waterloo, DeKalb 
county, on June 19, 1913. 

WOLF BOUNTY. 

Two dollars a scalp once was paid for wolf scalps, providing the animal 
was over six months of age, and one dollar was paid for the scalp if the ani- 
mal was under that age. Wolves had become so numerous that this pro- 
vision was necessary. Farm stock was continually in danger from the nightly 
marauders, and consequently a concerted effort was made by the farmers of 
the county to exterminate the annoying animal Wolf hunting was a great 
sport of the pioneer days, and parties of men, with their dogs, would hunt 
from sunrise to sundown, and come in to warm by the merry tavern fire and 
relate the day's experiences to the stay-at-homes. The sport was a lucrative 
one, also, as the bounty was high. 

FIRST CIRCUS. 

The first record of a circus in DeKalb county was in June, 1852, at 
Auburn, when Orney & Company were granted permission to exhibit within 
the limits of the corporation without payment of a license tax. The wagons 
were driven overland, and people lined the highway into town to see the 
circus caravan appear. Much excitement prevailed, and practically all of 
Auburn and most of the county population crowded under the one canvas 
to witness the performance. 



320 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

LOG VALUES IN 1 854. 

A log twelve feet four inches long, two feet through at the top end, of 
black walnut, sold for one dollar and thirty cents; of poplar, one dollar and a 
quarter, and of oak, one dollar. The black walnut commanded a cash pay- 
ment, but the others were for half cash and half goods. 

POPULATION OF COUNTY BY DECADES. 

In 1840 DeKalb county had a population of approximately 3,000; in 
1850, 8,000; in i860, 13,880; in 1870, 17,167; in 1880, 20,225; in 1890, 
24,307; in 1900, 25,711; in 1910, 25,054. 




<^^0(^^n-- / v2^(>o ' 



,^0 



u 



BIOGRAPHICAL 



JOHN EDGAR BUCHANAN. 

Among the iiK-n of eanie-^l purpose and succt-ssful lite who have hon- 
ored DeKalb county by their citizenship none is more ileserving of specific 
mention in the annals of the county than J. Edgar Buchanan, whose death re- 
moved from this locaHty one of its most enterprising and progressive citizens 
and whose loss was widel\- niournt-d throughout tliis section of the state. 

J. Edgar Buchanan, well known as the edilDr and manager of the 
Auburn Dispatch and the Auburn Evening Star and general manager of the 
Auburn Printing Company, was born on March 25, 1868, in Fairfield town- 
ship, DeKalb county, Indiana, and his death occurred at Evanston, Illinois, 
on July 27, 19 1 3. He was the youngest son of Albert and Hannah E. 
(Potts) Buchanan and came of a family that had been prominent in DeKalb 
county from an early day. The subject's parents had come to this count)- 
from Holmes county, Ohio, in 1854, and had taken a i)rominent and active 
part in the early development of this localil\-. Tin subject's boyhood days 
were spent on the pioneer fami in Fairfield township, and as soon as old 
enough he helped in the arduous laljors of the farm, liis education being re- 
ceived in the common schools of that locality. After completing the common 
school course he entered Hillsdale College, at Hillsdale, Michigan, to which 
city his parents had moved in order to give him this educational advantage. 
However, after studying in that institution for two years, he was afflicted 
with a severe illness which undermined his iiealth to such an extent that he 
never fully recovered from the effects. The family then returned to the 
home farm, where Mr. Buchanan in a measure recovered his health so that 
he engaged in teaching school for a number of years, serving rme year as 
principal of the Waterloo high school. In llie fall >>( 1800 Mr. Buchanan 
took up his residence in Auburn and entered the law firm of J. K. Rose & 
Son, with whom he pursued the study of law until ins .ulmission to the bar on 
December 2, 1892. He was intenselv ambitious and gave promise of a 
(21) 



322 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

splendid career in the legal profession, but again his hopes and ambitions 
were disappointed because of his already undermined health,, and for two 
years he again followed the vocation of school teaching at Altona and Gar- 
rett, filling the position of superintendent of the Garrett city schools for 
awhile. However, the pedagogical profession did not appeal to him as a life 
work and he turned his attention to the field of journalism, in which he began 
a series of investigations which eventually resulted in the purchase of the 
Albion New Era from j. P. Prickett, taking possession of the plant in 
September, 1895. Though without previous experience in this specific line 
of efiforts, his natural ability and progressive ideas enabled him to so direct 
and control the business that it grew and flourished and Mr. Buchanan estab- 
lished his home at Albion, thinkint^- at that time that be wrmld make .\lliion 
his permanent residence. Ho\\e\er, when the plant of the Aiihuni Dispatch 
and the Evening Dispatch wa'^ iilaceil upon the market at receiver's sale, a de- 
sire to be near his people and liis old friends bore u]ion him so strongly that 
on Januarv i, 1903, he became owner of the liusiness. which, under his guid- 
ance and direction, grew to be one of the best newspaper plants in DeKalb 
county and now stands as a monument to his memory. When he first came 
to .\uljurn to take charge of tlic Ini^ines^, tlie family remained in Mhiini in 
charge of the business there until it could be disjiosed of, they removing to 
Auburn on April i.st following. iMr. l^uchanan organized the Auburn Print- 
ing Companv, a company formed b\- the consolidation of the Aiihiiru Evening 
Dispatch and /iiiburn Daily Courier, now being ])ublished as the Evening 
Star, of which he was chief owner, secretary and treasurer and general 
manager, and be remained at the head of the newspaper business in this city 
until his death, directing his affairs with ability and discretion and showing 
that he had a natural aptitude for the profession to which he had turned. 
Since coming here his whole life and soul were given to the upbuilding of 
the institution which he felt was to provide for himself and family a modest 
heritage. He really loved his work and one of his greatest pleasures was 
to watch the growth of the business and the daily rewards of work well done. 
Personallv. Mr, Buchanan was a man of uncompromising honesty and in- 
tegritv of cbaracter, his sterling qualities of manhood and genial disposition 
giving him an enviable standing among his fellow citizens of DeKalb county. 
A graceful and at the same time a forceful writer, his editorial utterances 
were influential and alwavs on the right side of every moral or civic question 
affecting the welfare of the people generally. He was a man of honest con- 
victions on the- great public questions nf the day, and when once convinced 



UEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 323 

that he was right, nothing could swerve him from tlie course he had decided 
upon. 

On June 21, i8<)i, Mr. i'uchaiian was married to Nellie 1). Brecbili. who 
was born and reared in Smithtield township, and to them was born a son. 
Verne E. Buchanan. 

J. Edgar Buchanan was not only esteemed iiecause of the large business 
success to which he had attained in Auburn, but was also considered a man 
of unusual moral fiber, standing for all that was good in the community, 
no movement for the advancement of his fellow citizens along material, 
moral, religious or educational development appealing to him for assistance 
in vain. He was unselfish in his attitude toward local affairs and gave his 
material assistance to man\- enterprises. Thu'- at the time of liis death he 
was not only general manager of the .\nl)nrn Printing Company, publishing 
the Auburn Ifispalcb.. the .hilvini Courier and the nz'ciiiiic/ Star, but was a 
member of the board of directors of the Zimmerman Manuf.actnring Com- 
pany, the Auburn Post Card Company and president of the .Xuliurn Build- 
ing and Loan Association, as well as an active and influential member of the 
Auburn Commercial Club, while his social relations were with the lotlge of 
Knights of Pythias at Cnrunna, this count)-. No Cdiiimunitx- can .-ifford to 
lose such men as Mr. Buchanan, for he had i;irnestly and faithfully 
endeavored to do his part as a man among men and. without boasting or 
ostentation, he steadily pursued his course, doing well whatexer he turned 
his hand to, gaining not onlv materi.al prosperity, but that which was more 
to be desired, the commendation and .-ipprov;d of his fellow citizens. 



CHARLES ECKHART. 



The following sketch tells of a boyhood whose strengtli was developed 
by overcoming obstacles; of young nianhnod, when the path to future success 
was only dimly to be seen; of middle life, when the earlier da\s of diligent 
and sustained effort, tenacity of purpose, rugged honesty and thrift began to 
bear fruit; of the full manhood, when the rewards have come, and are ix-ing 
used for the furtherance of noble causes. A simple recital of Mr. Eckhart's 
career, without attempt at eulogy. ma\- well encourage and inspire others to 
follow by the same road of hard work and honest purpose to the success that 
may be won. 

Charles Eckhart was born Eebruary 24, 1841. at tlermantown. I'ennsyl- 



324 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

vania, and is a son of John and Charlotte (Fraley) Eckhart. His boyhood 
was spent at Fisher's Hollow, now a part of Germantow n. There, at the age 
of eight years, he began helping his father spool yarn, his father being a 
weaver. Of schooling he had only a year and a half, and tlnat in schools that 
were far short of the present standard. When he was fifteen years old the 
family moved into Philadelphia, and there he found employment in a woolen 
mill where they made fancy goods, his father being also employed in the same 
mill. In the fall of 1857 a panic spread over the business world, causing the 
woolen mill to shut down and the lad started out to seek his fortune else- 
where. He had only three dollars in his pocket, and he did not spend that 
on auto, carriage nor railway. He walked. The first day he covered fifteen 
miles. He got supper, bed and breakfast at a taxern, and it cost him se\enty- 
five cents, one-fourth of his cash capital. :\nother day of fifteen miles and 
he came to Hilltown, Bucks county, Pennsyh-ania, where he found a chance 
at learning his chosen trade, carriage making, it was a hunihle little shop, 
and he was engaged two weeks on trial. After two weeks he made a bargain 
with his employer to serve two and one-half years for board and washing, 
with three weeks off in harvest time so he' could earn monev for clothes. The 
next summer he laid off at harvest time, but went into Philadelphia and got a 
job at four dollars per week, while he boarded at home. .At the end of four 
weeks he had sixteen dollars, for he had saved everv cent. Returning to his 
employer at Hilltown, he asked for a new agreement, for he saw he could not 
clothe himself and meet his obligations at that rate. The employer would not 
consent to a better arrangement, so the young man left him, first paying all 
his small debts: he ne\-er left a place without settling e\er\- cent he owed. 
After a thirteen-mile walk he took the train to Xew York city, where he spent 
a week vainly looking for work. hVom there he went to Albany, where he had 
relatives, but he failed to find them. Returning to New York city he then 
went on foot to Trenton, New Jersey, seeking work on the way. From there 
he went by boat to Philadelphia, where his parents were residing", and finally 
found work in a dye house at two dollars per week, working seven days a 
week. He remained there all winter and the following spring secured a posi- 
tion with D. R. Mover, \\hi) had liought the carriage shojj at Hilltown. Mr. 
Eckhart was to work for Moyer one year under Mo}-er's instructions, .\fter 
six months he bought release from the original agreement and worked by the 
piece. He worked often from four in the nionnng. putting in as many as 
sixteen hours a daw Six months later Mr. Moyer failed in business. Mr. 
Eckhart, who was then a boy of only eighteen \ears, had saved a few dollars. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 325 

and also had some wages due him. Boy, though he was, he bought the stock 
in trade, giving his personal note for the balance. Being a comparative 
stranger and without financial backing did not destroy his credit, for all knew 
his industry and he had shown that he was honest. This is evidenced by the 
fact that he had a credit enabling him to go into debt in the amoimt of eight 
hundred dollars. 

At the breaking out of the Civil war business became dull in his line, ' 
and, like thousands of others. Mr. Kckharl enlisted to fight for the Union. 
On September 6, 1861, he joined Company A. One Hundred Fourth Regi- 
ment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. E. L. Rogers and Col. 
W. H. H. Davis. He was made fourth sergeant at once. The time until 
November was spent at Doylestown and then till March, 1862, at Washington, 
D. C, drilling every day but Sunday. In March they went as part of Mc- 
Clellan's army to Alexandria and then by transports to Newport News, Vir- 
ginia, arriving the day after the historic battle between the "Monitor" and the 
"Merrimac."' They helped in the siege of Yorktown and when the rebels 
evacuated that place they took part in the battle of Williamsburg. Following 
the rebels to their final stand at IvTir Oaks, or Seven Pines, the battle of 
Fair Oaks was fought May 31 and June i, rSr>2. In that l)loody battle the 
One Hundred Fourth Regiment and tiieir brigade lost more men than any 
other regiment or brigade in the battle. 'J'hey were in the Seven Days re- 
treat, when, late in June, they were driven out of their position near Richmond 
and fell back, fighting all the way for seven days, .\fter reaching Harrison's 
Landing they remained about a month. .-Vbandoning that position, the army 
went on toward Fortress IMonroe and to the battle of Antietam, but the One 
Hundred Fourth Regiment and their brigade was ordered to Gloucester 
Point and there did guard duty till January, 1863. From there they went on 
an expedition down through the Carolinas. May 20. 1863. Mr. Eckhart was 
discharged on account of physical disability, at Hilton Head. South Carolina. 
At the time of his discharge he ranked as first sergeant. 

In the fall of 1863, Mr. Eckhart went to Morris Island, South Carolina. 
and hired out as a sutler's clerk, and for a time was in business for himself 
as a. sutler. After eleven months he returned to Philadelphia, in September, 
1864, visited a relative near Waterloo, Indiana, and it was then that he made 
the acquaintance of the one who later became his wife and the mother of 
his children. In February, 1865, he enlisted as first sergeant in the Two 
Hundred Thirteenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and did guard dut\ 
near Washington, in Maryland and Virginia, until November 24. 1865, re- 



326 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

maining in service about six months after the war. He next entered the 
Bryant & Stratton Business College, at Philadelphia, but, not having enough 
money to carry him through, he left before completing his course, and in the 
spring of 1866 went to work at his trade at Norristown, Pennsylvania. In 
the fall of 1866 he came to Indiana to visit his uncle at Waterloo. We may 
also infer that he made other interesting visits in that neighborhood, for he 
secured a position at his trade in Kendallville and on October 31, 1866, was 
united in marriage with Barbara Ellen Ashelman, who resided near Water- 
loo. She was a daughter of John U. Ashelman, an early pioneer of this 
county, who is spoken of elsewhere in this work. 

In the spring of 1867, Mr. Eckhart mo^-etl to Auburn, anrl aliout the 
first of July was promised a good situation at his trade in Chester county, 
Pennsylvania, to which place he moved at once. There his first son, Frank 
E., was born on October 9, 1867. Two weeks after the birth of their first 
child the family moved to a place in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, 
where Mr. Eckhart engaged in partnership with D. R. Moyer, his old em- 
ployer. After one }Tar Mr. Moyer withdrew and Mr. Eckhart continued 
in business for himself at that place until October, 1874. LXn-ing their 
residence there, three other children were born, Annie, born January 22, 
1869; Morris, born March 25, 1871, and William, born January 18, 1873. 

In the fall of 1874, business was at a very low ebb all over the country. 
Mr. Eckhart sold out and moved Ijack to Auburn, at which place he has made 
his home ever since. For a time he could not find regular employment and 
took any kind of honest work he could find. He was virtually obliged to 
go into business to provide employment. He began in a small way, at 
first in the parlor of his home on East Seventh street, making a few carriages. 
That house is now the office of the Eckhart Carriage Company. He Iniilt 
a small shop nearby, a stnicture eighteen by twenty-four feet, two stories 
high, and in tliat building, in March, 1875, started what is tiie Eckhart 
Carriage Company of today. Fortunately for Mr. Eckhart, he had already 
•acquired a thorough and practical knowledge of every branch of carriage 
making except blacksmithing, and he was his own master mechanic. From 
the time his little boys were eight years old, he required them to help as they 
could when not at school. From the start he always insisted on the best 
of workmanship and strict honesty in his business. Perhaps a customer 
had a vehicle in which a defect of workmanship would develop, all un- 
noticed by the customer: Mv. Eckhart would not wait until the customer 
would see it, if his practiced eye had detected the fault. He would call 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 327 

the customer in and tix the defect free of charge. His goods soon estal)Hshed 
a reputation for being built and sold on honor. The business grew, and on 
an average of once in two years since then it has been necessary to enlarge 
the plant. Continued inipnixcnieuts lia\e l)eeu made in the constructive 
appliances of the plant, and the buildings are arranged with the purpose of 
handling the work through different stages of construction in a systematic 
and economical manner. The plant is located along the Vandalia railway 
and has its own private track. Their business has grown from the limited 
start in a private residence to one that employes a large number of skilled 
workmen, with a force of traveling salesmen, and has built nearly five thou- 
sand vehicles in a year. 

About 1902 the carriage company began, in an experimental way, to 
make automobiles, having already at hand most of the needed m.achinery, 
appliances and the organization to successfully launch such a business. After 
about three years they erected a building near the carriage factory, two stories 
high, sixty feet wide and one hundred feet long, using the lower floor for 
auto making. By 1906 their automobile business was well able to stand alone 
and required larger quarters. They bought a factoiy building and grounds 
along the Vandalia tracks in Aulnirn. and installed their machinery. They 
assembled an organization of skilled workmen and liegan ojDeration at the 
present location October i, 1906. They have not ad\ertised extensively, but 
have depended upon the same methods that made their carriage factory a suc- 
cess, striving for economic efficiency of system in carrying on the various 
operations, but. above all, insisting on honest quality in everything. Now 
their business has reached about two million dollars a year, and Auburn auto- 
mobiles are sold in about one-half the states of the Union, every car being a 
good advertisement for the factory. 

About 1893 Mr. Eckhart retired from the active management, leaving 
his son, Frank Eckhart. in charge of the carriage factory. The sons having 
had practical experience from early childhood, and each one master of at 
least two trades, they are better fitted for their responsibilities than many an 
older man, whose experience was not so thorough and ])ractical in the forma- 
tive period of life. They understand the practical details of their line of 
business from top to bottom, and have both been of great assistance in build- 
ing up the Eckhart plants at Auburn. It is a source of great satisfaction to 
Mr. Eckhart that his sons, trained by him for their careers, have developed 
their talents so well, and are so com])etent, for he knows he need not fear for 
the business wath them in charge. They have managed in a way to merit the 



328 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

hearty approval which he gladly accords them. Since retiring from business 
Mr. Eckhart has traveled in every state in the Union except one, and spends 
his winters usually in California, but occasionally in Florida. Although he 
is comparatively free from business cares and has ample means, he is not an 
idler, but uses his energy, time and money in any cause that is for the general 
good of his fellow men. He has been active in politics, but not with hope of 
pecuniary reward. He lias for full thirt}' years supported the Prohibition 
party, for the good he can do in promoting the cause of temperance. He 
has campaigned for the party with his name on the ticket as a candidate for 
any office, having run for the lowest office on the ticket up to the highest in the 
state, for he was the party cantlidate for governor in lyoo. He has cam- 
paigned actively, speaking ail over Indiana, never at the expense of the partv, 
but freely paying all his expenses and contrihutini;- of his money to help the 
cause. 

In religious belief he is a member of the .\dvent Christian churcli (not 
Seventh-Day .\dventist) and has been a tower of strength in the dcnonn'na- 
tion. He has gi\-en lil)erally for denominational and educational work, 
especially for the benefit of the Ad\-ent Christian College of .\urora, Illinois. 
In recognition of his help so freely given, the main Iniikling of the institution 
is named Eckhart Hall. Considering that he has succeeded so well with such 
meager schooling as he had, one might expect him to esteem schools but 
lightly, but he does not do so. He beliexes e\ery child is better off with 
schooling, at least u]) to high school, and higher uhere a professional life is 
contemplated. 

In Auburn Mr. Eckhart has been ahvays ready to help in whatever he 
considers for the general welfare of the community. He is a member of the 
DeKalb county board of charities and corrections, and is also a member of the 
county council. He contributes lil)erall}- to the churches of Auliurn. and one 
of his benefactions that .Auburn will ahvays remember with .gratitude is the 
Eckhart Public Libraiy. He was a member of the Auburn pul^lic library 
board when the library was in an upstairs room south of the court house. 
Recognizing that it was inadequate, the board decided to seek subscriptions 
and ask Mr. Carnegie to contribute liberally. Mr. Carnegie agreed to con- 
tribute twelve thousand fi\e hundred dollars, but later Mr. Eckhart agreed to 
purchase the ground where the library is now, present it to the city and build 
the library. Dr. Lida Leasure wrote Mr. Carnegie to the effect, and received 
from Mr. Carnegie a reply saying in part: "Let me congratulate Auburn 
upon having such a citizen as Mr. Eckhart. I should like to shake him by the 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 329 

hand as a fellow worker in a good cause. Happy man, who can console him- 
self through life with the thought that because he lived one little spot on 
earth has been made better than it was before. I wish him long life and 
happiness." A more extended description of the library and grounds will be 
found elsewhere in this work. It is said by competent authorities that there 
is probably nowhere to be fnunci a finer nor Ijetter equipped library for its size 
than the Eckhart Library of .Auljurn. Flis aim in every stage of construction 
was to have the best of material, design and workmanship, and he spared no 
expense to make it so. 

In 1912, Mr. Eckhart and his son Frank contriljutcd twenty thousand 
dollars each with which to purchase llie ground and erect the ^'oung Men's 
Christian Association building at Auburn. Since then they have each con- 
tributed twenty-fi\e iumdred dollars additional, and will proljably ha\'e to 
give as much more, making in all fifty tb.ou^and dullars for the grounds, 
buildings and furnishings complete. An orgaiiizalinn of .\uburn business 
men was formed to carry forward the work, and the liuikling erected at its 
present location at the southeast curner of V'lixh and Main streets. .\ more 
extended descri]ition of the building will be found un<ler the appropriate 
heading. 

Mr. Eckhart's first wife was called to rest on September lo, 1903. In 
her childhood and youth she was innured to the prixations and hardships 
incident to early settlement. She bore her share of the burdens of home life 
when her husband's business was in its humble beginnings ; she was with him 
as it grew to its later magnitude ; but no change in fortune e\'er made any 
change in her ideal domestic character. She loved home and family, and her 
constant purpose was to make the fireside attractive and to bring up her 
children by precept and example to become worthy and useful members of 
society. She was a member of the ;\dvent Christian church, in whose creed 
she had full belief and confidence. On October r8, 1904, Mr. Eckhart mar- 
ried Martha A. Hoffman, who was born near Carey, Ohio, and is a daughter 
of Rev. J. H. and Margaret Hoffman. Her father was a Lutheran minister, 
a graduate of Gettysburg College, a good Greek scholar, and preached in both 
German and English. Although well educated and fitted for the more public 
places of the cities, his earnestly devoted disposition led him to do missionar\- 
work in out-of-the-way churches and among the poor. His daughter, now 
Mrs. Eckhart, also has the disposition to do good for others and seconds her 
husband in his philanthropies. 

Of Mr. Eckhart's children. Erank E. Eckhart. who is manager of the 



330 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Eckhart Carriage Compan}-, married (irace Leiter and has three children, 
George, Mary Ellen and Josephine. He has a beautiful home in Auburn, is 
much like his father in his desire to use his money for good causes, and is a 
member of the Methodist church. Morris Eckhart, who is at the head of the 
Auburn Auto Company, is a keen, active business man, and has one of the 
finest residences in northeastern Indiana. He married Ada Mclnterfer, of 
Waterloo, and has one daughter, Ruth. William Eckhart, who is at Los 
Angeles, California, with the Shugers Manufacturing Company, makers of 
automobile tops, married Nettie Willis, daughter of Moses B. Willis, of 
Auburn, Indiana, and they have a son, Charles W., and a daughter, Edith. 
Annie is the wife of George W. Shugers, of Auburn, who is now proprietor 
of the Shugers Manufacturing Company at Los Angeles. They have no 
children of their own, but are rearing a bright little girl named Clara. 



JOHN ZIMMERMAN. 



The character of a community is determined in a large measure by the 
lives of a comparatively few of its members. If its moral and intellectual 
status be good, if in a social way it is a pleasant place in which to reside, if 
its reputation for the integrity of its citizens has extended into other localities, 
it will be found that the standards set by the leading men have been high and 
their influence such as to mold the characters and shape the lives of those with 
whom they mingle. In placing John Zimmerman in the front rank of such 
men, justice is rendered a biographical fact universally recognized through- 
out the locality which is honored by his citizenship. Although a quiet and 
unassuming man, with no ambition for public position or leadership, he has 
contributed much to the material, civic and moral advancement of this com- 
munity, while his admirable ciualities of head and heart and the straight- 
forward course of his daily life have won for him the esteem and confidence 
of the circles in which he moves. 

John Zimmerman was born at Leo, Allen county, Indiana, on January 
17, 1868, and he' is the son of lilias and Mary (P5ittenger) Zimmerman, who 
are represented elsewhere in this work. In the fall of 1875 tbe familv re- 
moved to Auburn, where the subject has since resided. He secured his edu- 
cation in the public schools, though from the age of nine years he began 
to work in the Zimmerman factory, when not in school. After completing 
the high school course at Auburn, Mr. Zimmerman received preparation for 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 33 1 

his future career by attending a business college at Ft. Wayne. In April, 
1886, he permanently identihed himself with the factory, in the affairs of 
which he has since been a prominent figure. At the age of twelve years he 
had been placed in charge of the engine room, where he had worked hard, a 
part of his duties consisting in firing the boiler with green saw-dust. In 
1886 he went into tlie office and took charge of the books, really acting as 
secretar}', though not officially elected to that position until i88g, when he 
had reached his majority. He has continued to act as secretary, and for 
many years has also served as treasurer. In 1910, upon the death of his 
brother, Franklin T., he was made general manager, and he is now discharg- 
ing the multitudinous duties of these several offices, to the entire satisfaction 
of all concerned. 

The Zimmerman Mfg. Co. has had an interesting and successful career. 
In 1873 Frankhn T. Zimmerman and a partner named Watson started a plan- 
ing mill, in which they intended to manufacture building material. The fol- 
lowing year Watson withdrew from the firm, selling his interest to George 
B. Zimmerman, a brother of Franklin T. About 1876 their father, Elias 
Zimmerman, bought the interests of George B., and the business was operated 
under the name of the Zimmerman Company until December, 1886, when the 
Zimmerman Mfg. Co. was incorporated, with the following officers: Presi- 
dent, John W. Baxter ; secretary, Elias Zimmerman ; treasurer, Albert Rob- 
bins ; general manager, F. T. Zimmerman. The planing mill was devoted to 
the manufacture of church furniture for a few years, but about 1882 they 
began the making of wind mills and tanks, in which they continued to be 
successfully engaged until 1908, when these features of the business were 
sold to the Celina Mfg. Co., of Celina, Ohio. In 1890 the Zimmerman Mfg. 
Co. began the making of buggies, an industry that has been eminently success- 
ful and which has steadily gro\\n in volume and importance, the otitput 
amounting to about two thousand five hundred vehicles a year. In 1907 the 
company began the manufacture of automobiles, in which also they have 
met with pronounced success. The original building owned by the company 
was about sixty feet by eighty feet in size, but the rapid and continuous in- 
crease in the business has necessitated a number of additions and improve- 
ments. In 1908 the first half of the present factory building was erected, 
it being a substantial concrete structure, and in 1909 the other part was 
built, as well as two other three-story buildings. The main building is two 
hundred and eighty feet by sixty feet in size, and, with the other buildings, 
provides about seventy-five thousand square feet of floor space. About 



332 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. . 

eighty men are constantly employed, most of whom are experts in their indi- 
vidual lines. In the manufacture of automobiles, the company has turned 
out a few very light cars, though the greater part of their output has been 
of the four-cylinder type; they are now making a six-cylinder car, ranging 
in price from sixteen hundred to twenty-three hundred dollars and which is 
the equal of any similar-priced car on the market. Though the automobile 
branch of the business has assumed extensive proportions, the buggy branch 
of the business has not been allowed to languish, but is looked after care- 
fully, both in the manufacture and sale. The jiresent officers of the Zimmer- 
man Mfg. Co. are as follows: President, Elias Zimmerman; vice-president, 
C. C. Schlatter, of Ft. Wayne ; secretary-treasurer and general manager, John 
Zimmerman. In the splendid success which has characterized this company, 
John Zimmerman has been an important factor, for he is a man of ackno\Nl- 
edged business ability, sagacity anfl far-sightedness, who has won and retains 
the confidence and respect nf ail whu have had dealings with him. 

In the civic life of the conmninit)- J\lr. Zimmerman has taken an intel- 
ligent interest and has cnntiibuted in a definite measure to the advancement 
and improvement of the cit\-. In i8()S lie was elected a member of the town 
biiard, while in looo he was elected a niemlicr of the city council and was 
re-elected in ic)02, thus serving si.\ years. During this period many im- 
portant improvements were made, including the electric light, water works 
and the sewer system, while the paving of the streets was begun. Mr. Zim- 
merman is a memljer of tlie Commercial Club and has been active in the work 
Avithin its province. 

On May 20, 1891, Mr. Zimmerman was united in marriage to Clara E. 
Altenburg, the daughter of Henry Altenburg, and they are the parents of 
three children, namely: Nellie, who graduated from the Auburn high school 
in TQii ; Joseph, now a student in high school, and Lois, who is also in the 
public school. Religiou.sly, Mr. Zimmerman and his family are members 
of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which Mr. Zimmerman was superin- 
tendent of the Sunday school for tliirteen years, or until his resignation in 
1910. He and his family are popular in the social life of the comnumity. 
and to the son Joe belongs the distinction of having originated tlie slogan 
now used by the Commercial Club. The club offered a prize in the spring 
of 1912 for the best slogan for Auburn, and the one suggested by Joe Zim- 
merman, "Auburn Forever, with Honest Endeavor," was awarded the prize 
and on March 26, 1912, was adopted as the slogan of the club. Personally, 
John Zimmerman is a man of genial and kindly impulses, who easily makes 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 333 

friends, whom he always retains. He holds worthy prestige in business and 
industrial circles, being regarded as distincti\ ely a man of affairs and wield- 
ing a potent influence among those with wlium he associates. 



MILO |. THOMAS. 



The two most strongly marked characteristics of both the East and the 
West are combined in the residents of tlie section of country of which this 
vohime treats. The enthusiastic enterprise which oxerleaps all obstacles and 
makes possible almost any undertaking in the comparatively new and vigor- 
ous \\'estern states is here tempered by the stable and more careful policy 
which we have borrowed from our Eastern neighbors, and the combination 
is one of peculiar force and power. It has been the means of placing this 
section of the country on a par with the older East, and at the same time pro- 
ducing a reliability and certainty in business affairs which is frequently lack- 
ing in tlie West. This happy coml)ination of characteristics is possessed by 
the subject of this sketch, Milo J. Thomas, a leading citizen and successful 
business man of Corunna, DeKalb count} , Indiana. 

Milo J. Thomas, to whom the enterprising town of Corunna, DeKalb 
county. Indiana, is largely indebted for its present prosperity, is a native of 
the county in which he now lives, and was born on August 15, 1861. He is 
a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Reckenwalt) Thomas, both of whom were 
natives of the state of Ohio, the father born at Louisville. Daniel Thomas 
came to Indiana in an early day, settling in Richland township, where he fol- 
lowed the \ocation of farming with splendid success until his retirement, 
when lie mo\-ed to Corunna, where he now resides. Tlie subject of this sketch 
and an older sister, .\lniira. who died in infancy, were the only children born 
to him. Milo J. Thomas received his jireliminary education in the common 
schools of DeKalb county, and then went to V'alparaiso University, this state, 
where he attended one hundred and six weeks, and, thus well qualified, he 
engaged in the pedagogical profession and for eight years was numbered 
among the successful teachers of this locality, his summers being employed 
as a clerk, in which he gained valual)le mercantile e.Kperience and familiarized 
himself with l)usiness methods and ideas. In 1888 .Mr. Thomas engaged in 
the general mercantile business at Corunna, carrying a general line of hard- 
ware, lumber and farming implements, Jiis hardware stock including a well 
selected line of heavy and shelf hardware, slows and ranges, ami in the con- 



334 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

duct of this enterprise he seemed to have met a long-felt want, for his success 
was notable from the beginning. This success was not accomplished without 
much hard labor, indefatigable effort and a persistency that would brook no 
obstacles, and twice during his business career he was visited by disastrous 
fires, first on Alay g, 1889, and again on July 22, 1895, but, undaunted by 
apparent disaster, Mr. Thomas at once rebuilt and restocked his new store 
and has now the enviable reputation of owning the largest and best equipped 
hardware and implement store in the state, the size of the town considered. 
Among the hardware men of Indiana Mr. Thomas has long enjoyed a high 
reputation, both because of his business success and because of his high stand- 
ing as a man. and he was recently elected president of the Indiana Retail 
Hardware Dealers' Association, an honor deserved Ijy him and thoroughly 
appreciated. He was also chosen a delegate to the National Hardware Deal- 
ers' Association, wliich convened at Jacksonville, Florida. On November 
15, 1897, ^'it''- Th(.inias engaged in the lianking business under the name of 
the Thomas P^xchange Bank, and in this enterprise his judgment was again 
vindicated, for the Thomas E.Kchange I'.ank has grown in importance and 
influence until loda\' it is mw of tiic leading banks of DeKalb county. It 
also has the lioimr of being one of the fifteen hundred banks in the United 
States which ha\e won a i)lace on the Roll of Honor, which means that the 
surplus and undivided profits are greater than the capital stock. Mr. Thomas 
is now president of the DeKalb County Bankers' Association, .-\lwa\s on 
the lookout for an opportunity to advance local conditions, iMr. Thomas, in 
1893. succeeded in getting telephone communication with the outside world 
and the Corunna Telephone Exchange, which was established in 1897, be- 
came one of the most popular pulilic utilities of this locality. Eventually 
Mr. Thomas disposed of his interests in the same, Imt to him belongs the 
credit for its establishment here. Mr. Thomas also for a number of years 
held important interests in the Corunna Flouring Mills, and in many other 
ways has been one of the most important and influential factors in the ad- 
vancement of the commercial interests of this thriving town. Sound mental 
powers, invincible courage and a determined purpose that hesitates at no 
opposition has so entered into his composition a.-- to render him a dominant 
factor in the business world and a leader of men. He is essentially a man 
of affairs, of sound judgment, keen discernment, rare acumen, far-seeing in 
what he uiidert-akes and every enterprise to which he has addressed himself 
has resulted in liberal financial returns. His success in life has been the 
legitimate fruitage of consecutive effort, directed and controlled by good 
judgment and correct principles. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 335 

On September 17, 1885, Mr. T1kiiii;is married X'esta Kline, the daugh- 
ter of Henry J. and Ehnira S. (Harding) Khne. Mrs. Thomas'.s father was 
born in Huron ct)unty, Ohio, and iier mother in DeKalb county, Indiana, 
Ehnira Harding was a daughter of Dimmick Harding, who came from New 
York state to DeKalb county, settling in Richlaml township. He became the 
father of two children, Mrs. Thomas, who was born June 26, 1868, and 
Archie, born in December, 1872, and who died at the age of one year. Henry 
J. Kline came to DeKalb county at the age of twelve years with his parents, 
John and Catherine ((Jeisler) Kline, who settled in Richland township, their 
former home having been in Crawford county, Ohio, and he was married 
to Elmira Harding in 1862. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Kline 
married Elma Reynolds, the daughter of Nathaniel and Jeannette Reynolds, 
who had come to DeKalb county from New ^"ork state. He died on July 
I, 1909. To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have been born fi\ e children, namely: 
Harry K.. born March 24, 1887: Bertha M.. March 5. 1880; Charles A., 
July 16, i8t)4; Hugh A., July 27. 1896; Wilma. October 26, 1900. Hugh 
A. Thomas was accidentally shot and killed by a companion on February 26, 
1911. 

Thus in I)rief ha\c been gi\en the leading facts in the eventful career 
of a man whom Corunna honors as a successful !)usiness man, public-spirited 
citizen and a man whose private life will stand the test of scrutiny. Finally, 
in him there are combined the qualities of head and Iieart that win confidence 
and beget friendship, and in the locality which has so long In-en honored I)y his 
citizenship no one enjo}-s to a higher degree the good will of all know him. 



MICHAEL KIPLINGER. JR. 

Among the well known citizens of Waterloo, Indiana, who are num- 
bered among the enterprising and progressive citizens of DeKall) county, is 
Michael Kiplinger, Jr., who was born on April 20, 1846, in Ashland county, 
Ohio, and is the son of Michael Kiplinger, Sr., and wife. The subject grew 
to manhood in his native state, secured his education in the public schools 
and then adopted the profession of teaching. He came to Waterloo and here 
followed the pedagogical profession, having among his pupils Flora Den- 
nison, the daughter of George and Eliza (Fenner) Dennison. On May 31, 
1871, he and Flora Dennison were united in marriage and for a time there- 
after he gave up teaching and became a salesman. Afterwards he took up 



336 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

carpentering, which has been his chief occupation since, but he is a good 
all around mechanic and has been employed at various lines of work. From 
the time of his marriage he resided at Waterloo. He is a strong Democrat 
in his political views, and for a time he took an active part in party work. 
He was elected city clerk, which office he filled for three years. He has also 
served as secretarv of the \(lrtlK■:l'^ter^ Indiana Agricultural Association 
for five consecutive years. Tu him and his wife ha\e l)een horn si.x daugh- 
ters, namely: Viola May, the wife of Frank Myers, nf Waterlno; Olive H., 
wife of Ralph L. Thomas, ex-sheriff of DaKalb count)-, wli, > lives at Auburn. 
and who is represented elsewhere in this work; Orpha Estella, wife of a Mr. 
Ladd, and after his death she became the wife of Rev. Browne, a minister of 
the Evangelical church; Bertha Belle, the wife of Dr. J. E. Graham, a dentist 
at Auburn ; Delia Matilda, the wife of Dr. C. L. Hine, a dentist at Tuscola, 
Illinois; Cora Delilah, the wife of Albert Bogart, who lives at Albion, Mich- 
igan. The mother of these children was born in Richland county, Ohio, on 
October 29, 1851, and when a year old was taken by her parents to Wood 
county, Ohio, where they lived until 1868, when they moved to Waterloo, 
this county. She died on August 31, 1886, shortly liefore her thirty-fifth 
birthday and when her oldest child was a girl of but fifteen years and the 
youngest only three years old. Tiie father kept the children together, assisted 
by his sister, for a year, or until the older children were able to keep house 
and care for the younger ones. Mr. Kiplinger still resides at Waterloo, being 
now sixty-seven years old, but is still actively engaged at his work. He is a 
member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and because of his con- 
sistent life and high personal character, he enjoys to a marked degree the 
confidence and regard of all who know him. 



COLONEL AUBREY L. KUHLMAN. 

A due measure of success invariably results from clearly defined pur- 
pose and consecutive effort in the affairs of life, but in following out the 
career of one who has gained success by his own efforts there comes into 
view the intrinsic individuality which makes such accomplishment possible. 
Such attributes are evidently possessed by the subject of this sketch, who, 
during all his manhood years, has been pronfinent in commercial and indus- 
trial life, and who has impressed his personality upon the lives of all with 
whom he has come in contact. He has always stood readv to identify him- 





' -^^^. 




<^4(^/Z^.-C-^ 



DEKALB COUNTV. INDIANA. 



337 



self with his fellow citizens in any good work and extend a co-operative hand 
to advance any measure calculated to better the condition of things in his 
community, that will give better government, elevate mankind, insure higher 
standards of morality and the highest ideals of a refined, ennol^ling culture, 
being a man of public spirit and correct conduct, aand eenjoying the confidence 
and esteem of all who know him, by reason of these commendable character- 
istics, coupled with a genial, gentlemanly address and a heart of charitable 
and hospitable impulses. Indeed, no family in DeKalb county has been better 
or more favorably known than that represented by the subject of this sketch, 
the name Kuhlman standing for progress, ujM-ight manhood and loval pat- 
riotism. 

Aubrey Linden Kuhlman was born in Auburn, DeKalb count}-, Indiana, 
on December 25, 1869, and is the .son of Enos and Amanda (Rhodefer) 
Kuhlman. Enos Kuhlman was born at Canton, Stark county, Ohio, the son 
of William and Mary (Hoover) Kuhlman, whose ancestors originally came 
to this country from Germany. Enos Kuhlman was reared and educated at 
Canton, and in young manhood came to Auburn, Indiana. At the outbreak 
of the war of the Rebellion, Enos Kuhlman enlisted as a private in Company 
K, One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in 
which command one of his company comrades was VVinfield T. Durbin, ex- 
governor of Indiana. Mr. Kuhlman rendered gallant and faithful service 
to his country and at the conclusion of the war he returned to Auburn. Here 
he became a salesman, travelin,£r th.e greater part of the time until 1890, when 
he went to Mulhall, Oklahoma, where he has since been successfully engaged 
in the general mercantile business. 

Soon after his return from the army, Enos Kuhlman married Amanda 
Lorena Rhodefer, who was born and reared near Auburn, the daughter of 
Abraham and Elizabeth (Feagler) Rhodefer. Elizabeth Feagler was a 
granddaughter of Henry Feagler, who was a captain in the war of 181 2, 
and Colonel Kuhlman has now in his possession a military order addressed 
to Captain Feagler at Frederickstown. Maryland, during that second war 
with England. Abraham and Elizabeth Rhodefer came to DeKalb county 
from Montgomery county, Ohio, in 1845, locating first about three miles 
northwest of Auburn, but eventually moving to a farm two miles south of 
that city, where they spent the remainder of tlieir lives. To Enos and 
Amanda Kuhlman were born five children, the eldest, Clyde, being killed at 
school at the age of seven vcars. and a daughter. Geneva Nevada, the young- 
(22) 



338 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

est, dying at the age of three years. The three hving at the time this volume 
is printed are Col. Aubrey L. Kuhlman, William O. and (ieorge \\'., all of 
Auburn, Indiana. 

Aubrey L. Kuhlman was reared under the parental roof in Auburn and 
secured his education in the public schools here, graduating from the high 
school with the class of 1887. Upon completing his studies he took em- 
ployment with Kuhlman Brothers, a lumber company at Auburn, with whom 
he spent a little over three years, transferring thence to the lumber firm of 
A. Lewis & Company, with whom he remained two years. He then joined 
the Auburn Manufacturing Company in the capacity of lumber inspector, 
anil in January, 1894, became office manager for that concern. Soon after- 
wards he was elected secretary of the company, and a year or two later he 
was also made treasurer of the company, holding both offices, and for several 
years carried the additional responsibilities of general manager. Several 
years later he was made a director of the company and, excepting six months, 
when he was in active military service during the Spanish-American war, he 
was continuously identified with this concern until February 10, 1906. On 
that (late (_"(il()iK'l Kuhlman recei\eil his commission as postmaster of Auburn, 
and served four vears in that capacity, or until May i, loio. His adminis- 
tration of the postoffice was characterized l)y the same careful attention to 
details and to the wants of the patrons of the office that has characterized him 
in all his business affairs and his relations with his fellows, and his official 
record was such as to win for him the approval of the department and the 
commendation of the community. After the expiration of his term as post- 
master, Colonel Kuhlman accepted a position in the office of the Zimmerman 
Manufacturing Company, having less than a day's vacation between engage- 
ments, and he remained with the Zimmerman Company until the spring of 
19 1 2. He then enjoyed a vacation of several months, after which he took a 
position as manager of the Angola factory of the Auburn Automobile Com- 
pany, and served in that capacity until August i, 191 3, when he was trans- 
ferred to the main office in Auburn, where he holds a responsible position, 
being one of the most valued and appreciated members of the splendid force 
which is making this concern one of the most successful manufacturing enter- 
prises of the state. Possessing executive and administrative ability of a high 
order, Colonel Kuhlman is also a man of tact and sound judgment and his 
relations both with his employers and the men under him have been mutually 
pleasant and agreeable. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 339 

For many years the subject of this sketch has been deeply interested 
in military affairs and more than a score of years ago he organized at Auburn 
a company of the National Guard, of which he was elected captain on the 
date of its muster into service, January 12, 1892. On March 25, 1897, he 
was commissioned a major, and on the outbreak of the Spanish-American 
war he reported at Indianapolis for duty with his regiment on April 26th 
and was, on May 10, 1898, commissioned as major and had command of a 
battalion of four hundred and thirty -fnc iifficers and men. his command being 
a part of the One Hundred l"ifty-sc\ (.-nth Indiana N'ulunteer Infantry, for the 
United States volunteer service, -serving as such until mustered out of that 
service on November i, i8g8. His regiment \vri< moliili/A-d at Cbickamauga, 
.Georgia, leaving Indianapolis on May 15th and arriving at Cbickamauga on 
the 17th, under the command of General Brooks, moving on June ist to 
Tampa, Florida, and on July 29th were transferred to Fernandina, on the 
Atlantic coast of Florida. The regiment left Fernandina on August 30th, 
arriving at Indianapolis September 2nd, remaining there until mustered out, 
excepting a furlough period for the entire regiment from September loth 
until October loth. The battalion under Major Kuhlman's command com- 
prised the companies from Angola. Waterloo, Auburn and Ligonier. After 
the war the Indiana National Guard was re-organized and, on April 27, 1900. 
the subject of this sketch was again commissioned as major. He was pro- 
moted to lieutenant-colonel on December 11, 1909, and on I'ebruary i, 1913, 
was commissioned colonel of the I'hird Regiment, made up of the twelve 
companies whose home stations are at Ft. Wayne, Auburn, Angola, Columbia 
City, Monticello, South Bend, Plymouth, Rensselaer, Albion, Warsaw. 
Goshen and Elkhart and the band at Peru. His entire military service has 
been characterized by duty promptly and intelligently performed and he is 
held in high esteem among his ]>rot!ier officers of the Guard. As a company 
commander, he took part in Cio\ernor Matthews' campaign against prize 
fighting at the Roby arena in September, 1893, when a lot of toughs and 
sporting men from Chicago threatened to override the laws of Indiana. In 
1894, during the great strike of the American Railway Union, he had com- 
mand of the detached military post at Whiting, Indiana, which was gar- 
risoned bv the two companies from Auburn and Fort Wayne. On January 
4, 1908, the National Guard was called to Muncie to assist in suppressing the 
rioting during a strike on the street and internrban lines, twelve companies 
of infantry and one battery of artillery being called into service, and during 



34° DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

the latter half of the service Cokjiiel Kuhhnan had command of the entire 
force. On November 6, 1913, the entire National Guard of Indiana was 
called to Indianapolis to protect life and property in connection with the 
strike of the street railway employees, and during this period of duty Colonel 
Kuhlman had command of a force consisting of fifteen companies, eleven 
companies of his own regiment, three companies of the Second Regiment 
and one company of the First Regiment. 

Colonel Kuhlman's war horse, "Harry," a product of DeKalb county, 
who carried him through the Spanish-American war and in army maneuvers 
during fifteen )-ears following the war, died January 5, 1914, at the age of 
twenty years. 

On December 25, 1895, Aubrey L. Kuhlman was married to Josie B. 
Shull, who was born and reared in this county, nortliwest of Auburn, the 
daughter of Eli W. and Adaline (Olinger) Shull, who now reside on a farm 
about a mile from the place where Mrs. Kuhlman was born. Immediately 
after the completion of her education, Mrs. Kuhlman became a teacher in the 
schools, but at the time of her marriage was engaged in tiie millinery busi- 
ness in Auburn. Mrs. Kuhlman is prominent in church, club and social 
circles. Mr. Shull is a prosperous farmer and public-spirited citizen, owning 
more than three hundred acres of good land. He has iaeen a life-long resi- 
dent of this locality and was a veteran of the Civil war. To Colonel and 
Mrs. Kuhlman has been born a daughter, Helen, a beautiful, talented and 
affectionate girl, beloved by all who know her. 

Fraternally, Colonel Kuhlman is an appreciative member of the Knights 
of Pythias, while he is also a member of the Spanish-American War Vet- 
erans, his comrades insisting upon naming the Auburn camp of Spanish War 
Veterans Kuhlman Camp, in his honor. In local civic affairs he has long 
been a prominent figure and has been an active member of the Auburn Com- 
mercial Club, which he served as president two years and for three years as 
a member of the board of directors. When the Agricultural Exhibit at 
Auburn was originated, Colonel Kuhlman proposed the idea, drew up the 
plans of organization and had a leading part in the development and consum- 
mation of the affair, a plan for the exhibition of agricultural products so 
different from the time-honored county fair, and so successful in its results 
that it has been copied in many states of the Union and the very first year of 
its operation it produced such a splendid display of agricultural products 
from DeKalb countv alone that at least a half dozen state fairs in the Central 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 34I 

states were outclassed by the ([uantity and (|ualit\- of tlie products displayed 
by DeKalb count_v, this statement heint; the- volunlarv testimony of visitors 
who had seen the state fairs and it is generally couceiK-d that the Aoricultural 
Exhibit which Colonel Kuhlman orig-inallv proposed and planned has, by 
means of the attention which it has attracted to this county, increased the 
value of every acre of land in DeKalb county at least fifty per cent. 

In 1902 Colonel Kuhlman published a book which brought to its author 
the very highest encomiums from some of the most distinguished men in 
.America, statesmen. ai;tliors. evangelists, generals, clergymen and puldishers, 
and almost from the day of his graduation his versatile pen has been called 
upon from every direction. In this connection we are tempte'd to include in 
this sketch several of the comments, taken at random from the many similar 
ones: 

"Unusually beautiful — I have read it with pleasure." — (ien. Lew 
Wallace, 

"I am delighted with it. It will do great good to all who read it and 
is worthy of a place in every American home." — Ira D. Sankey. 

"An invaluable help to young people. It contains 'nuggets' of \fry 
great value." — Governor W. T. Durbin. 

"Major Kuhlman's booklet, 'Nuggets of tiold.' will be wonderfully heli)- 
ful to any life. There is no question as to its value " — Chaplain Medbury. 

"The volume is beautifully gotten up and the e.xterior does homage to 
the nobility of sentiment between the covers." — Col. (ieorge M. Studebaker. 

"The selection of paragraphs has been exceptionally happy and it is 
certainly such a volume as might be presented to anyone and through :my 
medium, with pride and satisfaction." — Youth's Companion. 

Roosevelt. Taft, Hitchcock, Marshall. Hanly and many other dis- 
tinguished men ha\e commended the !iook, but, although Colonel Kuhlman's 
book received such commendation as very few books ever receive, it has 
never been placed upon the market or offered for sale. 

A man of many sterling characteristics of head and heart, among his 
contemporaries it would be difficult to find a record as replete with toilsome 
duty faithfully performed in all the walks of life as Colonel Kuhlman's, while 
his career in the humble sphere of private citizenship has been such as to com- 
mend him to the favorable consideration of the city and count}' where lie has 
long maintained his residence. 



342 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

ALFRED KELLEY. 

It is with a great degree of ^atisfactinn to us when we advert Ui the lite 
of one who has made the rougii p;ith nf life sninoth hv untiring perseverance, 
attaining success in any vocation requiring deflniteness of purpose and deter- 
mined action. Such a life, whether it he one of calm, consecutive endeavor, or 
of sudden meteoric accomplishments, must ahound hoth in lesson and incen- 
tive and prove a guide to the young men whose fortunes are still matters for 
the future to determine. For a numher of years the late Alfred Kelley di- 
rected his efforts towards the goal of success in Waterloo, Indiana, and by- 
patient continuance won pronounced prestige. But it is by no means an easy 
task to descril;e within the limits of this review a man who led an active 
and eminently useful life and b\- his own exertions reached a position of 
honor in the lines of business with which he was interested. But biography 
and memorial history lind justification, ne\ertheless, in tracing and recording 
such a life history, as the pulilic claims a certain property interest in the 
career of every individual and the time invariably arrives when it becomes 
acUisable t<i give the right pulilicity. It is, then, witli a certain degree of sat- 
isfaction the chronicler essays thr task of touching briefly upon such a record 
as was that of the honored subject of this memoir, for many years one of the 
leading business men of Waterloo and who deserved in every respect the 
large success he attained and the high esteem in which he was universally held. 

Alfred Kelley, who during his lifetime was familiarly l-aiown among his 
friends as "Ab," was born at Wooster, W'ayne county, Ohio, on May i6, 
i83_', and died at the lionie of his son, Eugene Fvelley, in Waterloo, Indiana, 
on June 5, 191 1, in the sixtieth year of his age. He was a son of Joshua and 
Martha (McCrillis) Kelley, whose children, six in number, were as follows: 
Charles, who died in \\'aterloo, in 1912; Mrs. Florinda Marvin, who now 
resides in Iowa; Mrs. Samantha Beard, of Waterloo; Alfred, the immediate 
subject of this memoir; Cyrus and Mrs. Emma J. Fee, both of whom died 
several years ago. Joshua Kelley was a native of Pennsylvania and the son 
of Thomas Kelley. After his removal to Ohio he married a Miss Durst, 
who died, leaving a daughter, Elizabeth. The latter married and spent her 
entire life in Ohio, being now deceased. Eventually Joshua Kelley married 
Mrs. Martha (McCrillis) Ward, the widow of Joneth Ward. She was born 
in Ireland and accompanied her parents on their emigration to the United 
States. Her mother, wlio died in Wavne county, Ohio, lived to the remark- 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. l,^}, 

able age of one hundred and three years. By her first marriage Mrs. Ward 
became the mother of a daughter, EHzabeth. 

About 1850 Joshua Kelley came to DeKalb county and entered probably 
about four hundred acres of land in Sniithfield township. He was here sev- 
eral times afterwards, looking after the land, and about 1855 he moved his 
family here. The land was new and to the clearing, cultivation and improve- 
ment of this farm he devoted himself closely. His place was far from schools 
and largely because of that fact he bought the Porterficld farm, near Taylor's 
Corners, in Franklin township, where the land was improved, including an 
orchard, and situated near schools. There he established his permanent home 
and remained until his death, which occurred in 1862, b\- which time he had 
become quite well-lD-do. He bad inherited one hundred and sixty acres of 
land from his fatlier. who had come here before his son |ij>hua and bouglit a 
farm near Hamilton. Joshua had also bouglit otlier land, becoming the 
owner of about seven hundred acres of land in DeKalb county and other 
lands in Ohio. He was survived many years by his widow, who passed away 
in March, 1898. 

Alfred Kelley accompanied his parents on their removal to Sniithfield 
township, this county, in 1855, being at that time but three years old, and 
he was but eleven years of age when his father died. He remained on the. 
home farm until about 1873, when, reaching his majority and inheriting one 
hundred and sixty acres of land and some ready money from his father's 
estate, he moved to Waterloo and for several years carried on a brokerage 
business, though at tiie >anie time lie ga\c attention to the clearing and im- 
provement of his land, .\bout 1895 Mr. Kelley bought the Locke Hotel, at 
Waterloo, from iiis father-in-law. Simon J. Locke, and continued its operation 
with marked success and financial profit until 1910, when, on account of 
failing health and the heavy demands of his other business interests, he re- 
tired from the hotel business. During his management the well-established 
reputation of the house was ably maintained and it continued to be a favorite 
stopping place for the traveling public for many years. About 1899 Mr. 
Kelley established the Waterloo telephone exchange, under the Bell system, 
installing the first switch-board in his hotel, with thirty subscribers. How- 
ever, giving to the telephone business the same careful attention and sound 
business management that characterized him in everything to which he ad- 
dressed himself, the new business became popular and soon grew to such an 
extent that it was necessary to secure more room for it than could be secured 
in the hotel. Li K)io Mr. Kelley erected the present exchange building, where 



344 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

there is ample room for switchboards and other necessary appliances. This 
modern brick building, completed early in 191 1, stands as a monument to his 
progressive spirit and faith in the community where he lived. 

Politically, Mr. Kelley was an active supporter of the Democratic party, 
in whose councils he was a frequent figure, being chairman of the county 
central committee for a time. As a partial reward for his fidelity to his party 
and his earnest labors in its behalf he was appointed postmaster of Waterloo 
under President Cleveland, discharging the duties of the position with credit 
to himself and to the entire satisfaction of the department and the patrons of 
the office. He also served in an oifical capacity in the municipality for several 
terms. Fraternally, Mr. Kelley was an appreciative member of the Knights of 
Pythias, and in his religious views he was always in accord « ith the creed of 
the Presb_\-terian church, of which he became a member before his death. 

On January i. 1877, Alfred Kelley was united in marriage with .\da 
Locke, who was born in Toledo, Ohio, the eldest daughter of Simon 1. and 
Wattie (McCormick) Locke. In May, 1866, her family removed to Water- 
loo, where her father engaged in the restaurant business, which he continued 
here for nearly twenty years, and during that period he enjoyed a large pat- 
ronage, especially during the earlier years, when all the trains on the Lake 
Shore railroad stopped at Waterloo, many of Mr. Locke's patrons being rail- 
road men. When the restaurant was first opened, Mrs. Kelley, then a girl of 
fourteen years, waited on the tables and her uniform courtesy, cheerful dispo- 
sition and constant efforts to please the patrons of the restaurant made a last- 
ing impression on the railroad men. who gave substantial evidence of their 
regard for her and their appreciation of her courtesies by presenting her with 
a beautiful gold watch and chain, valued at one hundred and seventy-five dol- 
lars. Inside the case were engraved the words, "Presented to Miss Ada 
Locke l)y the Employes of the Air-Line Division of L. S. & M. S. R. R. June 
20, 1872." After Mr. Locke had run this restaurant for about twenty years, 
he bought the Lent Hotel, renamed it the Locke Hotel, and ran it until 1895. 
when he sold it to Alfred Kelley. He moved to Br)an, Ohio, where he en- 
gaged in the hotel business, but about six months later, while back in Water- 
loo on a visit to Mrs. Kelley, he was taken suddenly ill and died. His wife 
retained her residence at Bryan until her death, which occurred in December, 
1906, and the hotel business there is now continued by her daughter. Miss 
Cora B. Locke. Besides Mrs. Kelley and Cora B., there were five other chil- 
dren, as follows: Adelbert, familiarlv known as "Del," runs the Bliss Hotel 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 345 

at Bluffton, Indiana; Hattie is the wife of W. P. Nolton, of Pittsburgh, 
Pennsylvania ; Rev. Richard Earl Locke is pastor of the Presbyterian church 
at Rutherford, New Jersey; Effie is the wife of O. E. Siegfried, of Toledo; 
Gracie died about 1874, at the age of two years. To Alfred and Ada Kelley 
were born three children, namely: Blanche E., the wife of Andrew Maselle, 
who is engaged in the automobile business in San Francisco; Eugene, who is 
represented by a personal sketch elsewhere in this work ; Bessie is the wife of 
R. J. Nisbet, manager of a surgical instrument house in Chicago, and they 
ha\e two children, Richard Kelley Ni.sJjet and Ada Blanche Nisbet. Mrs. 
Kelley still resides in the old home in Waterloo. She is an earnest member 
of the Presbyterian church, taking a deep interest in its various activities, and 
is also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and tlie Pytliian Sisters. 
She is a lady of many gracious qualities of head and iieart, moves in the Iiest 
social circles of the community, and is well liked by all who know her. 

Personally, Mr. Kelley was a man of more than ordinary caliber and 
during the period of his residence in Waterloo he was a prominent factor in 
the growth and development of the community, fie was a progressive man 
in the broadest sense of the term; realizing the \\ants of the people, he tried 
to supply the demands of the vicinity honored by his citizenship. He was a 
consistent man in all he ever undertook, and his career in all the relations of 
life was utterly without pretense. In business matters he was alert and 
sagacious and during his later years his real estate transactions reached large 
proportions. Of strong domestic tastes, he was very generous in his treat- 
ment of his familv. to the members of which he made many substantial gifts, 
one gift being the Telephone Exchange building to his wife as a Christmas 
present, while at Christmas time his usual gift to each of his children was one 
hundred dollars or something equally substantial. When Mr. Kelley realized 
that his end was approaching he made a verbal statement as to tlie manner in 
which he desired his property to be distributed among his wife and children. 
He was a good husband and father, faithful and loving; a good citizen and 
friend, constant and reliable ; a man in the fullest sense of the word. Genial 
and companionable, he was fond of a joke, and in his home he was imiformly 
kind and cheerful, the brightness of his own life driving away all clouds from 
the home. Physicallv. a large man, with strong and pleasing features, he 
possessed to a notable degree those qualities which beget friendships, and 
there was probably not another man in the community who was held in higher 
esteem by all, regardless of politics or professions. 



34^ DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

JAMES GEORGE LAWHEAD. 

Among the men of high personal attainment and exalted character who 
have reflected honor on DeKalb county, and at the same time attained to a 
commendable position among their fellow men, was the gentleman whose 
name appears at the head of this review, a man who in every walk in life 
performed his full part and gave his unreserved support to every movement 
for the public welfare and who in his daily life so lived as to earn the con- 
fidence and good will of his fellow citizens. 

James G. Lawhead was born in Jackson township, DeKalb county, In- 
diana, on October i, 1844, and was a son of Benjamin and Mary Jane 
(Essig) Lawhead. Of the subject's ancestral history it may be stated that 
his paternal grandparents, James and Martha Lawhead. came to DeKalb 
county, Indiana, from Wayne county, Ohio, in 1839, and here the father 
died in 1854, and the mother in March, 1880. They were the parents of 
nine children. Of these, Benjamin, father of the subject of this sketch, was 
born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, on April i, 1820, accompanied his 
parents on their removal to Ohio in 1834 and to DeKalb county, Indiana, in 
1839. The family were among the earliest settlers in the southern part of 
DeKalb county, and were numbered among the progressive and influential 
citizens of that locality. In 1843 Benjamin Lawhead married Mary Jane 
Essig, who was born in Stark county, Ohio, in 1821. and in 1851 Mr. Law- 
head bought the homestead in section 17. They were the parents of two 
children, James G., the immediate subject of tliis sketch, and Caroline, who 
become the wife of Charles L. Cool, of Auburn. 

James G. Lawhead was reared on the paternal farmstead near the center 
of Jackson township, where he resided until his marriage, on April 17, 
1870, to Wealthy B. Nelson, whose death occurred on April 27, 1877, leav- 
ing two children, \^'illiam B. and Queen Victoria, the latter subsecjuently 
becoming the wife of Eli Amstutz, of Allen county, this state, and she is the 
mother of four children, two sons and two daughters. William Benjamin 
Lawhead married Sarali McKinley and is tlie father of three children, and 
lives in the east end of Butler township, this county. After Mr. Lawhead's 
first wife died he resided with his parents until September i, 1879, when he 
was united in marriage with Eliza Walter, who was born one mile north of 
Jackson Center in Jackson township. November 27, 1851, the daughter of 
Joseph and Sarah (Nixon) Walter. Her father was a native of Wayne 
county, Ohio, near Orville, the son of Christian and Margaret (Keester) 






z>?^ 



ix i-l 




JAMES G - LAWHEAD 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 347 

Walter, while her iiinther was a native of Weslniorelaiid eduntv, Pennsyl- 
vania. Joseph Walter, alter his marriage in Wayne count v. Ohio, came to 
DeKalb county, Indiana, about 1836, l)eiuii- nuniliered aniony- the first settlers 
here and entered a .section of uovernment land, the joinne\ from Ohio to 
this state being made in the tyjiical pioneer waijon. Here he and his wife es- 
tablished their frontier home and lived here durin','- the remainder of their 
lives. Mr. Walter gave his attention to farming, in which he was eminently 
successful, owning at the time of his death four InuKhed acres of land. 
They became the parents of fourteen children, of whom thirteen grew to 
maturity. After Mr. Lawhead's second marriage he and his wife lived a 
year with his parents, at the end of which time he bought eighty acres of 
land, the nucleus of the farm on which .Mrs. T.awhead now lives. Thev 
lived near that place for two years and then moved back to his father's farm 
in order to care for his parents until his mother's death. In the spring of 
1887 they moved to the present homestead, where they ha\e lived until the 
present time. Mr. Lawhead's father lived with them, remaining there until 
his death, nine years later. In 1888 Mr. Lawhead. the subject of this sketch, 
built the present residence and made many other substantial and permanent 
improvements on the farm, which made it one of the best in the locality. He 
owned at the time of his death three hundred and five acres of land and was 
counted among the substantial and representative agriculturists of the county. 
In his younger days Mr. Law^head had been engaged to scjme extent in teach- 
ing school, but farming was his main vocation throughout his life, and in 
this vocation he attained an enviable success. Politically, he gave his support 
to the Republican party, but was too busy a man to indul.ge much in political 
affairs. To James G. and Eliza Lawhead were born five children, namely: 
Walter, who died at the age of three years; Gertrude, the wife of Jesse Het- 
rick, who lives on the home farm and is the mother of two sons. Buster and 
Schuyler; Frank, who lives in Detroit, studied law at the State University at 
Bloomington and has traveled extensively: Kirln- married Cecil Townley. 
and lives one mile south of the old home farm: he is the father of two chil- 
dren, Virginia and Violet; Nixon is a student at the State University at 
Bloomington, Indiana. 

Mr. Lawhead died on March 27, ic)i3, and bis death was universally 
mourned throughout the locality where he was :ic(|uainted. for there were 
combined in his make-up those elements which commended him to the .good 
will and esteem of all who knew him. He was not only a loving and faith- 
ful father, a kind and indulgent husband, but to all those with whom be came 



348 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

in contact he bore kindly relations and at all times endeavored to spread the 
gospel of good cheer, being generous in his attitude toward others, regard- 
less of their faults or foibles. A man of good judgment and ripe experience 
he was often sought for advice by those starting out in life's battles and he 
cheerfully and wisely advised those who sought him. The best that can be 
said of any man may be truthfully said of Mr. Lawhead, namelv, that the 
world was better for his having lived, and though he has passed to the better 
world his influence still pervades the lives of those who came within the 
range of his life and character. 



FRANK W. WILLIS. 



Not to(_) often can be repeated the life stor_\- of one «ho li\-ed so honorable 
and useful a life and attained to such notable distinction as he whose name 
appears at the head of this sketch, wlio was one of the most successful and dis- 
tinguished newspaper men of northeastern Indiana. His character was one of 
signal exaltation and purity of purpose. \\"ell disciplined in mind, maintain- 
ing a vantage point from which life presented itself in correct proportions, 
guided and guarded by the most inviolable principles of integrity and honor, 
simple and unostentatious in his self-respecting, tolerant individuality, such a 
man could not prove other than a force for good in whatever relation of life 
he may have been placed. His character was the positive expression of a 
strong nature and his strength was as the number of his days. In studying 
his career interpretation follows fact in a straight line of derivation and there 
is no need for indirection or puzzling. As the day, with its morning of ho])e 
and promise, its noontide of activity and accompli.shment and its evening of 
completed and successful efforts, so was the life of this good and honored 
man. His career was a long, busy and useful one, and his name is revered by 
all who had occasion to come into contact .with him on life's pathway. His 
life was one of consecration to his calling, and well does he merit a place of 
honor in every history touching upon the lives and deeds of those who have 
given the best of their powers anrl talents for the aiding and betterment of 
their kind. 

Frank ^V. AVillis was born in Syracuse, New York. June 13, 1842. and 
died at his liome in Waterloo, Indiana, ]\Iay [q. 1913, at the age of seventy 
years, ele\en months and six days. He was a son of Henry and Fmerline 
(Hewitt) ^^'illis. and came to this countv in 1844 when liis jiarents located 




FRANK \V. WILLIS 



DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. _^ |(> 

on a tract of land in Richland township, where they resided until 1864, at 
which time they moved to Waterloo when the senior Mr. Willis was elected 
sheriff of DeKalb county. The subject of this sketch was reared on the 
farm belonging to his father and attended the common schools. In addition 
to this he attended the schools at Auburn and Waterloo, and also spent some 
time at the Orland Seminary. At Ihc age of eighteen years he offered his 
services to the United States at the time of the Civil war outbreak and en- 
listed as a member of Company K. Forty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, 
serving his country for over three years. During these years of service he 
spent the best part of his life for his country, and engaged in the battles of 
Shiloh, Chickamauga, Stone's River and other important .engagements, and 
was wounded three different times, but was always ready to do his duty as a 
soldier. 

After his discharge Mr. Willis was appointed assistant assessor and 
deputy collector of the tenth congressional district, by William Pitt Fessender, 
secretary of the treasury under President Johnson. For four years he dis- 
charged his duties in this capacity with the full satisfaction of his superiors 
Soon after the war he commenced to practice before the department of in- 
terior, and as a claim agent secured many pensions for old soldiers and their 
widows. He was well known among the soldiers of the county and elsewhere 
and had many tender comrades who thought of him during his illness and 
were kind to him. After his return from the army he was stricken with 
violent illness and at times suffered greatly, due to his exposure in the service 
for his country. At times regaining his health, he thought that he would 
eventually become stronger, and for a number of years was much improved, 
but after the fire of 1896 he again lost his health, and from that date gradually 
failed, although he held on to life always with a tenacious grip, and his sturdy 
constitution gave him courage to live as long as he could, until he had passed 
the three score years and ten. Many a time he seemed cheerful when he was 
suffering from pain that cannot be described. He enjoyed his home and 
reared a large family. On January i, 1884, Mr. Willis formed a partnership 
with E. P. Dickinson, and the new firm bought out the Waterloo Press, then 
owned by C. K. Baxter. For a number of years Mr. Willis had editorial 
charge of the paper and later bought out the interests of his partner and con- 
tinued the Press, being in editorial charge until the time of his death. In 
1867 he purchased the book store of H. K. Davis and with C. K. Baxter, 
purchasing that of T. Y. Dickinson, the two then consolidated their business 
under the firm name of Baxter & Willis. In December, 1868, Henry Willis, 
father of the late deceased, purchased the interest in the book store of Mr. 



350 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Baxter, and the firm was then known as WilHs & Company, and remained so 
until 1896, when in February of that year their business was destroyed by 
fire, including that of the Waterloo Press. It was at this time that Frank W. 
Willis and his son, Herbert C. formed a partnership and continued the 
publication of the Waterloo P^css. and also succeeded the firm of Willis & 
Company in the book and stationery business. Henry Willis then retiring 
from active business on account of his age. From the time of his entering the 
newspaper business Mr. Willis was actively identified with the general inter- 
ests of the county and community, and always conducted an editorial column 
in the paper up to the time of his last illness. 

In the fall of 1894 he was elected to the state Legislature as representa- 
tive from this county, being elected by the largest majority ever accorded a 
Republican in this county to that office, which spoke for the high esteem in 
which he was held by the voters of the county. After serving for two years, 
during which time lie was foremost in the passage of good legislation, he re- 
tired from acti\'e politics, hut was always active in the interests of his part}' 
until his health failed to such an extent that he could not longer take active 
part in the work. However, he was very forceful in his editorial writings, 
and w^as ardently enthusiastic in advocating his party principles so long as he 
believed them right. 

\Mien a }-oung man Mr. Willis joined the First Presbyterian church of 
Waterloo, and remained an active member to the time of his death. He was 
an elder in the Presbyterian church for nearly forty years, and never missed 
attending services when he was at home and not detained by illness. As a 
worker in the Sunday school he was a teacher fifty years, being active in that 
work at the time of his death. He served as superintendent of the Sunday 
school for many years, and also was an enthusiastic worker in Sunday school 
conventions, both in county and, in earlier years, in the state conventions. 

Among the many beautiful tributes to the life, work and character of 
Mr. Willis was the following from John B. Stoll, the veteran journalist of 
South Bend and life-long friend of the deceased: "He was what I consid- 
ered the ideal country newspaper man — discreet, vigilant, intelligent, consid- 
erate, conscientious, patriotic. His death is a distinctive loss to the newspa- 
per fraternity, as well as to the community, which for many years enjoyed 
the benefit of his inspiring example and his well directed efforts for civic 
righteousness and the moral uplift. Though now numbered among the dead, 
his splendid record as a man, citizen and patriot will live long in the memory 
of those who prize nobility of purpose as cardinal virtues of man." 

It is eminently fitting that there should be incorporated in this memoir 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 35 1 

the splendid tribute paid the deceased by his son and business associate : "In 
the passing away of the senior editor of this paper, the community loses one 
of its oldest citizens, and a man who has been identified with public interests 
to a very large extent. As a man he lived a life that stood for itself. No 
comment is necessary as to his character. He was possessed with a Christian 
character that stood foremost in liis life. Since a young man he was inter- 
ested in Sunday school and church work and was active up to the time of his 
last illness. As a. soldier, his active service stands as a tribute to his loyalty 
to his country. As a man for right, he was always foimd unflinching for all 
that was good and honorable. As a business partner the writer has l)een 
actively associated with him for the past seventeen years, and during all tliat 
time has been in such close relationship that he knew him better than anyone 
else outside the immediate family circle. As a parent for over two score 
years the writer knows that he has always been kind and loving and had a 
desire that his children should be trained in honorable paths, and that they 
should live such lives that they would be as ready to be called to their eternal 
homes as he was. During the twenty-nine years that he has been at the 
editorial head of this paper he has been honest in his editorial opinions, and 
while there have been many incidents that perhaps have been left unco\ered 
in his editorial writings, his scope has been so general that it was made ])lain 
where he stood on ajl important subjects of the day. His writings have been 
widely copied and no doubt he will be missed among the journalists of the 
state. All the years that he has been broken in health he has done his part 
in making life cheerful, not only to himself, but others as well. The close 
association in business causes a grief on the part of the writer that but few 
can understand. It is hard to fight life's battles and it is hard to give them 
up. He has fought for his life and was ready to give up at the call of the 
Master. He was a good man, and no one can dispute that he has been con- 
sistent in his life's habits, and he had the confidence of his friends and those 
with whom he had done business. The end came like a shock, and while it 
has been known for some time that he could not get well, yet while there was 
life there was hope, and at last that hope vanished. There might be no more 
fitting tribute to be paid a father by a son than to say he has been a good 
father and one who has done all he could in rearing a family of nine children, 
all of whom today survive." 

On September 27, 1868, Mr. Willis was united in marriage with 
Josephine Dickinson, who was born in Auburn, Indiana, on May 17, 1850, 
the daughter of Timothy R. and Mary (Youngman) Dickinson, her father 
having been at one time one of the most prominent attorneys in DeKalb 



352 DEKALB COUNTY^ INDIANA. 

county. During the Civil war he was drafting officer for this county and 
thus filled a very difficult position, which inevitably aroused animosity and 
enmity among many, especially those Southern sympathizers who then in- 
fested this locality and who assaulted him with stones, eggs and other missiles, 
so that at times it was necessary for him to be guarded by his friends. He 
was even asked by a committee from his church to resign his membership be- 
cause of his strong anti-slavery views, but he was fearless and upright, stood 
staunchly for freedom and the perpetuity of the national union. Soon after 
the war he bought a tract of land north of Waterloo and laid it out, naming 
it Waterloo cemetery and incorporating an association to own and control it. 
There have been several additions to this cemetery, the last one being laid out 
by Frank W. Willis. Probably twice as many people have been buried there 
as comprise the present population of Waterloo. For awhile Mr. Dickinson 
practiced law in Auburn, but eventually moved to Waterloo, where he lived 
during the remainder of his life. Mrs. Willis, who lived at home until her 
marriage to Mr. Willis, had attended Oberlin College and also had received 
some academic work. To Mr. and Mrs. Willis were born nine children, six 
sons and three daughters, namely: Herbert Clyde, who was his father's 
business partner and associate for a number of years, and who is now editor 
and owner of the Waterloo Press, being represented elsewhere in this work, 
by a specific sketch; Mary Gertrude is the wife of James P. Hornaday, news- 
paper correspondent at Washington, D. C. ; Fred I. is connected with the 
Hearsey-Willis Company, automobile dealers and bicycle manufacturers at 
Indianapolis ; Raymond E. is postmaster at Angola, Indiana, and part owner 
of the Steuben Republican; Edward D. is also interested in the Steuben Re- 
publican; Dora E. is the wife of R. G. Dilts, of Waterloo; Frank B. is en- 
gaged in the automobile business in Indianapolis ; Josephine lives at Waterloo 
and William H. is engaged in employment at Indianapolis. These children 
all received good educations and have been reared to honorable manhood and 
womanhood, a credit alike to their community and an honor to their parents. 



JACOB D. LEIGHTY. 



A publication of this nature exercises its most important functmn when 
it takes cognizance, through proper memorial tribute, of the life and labors 
of so good a citizen as was Jacob D. Leighty, who was for many years one 
of the best known business men and most representative citizens of DeKalb 






^ 




{KA^^Lyty^ lypuJC^ 




DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 353 

county, Indiana, hav'int;; been an iniiuenlial factor in the general development 
of the community. He ever stood as an exponent of the most loyal citizen- 
ship and was a noble personality whose memory will be long cherished and 
venerated in the community to whose civic and material progress he con- 
tributed in a most generous measure. A man of great business capacity and 
of the highest principles of integrity and honor, he made his influence felt 
along diverse lines and he was long a leader in the promotion of legitimate 
enterprises which conserved the general welfare of the city and county of 
his adoption. He matured his plans carefully and patiently and was a man of 
splendid initiative power and constructive ability, so that he was well fitted 
to become one of the upbuilders of a thriving community. He gave gener- 
ously of his superb powers in furthering the industrial, commercial and civic 
upbuilding of the locality so long honored by his citizenship, and his name is 
one that merits a conspicuous place on the roll of those who have worthily 
conserved such progress. His integrity was of the most insistent and un- 
swerving type and no shadow rests upon any portion of his career as an 
active business man and sterling citizen. He had his limitations, as do all. 
but he gave of the best of his talents to the world and to aiding his fellow 
men. Mr. Leighty was a man of impressive personality, was broad of mental 
ken and had the characteristics which ever beget esteem, confidence and 
friendship. Viewing his life in its perspective, none can fail to have an ap- 
preciation of his great accomplishments at a time \\lu'n such powers as his 
were at a premium, and he should ever be renienil)ered as (jne of tlie noble, 
kindly and public-spirited men of affairs who played a conspicuous role in the 
development and progress which characterized this section of the state. 

Jacob D. Leighty was born in Westmoreland coiuity, Pennsylvania, on 
the 30th of October, 1839, the son of John and Elizabeth (Sowash) Leighty, 
and his death occurred in St. Joseph's hospital, P^ort Wayne, Indiana, on 
October 17, 1912, in the seventy-third year of his age. He was the third in 
order of birth of the ten children born to his parents, and he was but four 
years of age when the family came to DeKalb county, Indiana. Here he 
was reared and secured a good, practical education in the common schools, 
in which he became a teacher at the early age of sixteen years. He con- 
tinued his pedagogical labor'; several \ears, and then became a student in 
Wittenberg College, at Springfield. (Miio, where he was a memlier of the 
sophomore class at the outbreak of the war of the Rebellion. His patriotic 
spirit was quicklv aroused at the attack on the national flag and on Jnlv 8, 
(23) 



354 DlCKAl.P. COUNTY, INDIANA. 

1861, he gave practical evidence of his loyaUy and courage by enlisting as a 
member of Company E, Eleventh Regiment Indiana A'olunteer Infantrv, in 
which he was appointed a sergeant. His military record was a mo.st creditable 
one, characterized by courage of a high order, and he took part in a number 
of the most notable struggles of that great contest. His first engagement of 
importance was that of Fort Henry, in the spring of 1862, after which fol- 
lowed the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Grand Gulf. Port Gibson, Ray- 
mond, Champion's Hill, and others of scarcely less importance. In the en- 
gagement at Champion's Hill Mr. Leighty was severely wounded in the left 
hip and was disabled from active service for sixty days. Upon partially re- 
covering from his wound, be rejoined his regiment at Baton Rouge, Louis- 
iana, and from there went down the Mississippi river to New Orleans. He 
served with an expedition into western Louisiana, extending to Opelousas 
and engaging the enemy several times on the way. After his return to New 
Orleans and because of the effects of his wound, from which he still suffered, 
he resigned in March, 1864, and returned home. That Mr. Leighty was a 
good soldier was indicated by his successive promotions, to second lieutenant 
on January 24, 1862, and first lieutenant on December ist of the same year. 

[']ion bis return to peaceful pursuits, Air. Lei.gbty engaged in mer- 
cantile business at Spencerville, Indiana, acquiring an interest in the firm of 
Miller & Myers. Shortly afterwards he and Mr. Miller purchased Mr. 
Myers' interest and the firm of Miller & Company w as continued a year, when 
the subject's father, John I.eigbtv, bought Miller's share, the firm name being 
changed to John Leighty & Son. The business was thus conducted, with 
eminent success, until 1872, when Jacob Leighty purchased his father's in- 
terests and ran the business alone until 1874, when he sold his mercantile 
stock to P. Bishop. In 1875, when the Baltimore & Ohio railroad was pro- 
jected through this section to Chicago. Mr. Leighty. with the foresightedness 
and sagacity characteristic of him. saw the possibility of a thriving town 
between Hick.sville and Auburn, and. with this in view, he and his father 
bou.ght what was then known as the Blair farm, on which they platted and 
laid out what is now the town of .St. Joe. Three years later Mr. Leighty 
engaged in the mercantile business in the new town, having associated him- 
self in business with M. T. Bishop. About seven years later Mr. Leighty 
bought his partner's interest in the business, which he tliereafter conducted 
alone until about iH()4, when he disposed of his Im^iness to \\'. C. and C. A.Pat- 
terson, J, K. Stafford and M. E. Olds. In many otlier ways he was a ])roniiiient 
figure in the upbuilding and development of the town, having assisted in the 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 355 

organization of a bank, of which he was elected president, owning an interest 
in the grist mill and other enterprises which contributed in a definite way to 
the welfare of the town, especially in its earlier days, when men of strong 
character and positive action were needed. He was active in the erection nf 
the grain elevator and he built the- substantial brick store building now occu- 
pied by C. A. Patterson. After moving to St. Joe Mr. Leighty and his wife 
first lived in the residence which was standing on the Blair farm, but later he 
built a comfortable residence in the town, just east of the present commod- 
ious and attractive brick residence, which he built in 1889. No enterprise 
which promised to benefit the community ever appealed for his assistance in 
vain, for he was public spirited to a notable degree. In all that constituted 
true manhood and good citizenship he was an e.\ani|ile, liis career liaving 
been characterized by duty faithfully perfurmod, and by industry, thrift and 
wisely directed effort. 

l.'nder a full page-wide heading of "Our l.eadiug Citizen (jone," the 
St. Joe Nczvs made the following editorial comment on the life and character 
of Mr. Leighty, the same having special value because of the writer's long 
personal acquaintance witli the deceased and knowledge of his life and works: 
"St. Joe has lost by death its foremost citizen, Hon. J. D. Leighty, and by his 
taking away the town suffers an almost irreparable loss. \Miat he did for 
the place and liis interest i'.i its welfare lias been recognized and appreciated. 
but the full measure of his worth will be better known and more fully under- 
stood as time reveals the extent of our loss. He took what may well be 
termed a fatherly interest in the little town that he and iiis fatlier. John 
Leighty, had platted, for, as he had Ijeen instrumental in bringing it into ex- 
istence, he took just ])ride in its advancement and felt keenly any failure. 
Hence, with his pocketbook, his counsel and his hands, he stood ever ready to 
help forward all movements for the betterment of St. Joe. In every emer- 
gency he could be depended upon, and in every move for civic or moral re- 
form, he never was classed among the doubt ftd ones. St. Joe feels its loss 
deeplv and our citizens are in mourning. But the loss is not confined to St. 
Joe alone. In a relatively decreasing degree, as they arc farther removed 
from the scenes of his activities and influence, the county and the state suffers 
loss bv the death of Mr. Leigiity. He was a well known figure in councils 
outside the sphere wherein he chiefly moved, always on the side of what he 
believed to be right.* * * An honest man has been styled 'the noblest 
work of God.' J. T). Leighty was an honest man — honest in his dealings with 
his fellow men: lione-i in liis outspoken advf>cac\- of the right, as he saw it: 



35^' DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

honest in his abhorrence of hypocrisy and sham ; honest to himself in shaping 
his course through hfe to the dictates of a conscience governed by a high 
sense of right and wrong. Men differed from Iiim in opinion and in judg- 
ment, but they ne\"er questioned his honesty n(.)r impugned his motives, for 
he stood out in the open, never resorting to questionable means, and his op- 
ponents respected him. His veracity was unquestioned, for his word was 
known to be his bond of honor. His acts of kindness — and they were many 
— were not performed in public places nor accompanied by display. He was a 
true scion of the 'Pennsylvania Dutch' stock, which has left an impress for 
good upon many parts of the country. 

Politically, Jacob D. Leighty was a stanch supi)orter of the Republican 
party and took a deep interest in piil)lic affairs. He was called upon a number 
of times to serve his fellow citizens in a public capacity, always acquitting 
himself with credit and to their entire satisfaction. Tn 1875 he was ap- 
pointed postmaster at St. Joe, holding the office until his election to the office 
of township trustee, when he resigned. In 1897 he received at the hands of 
President McKinley the appointment as state pension agent, a position he 
ably filled for four years. In 1894 he was elected to Congress as a Republi- 
can from the twelfth district by a plurality of about two thousand seven 
hundred, his election being especially notable from the fact that the district 
was normally Democratic by from fifteen hundred to two thousand five hun- 
dred votes — certainly a marked testimonial to his popularity and ability. Two 
years kucr he \\:is :iL:ain the noiiiinee of lii-; ])rii-iv for Congress. Init was de- 
feated, though he ran far ahead of the balance of the ticket. Fraternally, Mr. 
Leightv was an a])preciati\ e member of the Masonic order, in which he had 
received distinctive preferment, having received the thirt}'-tliird and last de- 
gree of the order in 1889. 

In March, 1866, Jacob D. Leighty was married to Kate A. Metzger, who 
was born in Circleville, Ohio, the daughter of Judge Andrew and Elizalieth 
(Driesbach) Metzger, of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Judge Metzger was a native 
of Ohio, his family having come originally from Pennsylvania. He followed 
farming until his removal to Fort Wayne, in 1853, he being numbered among 
the earlv and prominent settlers of that locality. He was interested there for 
a number of vears in journalism and also served for a time as deputy county 
clerk. To him and his wife were born six children, namely: Kate A. (Mrs. 
Leighty), George, Mary, Jennie, Harry and Frank, of whom George, Harry 
and Frank are deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Leighty were born three children, 
two of whom died in infancy, the only survivor being John R., of Kansas 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 357 

City. Mrs. Leiglitv, wlio still resides in the old family hunie in St. Joe, is a 
lady of many graciovis qualities, which have commended her to the love and 
esteem of her many friends. She was to her husband a helpmate in the 
truest sense of the word, much of his success in lite being due to her wise 
counsel and the encouragement which she gave him in his affairs. She takes 
a kindly interest in all charitable and benevolent work in her community and 
her heart responds to every appeal for help in all good work. 



COL. STEPHEN' A. P.OWMAN. 

Great achievements always excite admiration. Men of deeds are the 
men whom the world delights to honor. Ours is an age representing the 
most electrical progress in all lines of material activity, and the man of 
initiative is one who forges to the front in the industrial world. Among 
the distinctive captains of industry in northeastern Indiana, a place of pri- 
ority must be accorded to Col. Stephen .\. Pxiwnian, of Waterloo, Indiana, 
for to him is due the upbuilding of an industr\- which is not only one of the 
most important in his countw but also one of the most extensive of its kind 
in this section of the country, while the comparatively short time within 
which these great results ha\e been obtained further testify to his exceptional 
administrative power and executive ability. He is, in the fullest sense of 
the term, a progressive, virile, self-made American, thoroughly in harmony 
with the spirit of the advanced age in which he lives, conducting all his 
business matters carefully and systematically, and in all his acts displaying 
an aptitude for successful management. He has not permitted the accumu- 
lation of fortune to affect in any way his actions toward those less fortunate 
than he, being a most .sympathetic and broad-minded man. and has a host of 
warm and admiring friends. 

Stephen A. Bowman was born in Keyser township, DeKalb county, In- 
diana, one-half jnile west of where the county farm is now located, on No- 
vember I, 1865, and is the son of Joseph and Ida (Brand) Bowman. Joseph 
Bowman, who was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, was the grandson of 
Jacob Bowman, who came from Germany in 1772, settling near Gratz, Penn- 
sylvania. The.latter's son, Samuel, came to Stark county, Ohio, in 181 7. 
settling in Osnaburg township, where he became the father of a large family 
of children, one of whom was Joseph, the father of the subject of this sketch. 
Joseph Bowman was born January 31, 18 14, in Pennsylvania, and came with 



358 DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 

his parents to Stark county. Ohio. In 1839 he came to DeKalb county, In- 
diana, entering eighty acres of go\ernment land at the place where the sub- 
ject was Ijorn. He also bought other land and sold some, so that at the time 
of his death he was the owner of one liundred and twenty acres. He was 
twice married, first to Kve Bortz. to which union ten children were born, of 
whom only one is now li\'ing, Airs. George O. Dcnison, of Auburn, this 
county. Some time after the death of his first wife. Mr. Bowman married 
Airs. Ida (Brand) Tongue, the widow of William Tongue. She was a na- 
tive of Ohio and a daughter of English parents. When slie was but an in- 
fant her mother died and she was reared by a German family, who talked the 
language of the fatherland, so that she. thoroughly learned the German lan- 
guage. Years afterward she and her brothers were brought together, and 
as they talked only English she could not understand each other. She was 
born in 1829, and died in 1S7S, at the age of forty-nine years, and lies buried 
in the first cemetery at Auburn beside her husband. By her second union she 
became the mother of ten children, of whom four sons are living, namely: 
William, who lives on a farm five miles west of Waterloo, married Ella 
Chaney, and they have five children; Lydia, deceased, was the wife of George 
King, and the mother of four children; Eva, deceased, was the wife of John 
Palmer, and left one child; Stephen A., the immediate subject of this sketch, 
is the next in order of birth; Frank Hves on a farm two miles south of Water- 
loo and married Verna Kinney, to which union were born six children ; 
George lives at Danville, Illinois, and has Iieen twice married. The otlier 
four children died in childhood or infancy. 

Stephen A. Bowman lived on the paternal farmstead until about four- 
teen years of age, and then for three years he resided with his brother-in- 
lavf, George O. Denison. In the fall of 1883 he came to Waterloo and here 
completed his education in the high school. In 1884 he entered the employ 
of J. S. Slaybaugh in tlie handle factory, and on August i, 1885, he started 
handle making on his own account. At that time his cash capital amounted 
to five dollars, and much hard work and rigid economy were required in 
order to make both ends meet in the Ijeginning of iiis business experience. 
At that time all the work of making handles was by hand and Mr. liowman's 
first year's output was about one hundred and fifty dozen handles, the major 
portion of these handles being made for edged tools. Since that time the 
growth of the business has been nothing short of phenomenal, machinery 
having taken the place of handwork in every respect possible, and now the 
business lias grown to a production of ten thousand dozen a year. Mr. Bow- 
man started his business career in a room twelve by sixteen feet in size, in 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 359 

an old sawmill, but in November. 1886, he was enabled to buy a little buildin,^' 
northwest of the l.ake Shore crossing. He has added to this from time to 
time and now lias a substantial biuilding about forty by one hundred feet in 
size, \\(jnderfully well equipped in every respect for the work to which it 
is devoted, and an inspection of the plant by those not acquainted with its 
workings would surprise and gratify the sightseer. Many machines are 
found here which are almost human in their apparent intelligent action, 
some of them being very intricate, and one of which took a year to plan. 
Many of the machines have been invented by Colonel Bowman and his son, 
and many others improved by them, so that practically all of the manu- 
facturing done here is the product of machinery. It is wo'rthy of note that 
so simple a thing as an ax handle is handled twenty-eight times from the 
time it conies into the shof) with the bark on until it leaves the factory, a 
finished handle ready for shipment. The shop is equipped with its own 
electric light plant, there is above every machine an electric fan for the com- 
fort of the workmen, and the plant is steam heated in winter by e.xhaust 
steam from the engine. Colonel Bowman has made it a point to use nothing 
but the best stock in his plant, and therefore his product has earned in the 
market of the world the highest reputation for its superior quality and work- 
manship. The industry has been one of the principal enterprises of Water- 
loo, and to Colonel Bowman is due a large meed of credit for the stimulus 
he has given to local business life. 

.■\side from his business interests. Colonel Bowman has been deeply 
interested in the development and progress of his community, and for eleven 
years he served as clerk of Waterloo and is now an efficient and active mem- 
mer of the library board. 

In May, 1882, Colonel Bowman entered the Indiana National Guard as 
a private in Company I of the Third Regiment and served in the ranks until 
1887, when he was appointed second lieutenant of Company 1. In 1889 he 
received his commission as captain, in 1892 was promoted to major and in 
1896 to lieutenant-colonel, and in 1900, anil in 1908 again, he was appointed 
colonel by Governor Marshall. In December, 1908, he w'as in command of 
the First Regiment, Indiana National Guard, and on February i, 1913, he 
retired from the service, having completed a continuous service of nearly 
thirty-two years, at the time of his retirement being the oldest in point of 
continuous service in the National Guard, with the exception of Adjutant- 
General McKee. Colonel Bowman was called out to jjrevent prize fighting 
at Roby in 1893, and in 1894, because of railroad strikes, he was located 
twenty-two davs at Hammond, and was shot at by strikers. He served a 



360 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

number of times as president of courts martial and on courts of inquiry, 
and was president of the examining board sixteen years. At the joint maneu- 
vers held at West Point, Kentucky, by the National Guard of several states, 
Colonel Bowman was highly complimented by Colonel Wagner, of the 
United States army, a high military authority, and in reference to the incident 
the following quotation is made from the JVateiioo Press of that date: 

"During the joint maneuvers of the United States army and the organ- 
ized militias of the various states held at West Point, Kentucky, in Sep- 
tember, 1903, Col. Arthur L. Wagner, of the United States army, chief 
umpire, maneuvering division, in his report of maneuvers of the Third 
Infantry, says: 'The Third Regiment, commanded in the absence of Colonel 
Studebaker by Col. S. A. Bowman, for quickness of movement, intelligence 
in executing orders, rapidity in comprehending wholly unexpected difficulties, 
good training in taking advantage of cover, the regiment was especially 
commended." The tribute is especially pleasing to Colonel Bowman and his 
friends because of the somewhat difficult position of commanding the regi- 
ment in the absence of the senior officer. Had censure been his portion, no 
matter how mild, it would have been felt keenly. Since praise is his share, 
his pleasure is all tlie more heightened.'" 

On September 16, 1887, Colonel Bowman \\as united in marriage with 
Cora Fisher, daughter of Solomon and Harriett ( Rhodabaughj Fisher, the 
former a retired merchant of Waterloo. Mrs. Bowman was born at Waterloo 
on January 3, 1863. To the Colonel and his wife have been bom eight 
children, six sons and two daughters, namely: Harry Fisher, born April 9, 
1889, is an electrical engineer for the Hunt Helm Ferris Company, of Har- 
vard, Illinois, with whom he has been employed continuously since 1907. 
He married Leora Thompson, of Harvard, Illinois, and they have a daugh- 
ter. Lelah: Paul A., liorn }ilay 23, i&^i. and wiio is unmarried, is assisting 
his father in the handle business; Fred Rhodabaugh, born November 13. 
1893, is a commercial traveler for the hat and cap house of G. H. Gates 
Company, of Detroit, Michigan, and, though not yet twenty years old, is 
a very successful salesman. These three sons have been especially educated 
in their particular lines; Joseph Solomon, born March 20, 1886, is attending 
high school and at the same time taking a special course in electrical engi- 
neering; Wilbur E. and \\'alter M., twins, born January 15, 1900, are now 
in their first year in high school, and are enthusiastic boy scouts; Harriet 
Ida, born March 19, 1906, is attending school, and the youngest in the family 
is Daisy May, born April 4, 191 1. 

Colonel Bowman is an ardent lover of outdoor sports, being an enthusi- 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 361 

astic hunter and frequently going to the woods of Maine and Wisconsin in 
pursuit of wild game. He has been very successful, being a splendid rifle 
shot, and possesses many interesting relics of his trips, and is able to recite 
many entertaining reminiscences. Personally he is a man of genial and 
kindly impulses, a splendid conversationalist and entertaining companion 
and enjoys a wide circle of warm and loyal friends. He and the members 
of his family are identified with the Methodist Episcopal church at Waterloo, 
and Mrs. Bowman is a devoted member and actixe worker in the Woman's 
Christian Temperance Union. Colonel Bowman tleserves a large measure 
of credit for the success which he has attained, for in earl\- Ixjyhoiid he was 
compelled to work hard and liad \ery little oppurtunit)' for a school edu- 
cation. In view of his own experiences he vowed he would give his children 
better chances for education and for a right start in life tha-n he enjoyed, and 
he is, to the extent of his ability, fulfilling his vow. Tall, well built, and 
with a distinct military carriage, he is a man of pleasing address and is a 
welcome member of all the circles in which he mores. He has been an 
important factor in the commercial and industrial prosperity of Waterloo 
and holds an enviable position m the esteem of the community wliich is 
honored by his citizenship. 



GEORGE ROCK, M. D. 



Actively connected with the profession of medicine, Dr. George Rock 
has won that favorable regard that conies only as the result of superior ability 
and personal worth. Having carefully prepared for the practice of his pro- 
fession, he is now devoted to his work and his strict regard for the ethics of 
the profession has gained for him the confidence of his brethren of the 
fraternity as well as of the general public. 

George Rock was born in Crawford county, Ohio, on January ii, 1854, 
and is a son of William and Sarah (Greiner) Rock, the former a native of 
Columbiana county, Ohio, and the latter of New York state. The home of 
the subject's parents was in Crawford county, Ohio, for a number of years 
prior to i860, when they moved to Delaware township, Defiance county, that 
state, where the remainder of their lives was spent. The subject accompanied 
his parents on their removal to Defiance county when a lad of but six years 
and there received his elementary education, subsequently attending the high 
school at Defiance. Early in his manhood he became identified with the mer- 
cantile and subsequentlv the insurance business at Shenvood, but having 



362 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

resolved to make the practice of medicine his Hfe work he abandoned these 
pursuits and, in 1887, entered the Miami Aledical College at Cincinnati, where 
he prosecuted his studies for two years. He then spent two terms at Rush 
Medical College, of Chicago, after which he matriculated in the Toledo Med- 
ical College, where he was graduated with the class of 1891, receiving the 
degree of Doctor of Medicine. Immediately after his graduation he located 
at Sherwood, Ohio, and entered upon the active practice of his profession. 
In some respects one might have criticised him for making the change from 
ordinary business pursuits, for while a resident of Defiance he had attained 
to a high standing in business circles, being known as an enterprising and in- 
fluential citizen and his fellow townsmen had manifested their esteem for him 
by honoring him with various offices of trust. However, his career since 
entering upon a professional life has proven the wisdom of his choice, for he 
has continuously enjoyed a large and remunerative practice and has been 
successful in the line of effort to which he has devoted himself. In 1900 Dr. 
Rock came to Auburn, Indiana, and has been continuously engaged in the 
practice of medicine and has enjoyed from the beginning his full share of 
business in his line. He has successfully handled a number of very difficult 
cases and has earned not only the regard of his professional brethren, but the 
esteem and good will of the entire community. 

Dr. Rock has been twice married, first at Sherwood, Ohio, to Amanda 
Tavlor. who died soon after marriage. Two years later he married Margaret 
Sausaman, also a resident of Sherwood, and a native of Defiance county, 
and to them has been born a daughter, Emma. Margaret Sausamon is the 
daughter of Samuel and Jane I SchwalO Sausaman. Her father came from 
Pennsylvania to Crawford county, Ohio, moving from there to Defiance 
county, that state, where he died at the age of eighty-seven years. Mrs. 
Rock's mother. Jane (Schwab) Sausaman. wa'^ a native of Cermany, who 
upon coming to America located first in Crawford county, thence moved to 
Defiance county. 

Fraternally, Dr. Rock is an active memljer of the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows, belonging to the subordinate lodge at Auburn, in which he has 
passed through all the chairs and is now a member <if the grand lodge. 
He also belongs to the encampment of that order at Garrett, and holds mem- 
bership in the lodge of Knights of Pythias at .A.uburn. The record of testi- 
mony is ample that Dr. Rock is a good citizen in the full sense of the term, 
worthy of honor and public trust, ever doing worthily and well the life work 
to which he has consecrated himself. Well qualified by natural aptitude, 
training and experience for the profession which he follows, he is numbered 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 3(iJ 

among the steady and sterling citizens of his community, and as far as pos- 
sible he devotes his attention also to the uplniilding of the community with 
which he is identified, giving his support ti) every movement for the benefit of 
his fellow men. He is genial and companionable and enjoys the friendslii]) 
of all who know him. 



JESSE JOEL MUSSER. 

Among the younger generation of DeKalb county citizenship who are 
giving promise of fruitful lives and who are now laying the^ foundations for 
their future careers is the gentleman whose name forms the caption to this 
sketch. 

Jesse Joel Musser was born at Sherwood, Ohio, on July 22, 1S91, and is 
a son of Jacob G. and Lovina (Rock) Musser, now residents of Auburn. 
Jacob G. Musser was also a native of the old Buckeye state, having been born 
in Defiance county, Ohio, on November 7, 1852, and is a son of Joel and 
Sarah C. (Gier) Musser. Both of these parents were of rugged old Pennsyl- 
vania Dutch stock, and both came to Wooster, Ohio, with their respective 
parents in an early day. their marriage occurring in that city. Immediately 
after that interesting event, which occurred in the early forties, they moved 
to Defiance county, that state, where they made their permanent home. Joel 
Musser was a shoemaker by vocation and for many years followed that busi- 
ness in Brunersburg, that being at a period when boots and shoes were made 
to order. Eventually he abandoned the shoemaker's bench and took up farm- 
ing which he followed during the remainder of his active life. He died in 
1899. and his wife in 1901. Jacob G. Musser was born and reared on the 
parental farmstead between Defiance and Brunersburg, and at the age of 
seventeen years he went to the latter place and learned the blacksmith's trade, 
which he followed for about forty-five years. When twenty-five years old, 
he started a shop of his own at Sherwood, Ohio, and for a period of six years 
operated a farm at the same time. In the fall of 1901 he moved to Auburn 
and established a blacksmith shop, which he is still operating. His years of 
experience have qualified him for the most difficult jobs of horseshoeing, in 
which he specializes, and as a general blacksmith he has few equals and no 
superiors. Though only medium in physical build, he is a man of extraor- 
dinary endurance and on more than one occasion has shown unusual pres- 
ence of mind and courage when shoeing nervous or vicious horses. At the 
age of twenty-six vears. while residing in Sherwood, Ohio. Mr. Musser was 



364 DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 

married to Lovina Rock, a sister to Dr. George Rock, whose sketch appears 
elsewhere in this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Musser have been born eight chil- 
dren, seven of whom are living: Charles, the first born, died at Auburn in 
1910, at the age of thirty-two years ; he had been a teacher in a business col- 
lege in Wisconsin, and had been married less than a year at the time of his 
death; Maude is the wife of Arthur Thomas, who with his father and brother 
runs an artificial ice plant and saw mill in Auburn. She is the mother of two 
children, Arnold Clay and Cliarles Burgess; Albert, who is emploved at 
Jackson. Michigan, is an automobile top builder, married Mary Schomberg, 
and has two children, Howard and Ralph ; Edgar Guy, Sarah Ella, Jesse Joel, 
George and Ruth, all of whom are still under the parental roof. Edgar is 
employed at the Auburn automobile factory. 

Jesse Joel Musser came to Auburn with his [jarents on tlieir removal 
from Defiance, Ohio, and has finished his education in the high school. Mr. 
Musser is an industrious young man of good character and splendid habits, 
self reliant and possessing those qualities that betoken his future success. 
He is genial in disposition and is deser\edl}' popular in the social circle in 
which he moves. 



EGBERT BEX SOX :\10TT. 

The Mutt family of whicli tlie subject of this sketch is a descendant is 
of English descent in lioth paternal and maternal lines, representatives of 
which came to America in early colonial days. The family was an ancient 
and honorable one in England. The emigrant ancestor was Capt. James 
Mott, youngest son of John Mott, Esq., of Shalford, in the county of Essex, 
who came to America in 1665-6, locating in Mamaronek, Westchester county, 
New York. He was for several years a captain in the army of the Province, 
and in later life one of the magistrates of Westchester county, appointed by 
successive royal governors. He also engaged in agricultural pursuits, as did 
all of his descendants down to Egbert B. Mott. During the Revolutionary 
war another James Mott. the fourth of the name, ])articipated in the Sara- 
toga campaign, resulting in the surrender of Burgoyne, and was given a com- 
mission June 25, 1778, as ensign in Colonel Hopkins' regiment of Dutchess 
county, New ^'ork. He married Mary, daughter of James Denton, of Xew- 
burg, .New York, a Revolutionary soldier, who was captain of a company 
of the Eourth Ulster County Regiment. His first commission was as second 
lieutenant, October 11, 1775. He was fifth in descent from Rev. Richard 



3V 






DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 365 

Denton, a Puritan divine of Halifax, Vorkshirf, Jingland. whu came to 
America in 1630 in the ship "Aial)L'lia," with (iuvt-rncir W iiuhroi) and a 
company who founded Boston. 

When Egbert B. Mott was about twelve- years old his father died, leaving 
a family of five sons and three daughters to the care of the mother. After 
a few years' residence in Saratoga county, New York, the family removed 
to Lehman, Luzerne county, Penn.sylvania, about the }ear [824. Mr. Mott 
was married December 30, 1830, in Abingdon, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, 
to Mary, the daughter of John W'interbotham, of ^loselex-, Lancashire, Eng- 
land, where she was born on February 4, 1806. Her mother's maiden name 
was .\nne \Vrigley. In i83r) Mr. Mott removed with his ,wife and two chil- 
dren from Pennsylvania to Frederickstown, Knox county, Ohio, where Mrs. 
Mott's family then resided. After living several years in Knox and Rich- 
land counties, Ohio, Mr. Mott removed, in May, 1843, to Kalida, Putnam 
county, where he made the acquaintance of Judge Morris, a young lawyer, 
between whom and himself there formed a friendship as strong and endur- 
ing as life. Subsequently Mr. ^Nlott and Mr. Morris came to Indiana in 
search of a better location for the ])racticc of their profession, and Mr. Mott 
located in Auburn on October 16. 1843, being the first lawver who settled in 
this locality. In 1856 he was elected judge of the court of common pleas for 
the district comprising the counties of DeKalb and Steuben. In politics the 
Judge was first a Federalist, then a Whig and finally a Republican. He 
had a remarkable memory, excellent judgment and the utmost firmness of 
jirinciple. Throughout his whole life he was a faithful Christian, exempli- 
fying his faith by a life of practical righteousness. He died on Se])teml)er 
30, 1865, after an acute illness of three weeks. l"\\<i sons <lied before him. 
Reginald llel)er, an infant, and .Sheridan Edward, who was wounded at 
Chickaniauga on Septenilier 20. 18^3, and died in the hos])ital in Naslnille, 
May 15, 1S64. Mrs. Mary W. Mott died on October 4. 1803, at the age of 
eighty-seven years and eight months. During her earlier years Mrs. Mott 
had many advantages from a literary and social point of view, for her father 
was in partnership with Col. Da\id Humphreys and Judge John Humphreys 
in the manufacturing business, they having engaged in the manufacture of 
fine w-oolen goods, broadcloth, etc., at Seymour, Conned icul. then called 
Humphreysville, this being the first --uccessful attempt to manufacture that 
class of goods in the United States. Colonel Ilum])hreys had been one of 
Washington's aides-de-camj) in the Revolutionary war and >ul)se(piently 
United States minister to Portugal and Spain, froiu which latter country he 
brought the lirst Merino sheep to America. .\t an early age Mrs. Mott was 



366 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

placed in school at Derby, near Humphreysville, where her associations and 
training were of the \ery best. Owing to the condition of her health, she 
made a protracted visit with an uncle, Abram Wrigley, of Luzerne county, 
Pennsylvania, where she rapidly improved, and not long afterwards began 
teacliing school, and at Providence, a few miles from her uncle's residence, 
slic first became accjuainted w ith her future husband, to whom she was mar- 
ried on December 30. 1838. 



EDWIX L. FOSDICK 



Fealty to facts in the analysis of the character of a citizen of the t)-[)e 
of Edwin L. Fosdick is all that is re(piired to make a biographical sketch 
interesting to those wlio ha\e at heart the good name of the community, 
because it is the honorable rejnUation of the man of standing and affairs, more 
than any other consideration, that gives character and stabilitv to the bodv 
politic and makes the true glory of a city or state revered at home rmd 
respected abroad. In the broad light which things of good repute ever in- 
vite, the name and character of Mr. l-'osdick stand revealed and secure, and 
though of modest demeanor, with no ambition to distinguish himself in 
pul:lic |i isition or as a leader of men, his career has been signally honorable 
and it may be studied \vilb ])rotit liy the youtli entering u])on his life work. 

lulwin F. l-'osdick, who for a number of years has occujjied a respon- 
sible position with the b'.ckliart C'arriage C'ompan\' of .\ul)urn, is a natix'e 
of this city, wliere he was 1;orn on Ma\' 1, 1856. He is the son of lulward 
A\\ and Helen (J. ( Totten I l-osdick. Edwin \\'. h'osdick was born on July 
12, 1822. in Kno.x county. Ohio, and was the son of Thomas Updike and 
Rachel (Armstrong) Fosdick. 'Die history of the Fosdick family has been 
traced back to Welsh ancestry, members of the family having emigrated 
to America near the middle of the seventeenth century. They intermarried 
here with the Ha\ens family, some of whom provided one of the first churches 
on Long Island. The first of the family to come to DeKalb county. Indiana, 
was Orville l-"osdick. oldest brother of Edward \\'.. who entered govern- 
ment land in Wilmington township in an earl}- day. Sliortly afterwards, 
in 1844, the other members of the family came here and located two miles 
south of Butler, and that remained the permanent famil\- home as long as 
the old folks lixed. Edward ^^^ Fosdick was a young man when he came 
to this locality and li\-ed on the hon-ie place in Wilmington townsliiii until 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 367 

after his marriage, which occurred about 1850, when he was united to Helen 
G. Totten, daughter of Joseph P. and Betsy (Barnes) Totten. She and her 
parents had hved on a farm adjoining the Fosdick farm. Slie died on ^[ay 
21. 1856, and Mr. Fosdick afterwards married Ruanna iirandon. a daughter 
of Peter Brandon. She Hved only about a year after her marriage, dying 
in April, i860, and in 1878 Mr. Fosdick married Eiizalieth H. Fetk-rhoff, 
who now reesides on the old farm in Butler township. lulward W. I'os- 
dick studied kiw at the University of Michigan, and practiced his profession 
at lUitler. In US54 he was elected treasurer of DeKalb county and in 
i833 moved lu Auburn in order to he close to his office and during his term 
of two years the count r\- was Hooded with wild-cat currency. After the 
completion of his term as treasurer Mr. Fosdick returned to Butler and 
during the rest of his active years he devoted himself to the practice of law. 
In 1869 he was elected state senator and ser\-ed one term. He died on 
^larch (). i8(,(j. at the age of se\enty-seven years. 

The subject of this sketch, whose birth occurred Init three weeks before 
the death of jiis mother, was reared in the home al 1 Sutler and after com])let- 
ing his public school education, he i)ecame a student in the Oliio Weslevan 
University at Delaware, Ohio, after which he matriculated in the medical 
department of the University of Michigan, frotn which he was graduated 
in 1879. He then located in Kewanna, P\ilton cnuntx-. Indiana, where for 
two years he engaged in the drug liusiness under ilie linn name of Fosdick 
&• Ralston. He then returned to Butler and from 1SS2 to 1895 was en- 
gaged in the drug business there, in which he met with \ery good success. 
For a time thereafter he was on the road as a traveling salesman and also 
for a period had charge of the I'nited States and I'acilic E.xpress Com- 
panies' oftrces at Butler. He also ga^e some attention to the practice of 
law, or rather to the business left I)y his father, liut eventually he sold the 
law library and came to Auburn, with which city he has since l)een identi- 
fied. He is now head bookkee])er in the office of the Fckhart Carriage 
Company and is i)erfonning his duties to tlie entire satisfaction of his em- 
ployers, whose interests he makes his own. 

In i88i Mr. I'osdick was married to Josephine ^icCarter, then a resi- 
dent of Kewamia, Indiana, and the daughter of Alexander and Mary L. 
(Richey) McCarter. Fraternally, Mr. Fosdick is a memljer of the Free 
and .Vccepted Masons, in which he has attained to the degree of the Royal 
Arch lie and liis wife are both members nt the Methodist Episcopal 
church, in the prosperity of which they are deeply interested. Mr. Fos- 



368 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

dick enjuys an extensive acquaintance in his localit}- and none can boast 
of more devoted friends than he, for in him are combined those characteri^tics 
which gain and foster friendships that endure through all times and all vicis- 
situdes of fortune. 



ISAAC MYERS ZENT. 



Tiie biographies of enterprising men, especially of good men, are in- 
structive as guides and incentives to others. The examples they furnish of 
patient purpose and steadfast integrity strongly illustrate what is in the power 
of each to accomplish. Some men belong to no exclusive class in life; 
apparently insurmountable obstacles have in many instances awakened their 
faculties and served as a stimulus to carry them to ultimate renown. The 
gentleman whose life history is herewith outlined is a man who has lived 
to good purpose and achieved a splendid sixccess. By a straightforward and 
commendable course he has made his way to a respectable position in the busi- 
ness world, winning the hearty admiration of the people of his county and 
earning a reputation as an enterprising, progressive man of affairs which the 
public has not been .slow to recognize and appreciate. 

Isaac Myers Zent was born near Massillon, Stark county, Ohio, on No- 
vember 19, 1 850, and is the son of Jeremiah and Mary C. (Armstrong) Zent. 
Jeremiah Zent was a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Hage) Zent. Samuel 
Zent was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, December 7, 1790, and 
died March 2, 1855; the latter's wife, Elizabeth Hage, was born July 25, 
1792, in the same county, and died August 31. 1874. Samuel Zent was the 
son of Jacob and Susanna Zent, the former having been born January 30, 
1763, and died October 25, 1845, his wife's birth occurring April 30, 1765, 
and her death on March 13, 1841. 

Jeremiah Zent, who was a farmer, moved, in 1850, id X'andalia, Illinois, 
where he bought a large tract of land and there carried on agricultural opera- 
tions during the rest of his active life. He was public spirited and took an 
influential and imselfisb interest in the upbuilding and welfare of his com- 
niunitv. He was a man of definite convictions on the great questions of the 
day and, though living in a hotbed of secession, he openly espoused the cause 
of the Union and during the Civil war he proved such a friend to soldiers 
and soldiers' families that the Grand Army of the Republic afterwards made 
liiiii ;in hi.norarv member of that society, though he had seen no military 
service. He died in iqoi and his widow still resides in \^andalia. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 3(')9 

Isaac M. Zent lived at Vandalia until lie was seventeen years old and 
received a good practical education in the public sclmuls. He then left home 
and started out in life on his own account, his first ettort being to learn the 
trade of a telegrapher. Entering the employ of the Wabash railroad, he was 
assigned to different stations on that system and in June, 1882, was ap- 
pointed agent at the Auburn station. His services were here so faithfully 
performed that he was retained in the position for twentv-eight vears, 
through several changes of administration and after the Wabash company 
sold the road to the Vandalia Railroad Company — in fact, up to the time he 
was appointed postmaster of Auburn, his commission to the office being April 
15, 1910. In the latter position he exhibited the same careful attention to the 
performance of his duties as characterized him when in the employ of a cor- 
poration, and his relations with his superiors and the patrons of the office 
have been mutually satisfactory and pleasant. 

In the business and commercial life of the community Mr. Zent has 
long been an active and prominent figure. He was one of the organizers of 
the Citizens National Bank, of Auburn, and is now the largest individual 
stockholder of this institution, of which he has been a director ever since its 
organization. He also assisted in the organization of the Savings Loan and 
Trust Company and was one of its first directors, but he later sold his hold- 
ings in that company to Rlonte L. Green. He is the only local stockholder, 
and is a member of the board of directors of the Indiana Fuel and Light 
Company, the company that furnishes gas to Auburn. Of the Auburn Com- 
mercial Club Mr. Zent has been a member since its organization and a direc- 
tor for many years, while in many other ways he has exerted a wholesome 
and appreciated interest in the advancement of the business interests of Au- 
burn and DeKalb county. Physically, l)uilt on the Abe Lincoln or Joe Can- 
non style, Mr. Zent is, like them, a man of strong convictions and earnest pur- 
pose, optimistic in his views of life, and affable and agreeable in his rela- 
tions with his fellow men. These qnalities have combined to gain for him a 
marked degree of popularity in the community in which so many of his active 
years have been spent. 

Politically, Mr. Zent has, for many years, been an active and influenlial 
member of the Reiniblican party and in local political circles he is a promi- 
nent figure, having for a number of years served as treasurer of the county 
committee. Fraternally, Mr. Zent is a Mason, having attained to the thirty- 
second degree of the Scottish Rite, and is also a member of the Mystic Shrine, 
and the Auburn lodge. Knights of Pythias, having been a charter member 
(24) 



370 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

of the last-named organizatidti. heins a popular member of these several 
fraternities. 

On July 25, 1885. Mr. Zent married Laura E. Ensley, who was born 
and spent her entire life at .\ubuin. Her parents, George and Lydia (Noel) 
Ensley, were among the pioneer residents of Auburn, the family being for 
many years prominent and influential in the affairs of the community. Mrs. 
Zent was called to the higher life on October 5, igio. All in all, Mr. Zent 
is a worthy representative of the sturdy, intelligent and progressive class that 
gives stability to the body politic and character to the community, being broad- 
minded, with wide views of men and affairs, and a true type of the enterpris- 
ing American of today. 



ANDREW JACKSON RALSTON. 

The family of which the subject of this review is a creditable repre- 
sentative has been known in DeKalb county since the pioneer epoch and, 
-without invidious comparison, it can with propriety be said that no other 
name is better known or more highly esteemed in this locality. Honored 
and respected bv all, there is today no man in the county who occupies a 
more enviable position in the regard of his fellows than Andrew J. Ralston, 
not alone because of the splendid material success which he has achieved, but 
also by reason of the splendid life which he has lived in this community. 
He was bom at Plymouth, Richland county, Ohio, on September 9, 1841, 
and is the son of Samuel W. and Eliza J. (Brink) Ralston. The subject's 
paternal grandparents were Robert and Jane (Woodburn) Ralston, of whom 
and their ten children the remarkable fact is recorded that their average age 
was eighty-four years, the youngest having been over seventy-two years old 
at the time of his death. These children were named Robert, Jr., James, 
Mrs. Jane Hall, Mrs. Margaret Hall, Mrs. Mary Gribben, Alexander, Samuel 
W., Mrs. Maria Dixon, David and Mrs. Julia Bodley. In 1814 Robert and 
Tane Ralston moved, with their family, from \\'ashington county. Pennsyl- 
vania, to Richland county, Ohio (now Ashland county). There Samuel W. 
Ralston, who had been born in Washington county. Pennsylvania, on De- 
cember 12. 1807, began to learn the trade of a carpenter, which he followed 
with considerable success for a quarter of a century. In December, 1842, 
he brought his family to Auburn, Indiana, arriving here on the 12th of De- 
cember and being the eighth family to locate in this city. He here fol- 
lowed his trade of carpenter, in which he became quite prominent. In 1843 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 37 I 

he took the contract for the completion of the first courthonse, a two-story 
frame building, thirty-five by fifty feet in size, and the frame work of which 
had been put up by the first contractor, Joseph Heit, who then relinquished 
his contract. Mr. Ralston completed the contract in 1843. In 1846 he was 
elected sheriff of DeKalb county, serving two years, and was then elected 
county treasurer for a like period. In 1856 he was again elected to the office 
of .sheriff and was re-elected in 1S38. In iSru he engaged in the mer- 
cantile business, in which he was successful and which commanded his at- 
tention until about five years prior to his death, when he retired from busi- 
ness and spent the remainder of his days quietly at his home, a large and 
substantial brick building, which he had erected at the corner of Tenth and 
Main streets and which is still standing in good condition. There his death 
occurred on March 6, 1891, and his widow died there in August. 1893. Mrs. 
Ralston, whose maiden name was Eliza J- Brink, and whom he married in 
1834, was a native of Plymouth, Ohio. She was a faithful member of the 
Presbyterian church, of wliich her husliand was a regular attendant. They 
were the parents of four children, namely: Helen M. died in November, 
1855, at the age of about twenty years: Emily A., who died on January 20, 
1903, was the wife of W. H. Dills, of Auburn: Andrew J.: George C. is 
engaged in the hotel business at Sulphur Springs, Arkansas. 

Andrew J. Ralston was reared in Auburn, securing a fair education in 
the public schools, and in young manhood was variously employed, usually 
in drygoods stores and other mercantile houses. He served as deputy sheriff 
under his father and in a like capacity under Sheriff J. N. Miller. From 
1869 to 1873 he served as deputy county treasurer under Treasurer F. D. 
Ryan, and then for about seven years he was successfully engaged in buy- 
ing and shipping grain. In 1882 Mr. Ralston went into the grocery business, 
to which he devoted his attention until 1896, when he disposed of that busi- 
ness and has since mainly occupied himself in looking after his farming 
interests. He owns one farm of one hundred and seven acres east of Auburn 
and an undivided half interest in one hundred and sixty acres nine miles 
south of Auburn. 

For many years Mr. Ralston took an active part in public affairs and was 
a prominent and influential figure in the councils and conventions of the 
Democratic party, but of late years he has somewhat retired from active par- 
ticipation in these things, though his interest in current affairs has not in 
the least abated. For six years Mr. Ralston has rendered appreciated ser- 
vice as historian for the Old Settlers' .Association, in the proceedings of 
which he has long been deeply interested, .^s a storehouse of facts and 



372 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

traditions regarding the early history of DeKalb county he is an authority, 
and his utterances on these things are entitled to credence, for to him belongs 
the distinction of being the oldest citizen of Auburn in point of vears of 
continuous residence, and he lias taken considerable pride in collating much 
interesting and valuable local history which otherwise might have been lost 
to future generations. 

On February 25, 1864, Mr. Ralston was married to Hadessa J. George, 
who was born in what is now Ashland county, Ohio, the daughter of James 
Currie George and Priscilla (Reynolds) George. Mr. George was Ijorn in 
Ashland county, and his parents, who were natives of Pennsylvania, were of 
Scotch-Irish ancestrj'. Priscilla Reynolds was born in Delaware and in her 
childhood she was brought to Ohio by her parents, James and Mary (Mc- 
Clellan") Reynolds. Mrs. Ralston was but a 1iabe in arms when, in Novem- 
ber, 1842, the family came to Auburn, her father having bought a half sec- 
tion of land a mile east of that city some time previously. When they moved 
here he brought the price of the land in silver in his wagon. He had a 
brother Iiere, with whom he stayed a short time, and the money was put and 
safely kept under a puncheon floor, there being no banks here at that time. 
On the tract of land referred to the George family made their permanent 
home, Mr. George carrying on farming operations there during the rest of 
his active life. He became prominent in the early life of that locality and 
served in several township offices, always to the entire satisfaction of his 
fellow citizens. His death occurred in 1849, at tlie early age of thirty-six years, 
leaving a wife and two daughters, Mary Ann and Hadessa. The widow 
lived to be eighty-seven years old, her death occurring in August, 1903. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Ralston have been born three children, as follows: 
George M., liorn in October, iS^;, is connected with the Commercial Bank at 
Ft. Wayne and is secretary for the well known real estate and banking firm 
of Strauss Brothers, which does an annual business of more than two million 
dollars. ;\.t Ft. \\"ayne, he married Nettie Ernest, a resident of Auburn, and 
they have two children, Roger Jackson and Hubert Russell; Alzein Aileen, 
whose death occurred on March 30, 1903, was the wife of Harry K, Scott, of 
Angola. Indiana; Helen S. is the wife of Monte L. Green, a lianker at 
Garrett, this county, and they liave a daughter. Alzien Louise. Mrs. Ral- 
ston is a member of the Presbyterian church and is also well known in club 
and. literary circles of Auburn. She is one of the three active members of the 
Ladies' Literary Club of this city who were charter members when the club 
was organized in April, 1882. it being the oldest woman's club in northern 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 3-3 

Indiana and next to the oldest in the state. She is a woman of kindly man- 
ner and is deservedly popular in the circles in \\ inch she moves. Mr. Ralston 
has through the years performed his full dut>- as a citizen, standing as a man 
among men, and today he enjoys to an eminent degree the confidence and 
good will of all who know him. 



HENRY E. ALTENBURG. 

The life history of him whose name heads this biographical memoir is 
closely identified with the history of DeKalb county, Indiana, which was long 
his home. He began his career in this locality in the pioneer epoch and 
throughout the years which later came and went he was closely allied with 
its interests and upbuilding. He was of a high type of progressive citizen 
and his life was one of untiring activity. The cause of humanity never had 
a truer friend than Mr. Altenburg, who long since passed to the higher life. 
In all the relations of life — ^family, church, society and business — he dis- 
played that consistent Christian spirit, that natural worth, that endeared him 
alike to all classes. His integrity and fidelity were manifested in every re- 
lation of life, and the example of such a life is always an inspiration to 
others. In dealing with mankind, his word was his bond: deceit ne\'er 
entered into any transactions lie liad with his fellow men. His plain, rug- 
ged honesty, his open-hearted manner, unilisguised and unaffected, is to his 
descendants a sweet and lasting memory. 

Henry E. Altenburg, who was an honored early pioneer of DeKalb 
county, was born near Sandusky, Ohio, on April 23, 1838, and died at his 
home in Auburn in February, 1889. He was a son of Daniel and Sarah 
(Latson) Altenburg. Daniel Altenburg was a native of the IMohawk valley, 
near Buffalo, New York, and eventually moved from that locality to San- 
dnskv. Ohio, where they lived two years. \Mien Henry E. was a baby of 
ajjout two months, the family came to DeKali) county. Indiana, following 
blazed trails through the interminable forests which then covered the country, 
no roads or bridges having been Iniilt as yet. The first bridge over Cedar 
Creek, between Waterloo and Uniontown, was then being erected, and they 
were compelled to ford that stream, which was so deep that the cows, which 
were tied beside the wagon, were compelled to swim. Before reaching 
Auburn they became lost in the deej) snow one night and called loudly for help. 



374 DEKAl.B COUNTY, INDIANA. 

They were lieard by Isaac B. Smith, a farmer, who came to their rescue 
with a lantern and guided them to his home. They were then between 
Waterloo and Uniontown and it took them all the following day to get to 
Auburn. Upon reaching this locality Daniel Altenburg entered a quarter 
section of government land two and a half miles east of Auburn, the tract 
being located in the midst of a dense forest, from which the only road to the 
little settlement at Auburn was a narrow and winding trail. Here they estab- 
lished their permanent home and. amid the pioneer conditions of that day. 
they started In clear the land, build a home and plant the soil. Here Daniel 
and Sarah Altenburg reared their family of nine children, six sons and three 
daughters, namely: Daniel L., Mary Jane, Henry E., Harriet E., David 
Cosper, Isaac L.. Sylvia A.. William J, and Frank F. Politically, Daniel 
Altenburg was a stanch Republican and was a strong supporter of the Union 
cause during" the war of the Rebellion, and, though too old himself to enlist, 
he sent four sons to the front to fight for the preservation of the nation. He 
was an honored and resi^ected citizen of his community and for many years 
served as justice of the peace. in ynung mnnhiKKl he lost an arm from the 
eiifects of a tree falling on it and (mm this \\(jund he >uti'ered during all the 
remainder of his life, the pain frequently being intense, luit he bore his suffer- 
ings with patience and Christian fortitude. He was public spirited to a 
notable degree and it is related of him that, having bought the old court 
house, which had been moved from its original site to make way for the 
new brick building, he gave the nid building to lie burned in celebration of a 
Union victorv during the war. Haniel .Mtenburg's first wife, the mother 
of the children before mentirmetl. tlied in 1863, and he afterwards married 
Susanna Seibert. whose first Juisband had l-een killed in the war. She now 
resides northwest of Auburn, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. 
About 1870 J\Ir. Altenburg moved into Auburn, where he spent his remaining 
days, dying in January, 1887. 

Henry E. Altenburg was reared on the paternal farmstead, east of 
Auburn, living there until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he enlisted in 
Company G, Nineteenth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was in 
constant and active service for eighteen months, taking part in the first battle 
of Bull Run and the other great battles in which the Army of the Potomac 
participated tip to the time he received his honorable discharge. In the fall 
of 1864 Mr. Altenburg again enlisted, this time in the First Indiana Batter)' 
of Heavy Artillery, with which he saw service along the Mississippi river 
and at the battle of Mobile Bav- He recei\ed his final discharge from the 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 375 

service in November, 1865. His two brothers, Daniel and Isaac, were in 
the service with him during his second enlistment. 

On January 27, 1864, while at home between his two enlistments, Mr. 
Altenburg was married to Sarah C. Bodine. She was born near Plymouth, 
Ohio, and came to DeKalb county in 1861 with her mother, Elizabeth E. 
(Chamberlain) Bodine, her father, John Bodine, having died in August, 
i860. Elizabeth Chamberlain was born in Cayuga county, Xew York, and 
was there married, her husband also being a native of that county. They 
moved to Plymouth. Ohio, where he engaged in farming, and later ran a shoe 
store. After his death, his widow and her six children came to Auburn, 
where she resided until all of her children were married. 

After the war Henry E. Altenburg made his home in Auburn, w here he 
took up the vocation of a caipenter, becoming a contractor and erecting a 
number of houses, some of which are still standing. In 1876 Mr. Altenburg 
became a railway postal clerk, which employment he followed for nearly 
twelve years, when he resigned and moved to Kendall, Hamilton county, 
Kansas, where he engaged in the feed business. He remained there a little 
over two years, when the extreme and long-continued drought caused a wide- 
spread failure of crops, entailing upon him a loss of all his capital. He then 
brought his family back to Auburn, and during the following winter he was 
taken sick, his death occurring in February, 1889. 

To Plenry E. and Sarah C. Altenburg were Ijorn four children, as fol- 
lows: Harry O., who lixes in Kalamazoo, Michigan, is connected with the 
Burroughs Adding Machine Company: Clara E. is the wife of John Zimmer- 
man, of Auburn, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work; Eugene C. is 
advertising manager for the Zimmerman Manufacturing Company: John D. 
is a successful dentist at Findlay, Ohio. 

Religiously, Mr. Altenbm'g was an earnest, faithful and consistent mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the prosperity "of which he was 
deeply interested. Fraternally, he was for many years an appreciative mem- 
ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In his domestic relations, 
Henry Altenburg was a faithful husband and a kind father, affectionate in 
his home relations, while in the coniniuuity he was a ccmscientious man and 
a good citizen in the broadest sense of the term. (_)uiet and unostentatious 
and seeking the sequestered ways of life rather than its tumult and .strife, he 
ever attended strictly to bis own affairs and made better all who came w ithin 
range of his influence. 



2)y(i DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. 

ALPHEUS W. MADDEN. 

Practical industry, wisely and vigorously applied, never fails of success. 
It carries a man onward and upward, brings out his individual character and 
acts as a powerful stimulus to the efforts of others. The greatest results in 
life are often attained hy simple means and the exercise of the ordinary 
qualities of common sense and perseverance. The every-day life, with its 
cares, necessities and duties, affords ample opportunities for acquiring ex- 
perience of the best kind and its most beaten paths provide a true worker 
with abundant scope for effort and self improvement. 

Alpheus W. Madden, the present efficient and ])opular auditor of De- 
Kalb county, and successful business man at .\u])in-n, is a nati\e of the old 
Hoosier state, having been born in Eel Ri\er townsliip. .Mien countv, on 
February 19. 1856, and is a son of William and Rachel (Taylor) Madden. 
The father, who was bfirn in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, came to Indiana in 
the early forties, and settled in Allen countv. where he formed the acquaint- 
ance of and married Rachel Taylor, tlie daughter of Aljraham and Ro.xey 
Taylor. They spent all their lives and died in that townshi]>, wliere he had 
followed the vocation of farming during ;dl hi> .ictixe years. 

Alpheus W. Madden remained on the home farm in .\llen comity until 
twenty-two years of age and recei\ed a fair practical education in the com- 
mon schools. .\t the age mentioned be started in life for himself, working 
as a farm hand for fifteen dolhirs per month, and during this period while 
employed in si)litting rails, be was disaliled 1)\ an accident. Tims finding 
himself disqualified for heavy manual labor, be felt the necessity for further 
education, and to this end went to h'ort Wayne anil took a course in the com- 
mercial college at that place. lie then engaged in the insurance Imsiness 
for about a year and a half and then ])ecame a salesman of marble and 
granite work, which be followed for about three years. In 1882 Mr. Mad- 
den moved to .\ubum ;md engaged in the marble and granite business in 
partnership with Walton 1\. Smith. His business was [)rosperous from the 
start and in 1886 he brmght the place at the corner ot Jackson and Seventh 
streets now occupied by the Jenkins grocery store, hut which at that time 
was occupied by a frame building which he used for their work. In 1892 
Mr. .Smith died and he was succeeded in the jiartnership b\- Mr. Madden's 
two brothers. Jose])b R. and Charles E.. who continued together about four- 
teen years when the subject of this sketch bought his brothers' interests and 
took in as a partner his son. Frank. Tbev bax'e continued tlie business 




ALPHEUS W. MADDEX 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. }^JJ 

together and have been eiuinenlly successful in (heir \\<irk. In 1888 Mr. 
Madden and Mr. Smith, his f(.>rnier [);irtner, hniU the [ireseut Mock in wiiich 
the Jenkins grocery store is located antl continued their liusiness there until 
about 1893. Soon after the erection of thi> huildiu!;, Mr. Ahidden hou^ht 
a farm of eighty acres adjoining the city of .Xuhurn on the northeast and 
about three years later he erected here a handsome residence fronting on 
East Seventh street, where he now resides, combining with the advantages 
of city life the profit and pleasure of a country home. In h»<)3 Mr. Madden 
bought ground and built another business block on Mast Seventh street be- 
tween his home and the postoffice, and here the monument business is car- 
ried on today. In i(p6 he bought land at the corner of Ninth and East 
streets, where he erected a large l)arn, now occupieil by (ireen's livery busi- 
ness. On one corner of Mr. Madden's home farm is located the .Vuburn 
base ball park. \Miile in i)artnership with .Mr. Smith, they also bought the 
old farm in Allen county, where Mr. Madden was reared, but he has since 
disposed of it. He has also Iniilt other residence ]>roperties in Auburn, one 
north of his monument works which is occupied by bis son, Frank, and a 
house across Seventh street from bi> home, which is now occupied by his 
daughter, Mrs. Nelson. Possessing marked business ;iliil!ty. energetic and 
hustling, Mr. Madden has long enjoyed the major part (pf the business in 
his line in this county ami community, and because of his success and his 
personal worth he is numbered among the leading men of the county. 

Mr. Madden has ftir many \ears been an active supporter (jf the Demo- 
cratic partv, and in i8()3 was elected trustee of his township, holding the 
office four years. In November, kiio, he w;is elected auditor of DeKalb 
coimty, and is the present incumbent of that office. His nomination was 
secured after an unusually hard fight, but his course in office has proved the 
wisdom of the choice. He is distinctly a selfmade man in the fullest sense 
of the term and is entitled to the fullest meed of credit for his accomplish- 
ments. He is always to be found in the auditor's office at six-thirty o'clock 
in the morning and keeps hard at his official duties until closing time in the 
evening. His courteous treatmeiU of all who ha\ e dealings with him h.ave 
won for him a deserving popularity with the people. 

On December 25, 1884. Mr. M.idden was married to Katie Fox, daugh- 
ter of Charles and Margaret ((hiillen) I'ox. She was bom in Marshall, 
Texas, came to DeKalb count\- w ith her parents in 1866. Her father was 
a native of Germany and her mother of (ieorgia, ;ind after locating in 
•Vuburn her father was engaged in the butcher Inisiness up to the time of his 



378 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

death, which occurreil <m June icj. 1878. Mrs. Fox now nialces her home with 
Mrs. Madden. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Madden ha\e been born seven children: Frank, who 
is engaged with his father in the marble and granite business, was married 
to Myrtle McClellan, and they have one son, Richard; Leona is the wife 
of Stanley P. Nelson, deputy coimty auditor ; Effie is also assisting her father 
in the auditor's office; Inez, Mabel, Grace and Homer are all at home. 
Fraternally, Mr. Madden is a meml)er of the Knights of Pvthias and takes 
a lively interest in the workings of the order. Genial and approachable in 
manner, he is deservedly popular throughout DeKalb county. 



FUGKX1-: G. ALTKXIiU 



.Vniung the citizens of Aubnrn. DeKalh counl\. Indiana, who occupy 
prominent i)ositions as reiiresentatixe men of the rommunitx' is the gentleman 
wh(ise name appears at the head of this sketch. A man of -sterling integrity, 
marked business ability and genial disposition, he lias n(.)t only earned the 
confidence and res[)ect of hi^ !)u,-<iness associates, but has gained for himself 
the good will of all who ha\e come into contact with him. 

Eugene G .-\ltenburg, who has chnrge of the advertising deiiartment for 
the Zimmerman Manufacturing Gumpan\- at .Vuliurn, was Ijorn in the city 
which is now honored 1;\- his citizenship on January 10. 187J. He is the son 
of Henry 1'".. and Sarah I'. ( liodine ) Altenburg, who are mentioned spe- 
cifically elsewhere in this work, tlierefore it w^ill not l>e necessary to de\-ote 
further space to them at this i)oint. Eugene G. Altenburg was reared in the 
parental home at Aulnirn and secured his education in th.e excellent public 
schools of this cit\-. -\t the ;ige of eighteen _\-ears he took up life's duties on 
his own account, obtaining employment in the office of the Zimmerman Manu- 
facturing Gomijany. wilh whom he remained about fi\e years. In 1899 '^I'"- 
Altenburg went s(juth, being located in three different ])laces and engaging in 
the drug business at his last location. In April, 1():h). he returned to Auburn 
and again became a member of the office force of the Zimmerman Gompany, 
being given charge of the advertising for that company, in which position he 
is still acting. Po.ssessing originality and artistic sense. .Mr. .Mtenburg has 
demonstrated his \alue to the business and has been one of the important fac- 
tors in the splendid success which has characterized this well-known concern. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. },yi^ 

Mr. .\ltenhuro- was married, on October 24, 1894, to Hattie E. Casebeer, 
the (lau.yhter of Dr. Jacob B. and Sarah E. ( Xycuni ) Casel)eer, who also are 
mentioned on other pages in this work. I'o Mr. and Mrs. .Mtenbnrg ha\e 
Ijeen born two sons, Harry, l:orn al Indianapolis, Indiana, on December 23, 
1896, and Robert E.. born at Tnllahoma, Tennessee, on October 8, 1900. Of 
marked domestic tastes, Mr. Altenlnirg is a home lover and finds his greatest 
and truest enjoyment in the pleasant and attractive home in which he lives. 

Fraternally, Mr. Altenburg is an appreciative member of the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows, while, religiously, he and his wife are earnest and 
faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Quiet in disposition, 
yet genial in his intercourse with his fellows. Mr. Altenburg has won a host 
of warm personal friends in this community, where practically his entire life 
has been passed. He is keenly alive to his responsibilities as a citizen and 
gives his support to e\'ery mo\ement which i)r(]niises to benefit the community. 
materially, educationally, niora'ly or socially. De is fully deserving of the 
large measure of public confidence and esteem \vliich is accorded to him. 



ORIN BRANDOX. 



.Among the citizens of DeKalb county who are \\idel\ and favorably 
known is Orin Brandon, one of .\nbuni'> useful .nid highly esteemed men. 
His life has become a part of the history of the conniiunity in which he has 
made his home for many years, and his long and honora]:)le business career 
has brought him before the public in such a wa\- as to gain the esteem and 
confidence of his fellow-men and a well deserved reputation among his con- 
temporaries. Keen perception, tireless energy and honesty of purpose, com- 
bined with mature judgment and every-day common sense, have ever been 
among his most prominent characteristics, and while laboring for individual 
success and for the material interests of the community, he has also been 
instrumental in promoting the moral welfare of those with whom he has 
mingled. 

Orin Brandon was born about two miles west of .\ul>urn. Indiana, on 
Januarv 11. i86(), and is the son of Isaac and B.arbara ( Kutziier ) Brandon. 
Both parents were natives of Stark county, Ohio, having been born a short 
distance west of Canton. Isaac Brandon, who was bom on May 12, 1836, was 
reared on a farm and in the city of Canton. His parents were John and Mary 



380 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

(Beard) Brandon, tlu- father having been a successful farmer n{ that com- 
munit_v and also ha\ ing served efificiently as sheriff of Stark county. He 
was a native of Ir'ennsyh-ania. In June, 1849, John Brandon brought his 
family to DeKalb county, Indiana, and settled on what is now known as the 
Brandon farm, adjoining Auburn on the west. With the exception of about 
six months, during which Isaac Brandon was clerking in .Auburn, the latter 
lived with his parents until 1862, assisting his father with the farm work. 
.\fter his marriage in the year mentioned, he moved to a farm which he had 
])urchased in Richland townshi]) and lived there until 1873. when he mo\-ed 
back to the o'd homestead. In the fall of 1874 he and his brother. Silas J., 
went to Nebraska with the intention of buying land and locating there, but in 
their absence their father was taken seriously sick and upon Isaac's return 
home, he settled permanently at the old farm. Mr. Brandon showed himself 
a good manager, a practical farmer and a successful business man. .\lthough 
he never aspired to official honors, he always took a deep and active interest 
in public affairs, giving his support to the right men for the office sought. 
While a resident of Richland township he was elected justice of the ])eace, 
but did not qualify for the office. On March 20, 1832, he was married to 
Barbara .A. Kutzner. tlie daughter of I.saac Kutzner, a native of Canton. Ohio. 
To this union were born the following children : .Alva, Ira. Orin. .\sa, I'lla. 
Myron and Artie. Isaac Brandon was the owner of one hundred and thirty 
acres of land lo which he ga\-e his attention, and though adx.uiced in years. 
he was niuuliered among the enterprising and progressi\e men of his locality. 
His death occurred ou Monday. May j':,. 1013. at his old home near Auburn. 
Orin Brandon was reared to maturity on the home farm, and at the age 
of seventeen years he started out in life for himself, .going to Texas and 
Indian Territory, where he found eni])lnyment on a railroad. -\ year later 
he went to Jackson. Michigan, where he entered the employ of the Lake Shore 
& Michigan Southern railroail, but cpiit that employment because he did not 
find it sufficiently remunerative. Retiu-ning then to Auburn he took up the 
carpenter's trade, at which he worked until 1893. when he and Perry J. Long 
began taking building contracts. They were engaged together in this line of 
work about eight years and built some of the best buildings in .\uburn, in- 
cluding some of the larger store buildings in the business section of the city. 
In March. 1903, Mr. Brandon ga\e u]) the contracting business, when he and 
O. G. Huff, of South Bend, Indiana, bought the lumber yard formerly owned 
by the A. Lewis Lumber Company. Mr. Huff' continued his residence in 
South Bend, and traveled a great deal, leaving the actual management of the 



DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. 381 

business to Mr. Brandon, \v!io ga\u to it his personal altentitjn. and to whuse 
effective efforts was due the large trade which they enjoyed in this line. In 
.March, kjij;, the Huff intere>t> were inu-cliased by iMank W. Olinger, of 
Auliurn, who continues to he the business associate ot' Mr. iirandon. The 
latter gives practically his entire time to the lumber business, although he is 
also connected with the Auburn lluilding and Loan A.ssociation. He carries 
a large and complete line of both building and dimension stock, and side lines 
required in the building trade, so that he is able to accommodate any calls 
upon him in his line. 

In the local life of the ctjmmunity Mr. Brandon has taken a dee]) and 
abiding interest and for about eight years was an elffcient me^nber of the city 
council. While he was in ofifice the contract was let for the first paved streets 
in Auburn, and the sewer system was contracted for just before he entered 
office. Fraternally Mr. Brandon is a member of the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows, in which he takes a deep interest, and he and liis family belong 
to the Methodist Episcopal church, he being a trustee of the local organization. 

On April 9, 1891, Mr. Brandon married Winnie Rant, daughter of 
Frederick and Mary ( .-Vshelman ) Rant. She was born and reared in Auburn, 
and in her veins runs stanch old (ierman blood, her father having Ixeen a 
native of the Fatherland, and her mother, though of Swiss parentage, was 
born about a half-mile east of Au.burn. Frederick' Rant came here when a 
young man and married Mary Ashelman. He followed the vocations of har- 
ness making and shoe making in the early days, and was also a successful and 
popular preacher in the German Methodist church. Mary Ashelman was the 
daughter of John J- .Ashelman, an old settler, who followed farming east of 
Auburn, where Mrs. Brandon's mother was reared. Her father died here 
about 1880, and the mother still lives in Auburn. 

John U. Ashelman, paternal grandfather of Mrs. I^randon, was born at 
Basle. Switzerland, in 1792, was reared in that city and there engaged in 
the milk business. He married Mary Everhart in Basle, and within a year 
afterward he came to -America, arriving here in 1832 and locating in Wayne 
county, Ohio, where they lived for about ten years. He bought a farm of 
eightv acres there and gave his attention to its culti\ation. In 1836 he came 
to Auburn, DeKalb county, Indiana, there being then Inii three houses in 
Auburn. He entered land upon his arrival here, and while building his first 
home, he lodged with some friendly Indians. His entire possessions of real 
estate here amounted to about six hundred and forty acres of land located at 
ihe east edge of .Xuburn, part of which being now comprised within the 



382 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

city limits. He also entered a tract of land near the city of Fort Wayne, this 
state. He contracted to ha\e some of the land cleared, and returned to his 
home in Ohio, where he lived until 1842, then came here and spent the balance 
of his life on his own place. His death occurred in 1856. His widow sur- 
vived him several years, dying in 1864. At the time of his death, Mr. Ashel- 
man owned nine hundred and twenty acres of land and was considered quite 
well-to-do for that day. They were the parents of three sons and six daugh- 
ters, namely : Mrs. Elizabeth Carmer, Moses, Mrs. Barbara Eckhart and 
William are deceased. Those living are Mrs. Mary Raut, Mrs. Regina 
Weaver, Mrs. Annie Walker, Christopher, and Mrs. Rosa Saxton. John U. 
Ashelman was in many respects one of the remarkable men of his day and 
generation. He was not only a pioneer, but took a prominent leading part 
in the development and upbuilding of the early community, and none of the 
men who made the early history of this locality is entitled to greater credit 
for its development than he. Energ\-. hospitalitx- and absolute integrity were 
his leading characteristics and his long life was a blessing to the community. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Brandon have been Iiorn four children, three of whom 
are living: Russell, wiio died at the age of eleven years: Charles A., .\nnie L. 
and Mary Elizabeth. By a straightforward and commendable course, Mr. 
Brandon has made his way to a respectable position in the business world, 
winning the hearty admiration of the people of his city and earning a reputa- 
tion as a very careful and progressive man of afifairs. and a broad-minded, 
upright and charitaljle citizen, whom tlie ]niblic has not been slow to recognize 
and appreciate. 



DR. TOHN E. GRAHAM. 



The true western spirit of progress and enterprise is strikingly exempli- 
fied in the lives of such men as Dr. Graham, men whose energetic nature 
and laudable ambition have enabled them to conquer many adverse circum- 
stances and advance steadily to leading positions in professional and business 
life. The Doctor is a worthy representative of this class and is now a 
prominent figure in the professional circles of DeKalb county, having been 
successfully engaged in the practice of his profession in the town of Auburn 
since 1899. 

Jolin E. Graham, a successful dentist and popular citizen of Auburn, 
DeKalb countv. Indiana, was born at Trenton, Ontario, Canada, on October 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 383 

2, 1875, and is the son of Major John E. Cirahani and Jennie E. (Meyers) 
Graham. Major Graham was a graduate of Fort William Military Academy, 
at Kingston, Ontario, an institution similar to the United States Military 
Academy at West Point. He was commissioned a major in the English 
army, but subsequently resigned and became engaged in business at Trenton. 
His wife was a granddaughter of old Captain John Meyers, who. during the 
French and Indian war north of Lake Erie, was a courier between Quebec and 
Detroit. A brother of Major Meyers is now mayor of Kingston, an office 
that receives much more honor in Canada than in this country. Major Gra- 
ham died shortly before the birth of his son, the subject of this sketch. When 
the latter was about twelve years old. his mother brought liim to the United 
States, and subsequently she became the wife of Samuel Moody, of Waterloo, 
DeKalb county, Indiana, her present residence being at Auburn. John E. 
Graham, who is of the third generation of the family to bear that name, 
attended the common and high schools at Waterloo and graduated in 1893. 
Then, because of ill health, he spent a year in the highlands of Ontario. In 
the fall of 1894 he entered the dental department of the University of Michi- 
gan at Ann .\rbor, completing the course and receiving his degree in 1897. 
He immediately entered upon the active practice of his profession at Water- 
loo, but two years later moved to Auburn, where he has remained and where 
he has built up a large and representative patronage. He possesses a thor- 
ough knowledge of his profession and keeps closely in touch with the latest 
advances made in the science of dentistry, being now numbered among the 
ablest and most successful in his line in this section of the state. 

On December 31, igoo, Dr. Graham married Bertha Kiplinger, of 
Waterloo, daughter of Michael Kiplinger and wife, who are represented else- 
where in this volume. To this union have been linrn three children, namely: 
Gladwyn, DuVern and Erthenia. 

In the civic life of the community in which he lives. Dr. Graham has 
long taken an active and prominent part and from 1906 to 1910 he served 
as president of the city board of health. Fraternally, he is a member of the 
Masonic order, in which he has attained to the fourteenth degree of the 
Scottish Rite. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, Uniform 
Rank, and has served as chancellor commander of the lodge at Waterloo. 
He also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of .\merica and the Brotherhood 
of American Yeomen. Religiously, Dr. Graham and his wife are members 
of the Presbyterian church, of which the Doctor is an elder, and in 1910 he 
was honored by being made a commissioner to the general assembly of the 



384 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

church wliich met at Atlantic City. He is a straightforward, conscientious 
man, in whom his fellow citizens have marked confidence because of his 
public spirit and splendid personal qualities. Personally he is genial and 
companionable, and is popular in the social circles in which he moves. 



DR. LID.V (POWERS) LEASURE. 

The life of the scholarly or professional man or woman seldom exhibits 
any of those striking incidents that seize upon public feeling and attract at- 
tention. Their characters are generally made up of the aggregate qualities 
and cjualifications they may possess, as these may be elicited by the exercise 
of the duties of their vocations or the particular professions to which they 
belong. But when such persons have so impressed their individualities upon 
their fellows as to gain their confidence and through that confidence rise to 
important public trust, they become conspicuous figures in the body politic of 
the communitv. The suliject of this sketch is one of the scholarly women of 
her count}-, who, not content to hide her talents amid life's sequestered ways, 
has. l)y the force of will and a laudable ambition, forged to the front in an 
exacting and responsible calling and earned an honorable reputation as the 
head of one of the most important branches of public service. She is a well- 
educated, symmetrically developed ^^■oman and, her work as an educator hav- 
ing brought her prominenth^ to the notice of the public, the result has been a 
demand for her services where a high standard of professional excellence is 
required. She is fullv abreast the times in ad\anced educational methods and 
her general knowledge is broad and comprehensive. Because of her earnest 
life, high attainments, well rounded character and large influence, she is emi- 
nently entitled to representation in a work of the character of the one in hand. 

Dr. Lida Leasure is a daughter of the old Hoosier state, having been 
born at Spring Hill, near Greensburg, Indiana, and is a daughter of Jonathan 
and Mary (Hood) l^)wers. She was reared on a farm and her elementary 
education was received in the common schools of ht-r neighborhood, which 
was supplemented by attendance at a local academy. .Vt the age of about 
twenty vears she became a student in the Terre Haute Normal School, where 
she was graduated, after which she engaged in teaching school. Her first 
pedagogical work was as a teaclier in the high school at JNIarshall, Illinois, 
after which she taught in the Model School at Terre Haute and in the In- 
dianapolis high school. In 1878 she came to .Aubin-n, where for several years 




DR. LIDA LEASURE 



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DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

she taught in the hit^li school, and seiNcd as suiiL-rint.-n(U 
where she earned a S]ilendi<l re|iutation for h.ilh educ 
ability. In 1880 she lau,<;ht in the hiu-h sehool at Princ 
December 30th, that year, she was married to John Fl. 
after which she resigned her position at Princeton and returned to Aui)urn to 
reside. However, her love for educational work again attracted her to the 
school room and in 1882 and for two or three years thereafter she was a 
teacher in the Auburn high school. .Xhout this time she determined to take 
up the practice of medicine and to this end she matriculated in the medical 
department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arboi-, where she was 
graduated in 1888, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, b'or a while Dr. 
Leasure jiracticed her profession at -\uburn, but in 1802 she moved to An- 
gola and, with the e.xception of a year at Logan^porl. Indiana, she was en- 
gaged in the active practice at .\ngola until kio^, when, ha\ing found her 
professional duties too e.xacting ami her hnsliand'^ hnsinev^ rec|uiring his 
constant presence at .Auburn, they returned to the latter place, where they 
have since resided. Here, having relinciuished her medical practice. Dr. 
Leasure again entered the educational work antl for two years was principal 
of the Riley school, and taught a year in the high school, resigning the latter 
position. In June, igii, without solicitation on her part, she was elected to 
the position of county superintendent of srhools, she ha\ing given her consent 
to the election in response to the re(|uest of a number of the c.junly's in- 
fluential trustees. She was elected for a four-year term, bul by legisl.ative 
enactment her term has lieen extended to 1917. To Dr. Leasure ])elongs the 
distinction of being the first woman to be elected to a public office in Indiana 
and also of being the onl\- woman superintendent in the state. Though a 
very busy woman, and the duties of her office responsible and exacting, she 
loves the work and is discharging her official tluties in a lu.anner that has won 
the approval and commendation of all classes. Personally. Dr. Leasure is a~ 
woman of many gracious qualities of head and heart which h.ive endeared her 
to all who know her. Aside from her professional w<irk. ^be takes an intel- 
ligent interest in the social, mond and civic life of the comnmnity. NUjiporting 
every movement for ihe advancement of the welfare of the commuiiitx'. .She 
is an honorarv member of the '..adies' !.iterar\ Club ami is a niembei- of the 
Woman's Christian Temperance I'liion. while lur religious niembersbi]) is 
with the Presbvterian clnu-cb. of which she is an earnest member. 

Bv her union with iobn M. Leasure. who is referred to s|)ecificall\- else- 
'(25) 



386 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

where in this work, Mrs, L.easure has become the mother of the following 
children: Flossie, the wife of Harry i\I. Richwine, of Auburn, and the 
mother of a daughter, Helen Marguerite: and J. Kent, who is a student in 
the medical department of tlie State I'niversity at Bloomington, Indiana. 



DAVID J. SWARTS, M. D. 

In giving the life record of the kite Dr. David J. Swarts, of Auburn, 
Indiana, it is belie\ed that it w ill lie an incenti\e to the young who nia_\- peruse 
it to lead nobler lives, have higher ambitions and accomplish more for their 
fellow-men, for his life was e\er led along a plane of high endeavor, alwa_\ s 
consistent with truth in its highest forms and ever in keeping with honorable 
principles. He had an altruistic spirit — and for a half century he put forth 
every efifort in his power to alleviate suffering, so that his name deserves to 
go down in the history of his locality as one of its worthiest and most faithful 
and efficient physicians. Thus, for many reasons, not the least of which is 
the fact that he was one of the patriotic sons of the North who, when the 
terrible tocsin of war sounded in the early sixties, unhesitatingly gave up the 
pleasures of home and the pursuit of a profitable profession to do what he 
could in behalf of the National Union, tlie biographer is glad to set forth tlie 
salient facts concerning his long, useful and honorable career. 

David j. Swarts was born near jeromexille. Ashland county. Ohio, on 
June 30, 1S32, and was a son of David and Catherine (Smith) Swarts. He 
remained on the farm with his parents until nineteen years of age. in the 
meantime securing the rudiments of his education in the common schools. 
He then became a student in \'ermillion Academy, at Hayesville. Ohio, 
where he remained two and a half years. In 1836. having determined to 
make the practice of medicine his life work, he entered upon its .study under 
the direction of Doctors Robinson and Firestone, of Wooster, Ohio, with 
whom he remained until the fall of 1858. He then entered the Ohio Medical 
College, at Cincinnati, where he was graduated in March, i860, and later took 
a post-graduate course in the Bellevue Hospital Medical College, in Xew 
York Citv. He first located at Reedsburg. OInd. but in November, i860, 
removed to Auburn, Indiana, where his abilities were quickly recognized and 
he was soon in command of a large and remunerative patronage. His private 
professional career was interru])tcd, linwe\er. by the outl;reak of the war of the 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 387 

Rebellion, which aroused his patriotic spirit and. ni June, 1862, he enlisted 
as a private in Compan\- A, One Hundredth i'iegiment Indiana Volunteer 
Infantry. At the organization of the company he was elected and com- 
missioned first lieutenant, in wliich capacit}- he served until the following 
October, when he resigned his commission in order to accept the commission 
of assistant surgeon of his regiment, and rendered most faithful and efficient 
service until the close of the war, being mustered out in June, 1865. He 
participated in most of the battles in which the bifteenth Army Corps, under 
Gen. John A. Logan, engaged, including Pigeon Roost, Resaca, Kenesaw 
Mountain, the siege of Atlanta, siege of Vicksburg, Mission Ridge, Black 
River, siege of Jackson, Lovejoy Station, P>enton\ilk- and manv others of 
scarcely less importance. 

In his professional practice Doctor Swarts was numbered among the 
most successful in his section of the state, and was held in the highest regard 
among his professional colleagues. In 1862, prior to his enlistment, he had 
been employed as one of the county physicians, and in 1880 he was again 
ap]5ointed .to that jiosition. while he also rendered effective ser\ice as secre- 
tary of the county huard of healtli. He was nut (iiil\- an able ])hysician. but 
he was characterized liy a ])rof(innd human -yni|)alltv. which ii\erlea])ed mere 
.sentiment to Ijecome his actuating motue. Tiiose who knew him well were 
unstinted in their jiraise of his kindly dispn-ition and his superior aJiility. 
He was a member of the DeKall) County Medical .'society, the Indiana State 
Medical Society, the Tri-State Medical Society ar.d the American Medical 
.Association. In the summer of iqoo Doctor Swarts took a irij) to Europe, 
his itinerary embracing England, German}-, Switzerland and b" ranee, \isiting 
the Paris Exposition, while, professionally, he \isited a number of the leading 
hospitals of Europe. 

Dr. David J. Swarts died on ]\larch 3. 1903, in Peaver county, Okla- 
homa, where he had entered a government claim on which he was staying to 
prove it up, but chiefly for the benefit of his failing health. His remains were 
brought back to Auburn for interment. His loss was deeply felt in this com- 
munity, where so many of his acti\e years had been passed, his death coming 
to manv as a personal bereavement, for he had endeared himself to all who 
were numbered among his friends. 

On August 28, 1862, Dr. David Swarts was married to Vesta M. Ward, 
the daughter of Rev. Stephen Brown and Laura Ward, of Auburn, a sketch 
of whom appears elsewhere in this work. She was born in Lorain county. 
Ohio, on April 26. 1S41. and came to IVKalb C(iunty. Indiana, with her jiar- 



3oO DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 

ents in 184J. She received lier early educatimi in the Auburn public schools, 
completing her studies at the Xortheastern Indiana Academy, at Orland, 
Steuljen county, in 1858. She then began teaching and from that time u]) 
to her marriage to Doctor Swarts she was identified with the educational 
interests of DeKalh county, eventually becoming superintendent of the Auburn 
schools. For a \ear during the early part of the Civil war she taught school 
in Hicksville, Ohio, and in the great issue between the Xorth and the South 
her loyalty inspired her to active efforts in behalf of the Union. She gave 
frequent talks and readings at meetings called for the enlistment of volun- 
teers, and later while teaching at Auburn she had a class of thirty students 
who sang war campaign songs on sucli occasions. She still has in her posses- 
sion several copies of these songs. 

In July, 1864, Mrs. Swarts, i)ossessed with a deep consciousness of a 
call to duty, resigned her position in the Auburn schools and started for the 
Southland, her intention being to join her husband and assist liim in his care 
for the sick and wounded soldiers. He was then located at .-\ltoona Pass, 
Georgia. She called un Governor .Morton and asked for a pass, which he 
readily gave her. but told her that cummunication was cut off by Hood's army, 
which was in Kentuck}-, and that she prijlialil}- would not be able to get through 
for some time, blowever. he ga\e her an order to report for service to Mrs. 
Annie Wittenmyer, of the Christian Cduimissi'in. at Louisville, and there, on 
July 15th, she began her work as nurse in the Brown U. S. General Hospital. 
In October of the same year she was transferred to the Crittenden U. S. 
General Hosjjital, at Louisville, where she remained until March ij. 18^15, 
when, being unfit for further duty on account of poor health, she was hoiior- 
ably discharged and returned to her home. Her experiences in this work 
were necessarily far from pleasant, but she devoted herself, heart and soul, 
to the work for which she had oft'ered herself and her record during that try- 
ing period was one of faithful and self- forgetting ser\'ice for others. Only 
those who have had actual experience on the battlefield or in hospitals can 
fully realize how cheap human life is ofttimes held in time of war or of the 
awful carnage of battle. In the Crimean war b'lorence Nightingale led her 
devoted band o'f nurses along a new route in the mitigation of the horrors 
of war, and her American sisters followed along the same merciful and loving 
way. The nurses of the Civil war were recruited from e\ery-day life and 
Mrs. Swarts was justly proud of the commission which she held from the 
government, for such commissions were not to be had for the mere asking. 
Referring to her exiieriences in those days. Mrs. Swarts. in one of her letters. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 389 

wrote as follows: "A circular sent mil 1>\- the suijcrintendent of nurses of 
the Sanitary Commission stated emphatically that all nurses are re(|uired to 
be very plain looking women, their dresses must l)e hrown or hlack, with no 
bows, no curls or jewelry, and no hoop skirls. 1 could have tilled that bill 
of particulars perfectly, but was spared the inquisition, for Mrs. Wittenmyer. 
of the Christian Commission, to whom I reported for duty, was less exacting 
and my papers were duly signed by order of Secretary Stanton and the sur- 
geon-general of the army."' Again she wrote : "The army nurses know no 
North, no South, in their care for the sick and suffering." 

In 1878 Mrs. Swarts decided lo (le\ote her-elf U> the practice of medicine 
and, after studying for awhile with her husband, she took special courses m 
medicine and surgery, and was admitted to the junior class of ihe department 
of medicine of the University of Michigan, at .\nn .\rbor. And on March i. 
1882, she graduated at the Ft. Wa^ne College of Medicine and received her 
degree. She immediately entered upon the active ])ractice of her profession 
at Auburn and later took a post-graduate course at New Orleans, Louisiana. 

Dr. Vesta M. Swarts is a woman of high intellectual attainments, thor- 
oughly demonstrated professional ability, and exalted personal character, so 
that she has at all times enjoyed the fullest niea-^ure of confidence and regard 
throughout the community where practically her entire life has been spent. 

To David J. and \'esta Swarts were born two children, namely : Harris 
J., on August 24, 1866, and \\'i!Iard Ward, on July 14. 1872. Harris J. 
secured his educational training in the Auburn public schools and then com- 
pleted a thorough course in practical telegraphy, in which he became an ex- 
pert. From 1884 he was employed in active railroad service as an operator 
and in 1893 he became a train dispatcher for the Illinois Central Railroad 
Company, being now located as a chief dispatcher at Freeport, Illinois. He 
has been a prudent manager of his private affairs and is the owner of valu- 
able real estate at Auburn. He was one of the original incorporators of the 
Auburn Hardware Company, in which company he was a stockholder. On 
November i, 1888, he married Chloe S. Shoemaker, the daughter of A. Shoe- 
maker, of Decatur, Illinois. To them were born two children. Mabel \'esta. 
born June 27, 1890, and Harold \\'ard. born May 4. 1894. the latter dying 
on October 28, 1896, and the former less than a week later, on November 
2d, both deaths being caused by malignant diphtheria. Dr. Willard Ward 
Swarts received his elementary education in the Auburn public schools, and 
during both his junior and senior years in high school was president of his 
class. He began the study of medicine under the direction of his parents. 



39° DEKALB COUNTYj INDIANA. " 

and then took the full course in the Ft. Wayne College of Medicine, after 
which he attended the Ohio Medical College, at Cincinnati, where he received 
his degree of Doctor of Medicine. Soon afterwards he took two terms at 
the Post-Graduate Medical School and Hospital at Chicago, after which he 
located at Poe, Allen county, Indiana, where he devoted himself to the general 
practice of medicine and surgery. Five and a half years later he removed to 
Auburn, where he has continued in the practice, with excellent results. He 
is an honorary member of tlie Ft. Wayne College of Medicine Alumni Asso- 
ciation, and while in Allen county he was a member of the Allen County 
Medical Society and was a charter meml^er of the Ft. Wayne Academy of 
Medicine. He is now a member of the DeKalb County Medical Society, the 
Indiana State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He 
was appointed in January, 19 14, as secretary of the Auburn city board of 
health, for a term of four years. On February 3, 1897, Dr. Willard S warts 
married Nell Garside, the daughter of James W. Garside, of Edon, Williams 
county, Ohio, assistant cashier of the Edon Banking Companv. To Dr. 
Swarts and wife have been born two children, Irene, born March 7, 1898, 
and Ward Garside, born September 28, 1906. 



lOHN LEAS. 



It is a well attested maxim that the greatness of a community or a county 
or a state lies not in the machinery of government nor e\en in its institutions, 
but rather in the sterling qualities of the individual citizen, in his capacity for 
high and unselfish effort and his devotion to the public welfare. In these 
particulars, he whose name appears at the head of this memoir conferred 
honor and dignity upon the locality of his residence, and as an elemental part 
of history it is consonant that there should be recorded a resume of his career, 
with the object in \iew of noting his connection with the advancement of one 
of the most flourishing and progressive sections of the comnionu ealth, as welt 
as his relations with the commercial and financial affairs of the community 
honored by his citizenship. 

John Leas was born in Atlams county, Pennsylvania, near the historic 
city of Gettysburg, on July 12, 1815, and was a son of Col. John, Jr., and 
Sophia (Spangler) Leas, both of whom also were natives of the old Key- 
stone state. He came of good old American stock, his paternal grandfather 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 39I 

liaving- been a soldier in the war of the Revolution. Colonel Leas was a 
farmer and in tSiS he emigrated tu Stark connty. Ohio, where he began 
operations on a tract of virgin soil. In 1838 he went to (Guernsey county, 
that state, and there again created a good farm out of what was formerly 
a wilderness. In the fall of 1852 the Colonel came to DeKalb county, Indi- 
ana, and located on section 5, Smithfield township, where he again made a 
farm, and there he remained until 1866, when he moved to Waterloo, where 
his death occurred in 1875. While a resident of Stark county, Ohio, he was 
commissioned colonel of a regiment of militia. In politics he was a Jack- 
sonian Democrat and he acceptably filled a number of local ofiices. His wife 
died in 1882. They were members of the Reformed church. Colonel Leas, 
who was a man of more than ordinary ability, became a prominent figure and 
an important factor in the atfairs i>f the various connnunities where he lived 
and enjoyed universal respect. 

John Leas was reared ujjou the paternal farmstead in Stark county. 
Ohio, whither the family had mo\'ed when he was but three years old. Owing 
to the modest circumstances of the family, he was not given large oppor- 
tunities for an education, the log-cabin school of that locality being his only 
chance. While still a resident of that county, he was married to Susan 
SchimpfT, a native of Germany, who had emigrated to this country when 
thirteen years of age. To that union were born twelve children, namely : 
Peter, Susan ami a daughter unnamed died in infancy: Martin \"an Buren, 
W'ho was born at Osnaburg. .Stark county. Ohio. <]u Aneu^it _'5. 1 S40, died at 
his home in Salem township, Steuben comitv. Indiana, on March 31. 1899; 
Jacob H., who lives north of Hudson, is the oldest of the family now' living; 
John S.. who lived in Salem township. Steuben county, died, leaving six chil- 
dren by his first marriage and two by the second; his widow now lives at 
Ashley; Elizabeth L. is the wife of Oscar Taylor, a banker at Hamilton; 
Adeline is the wife of Miles Jefiferson Waterman, of F"ranklin township, this 
county: the other four children. Hezekiah H.. Obediah. VMlliam Henrs- and 
Daniel Louis, all live at Waterloo, this county, and are represented in indi- 
vidual sketches elsewhere in this work. In 1842 John Leas came to Indiana, 
purchasing one hundred and f(5rt\-threK acres of land, and the following year 
he moved his familv to this state. In 1867 be came to DeKalb county and 
bought a fine farm in Smithfield townshij) and one year later moved on it. 
and made it his permanent home, owning two hundred and fift}' acres of land 
at the time of his death and being numbered among the successful and enter- 
prising farmers of the county. In 1871 Mr. Leas was one of the leaders in 



392 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

the organization of the Citizens Bank at Waterloo, which had a most suc- 
cessful career. In the course of time he bought out the other partners and in 
1881 became the sole owner of the bank, which he retained until 1896. when 
he sold it to his son, Hezekiah, and retired from active business life, his 
death occurring on June 25. 1897. 

The record of Mr. Leas was a remarkable one in se\"eral res])ects and 
the example of his life is one worthy of emulation. When he first came to 
Indiana his material possessions consisted of eighty-five dollars in monev and 
a yoke of oxen, but he was endowed with a large ambition and a great 
capacity for work, elements which will insure success in almost any under- 
takings Indefatigaljle in his efforts, keeping e\-er before him the highest of 
ideals, he gradually forged ahead and eventually gained not only a compe- 
tency, but also the universal confidence and good will of his fellow citizens. 

Mrs. Susan Leas died on June 15, r88i, and subsequendy Mr. Leas mar- 
ried Mrs. Amanda Mallory Patterson, widow of Robert Patterson, to wlnich 
union were born five children. 

Politically. Mr. Leas always sujiported the Democratic party and in 
several offices of local importance he rendered valualjle services to his com- 
munity. Religiously, he was a member of the Reformed church, while, fra- 
ternally, he was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, Ijelonging to 
Waterloo Lodge No. 307. In Mr. Leas' business career, as well as his 
private life, he was actuated by the highest motives, his actions being always 
the result of careful and conscientious thought. His death removed from 
DeKalb county one of her most substantial and highly esteemed citizens and 
the many beautiful tributes to his high standing in the world of aft'airs and as 
a man and citizen attested to the abiding place he had in the hearts and 
affections of his friends. 



FRANCIS MARK HINES, M. D. 

Success in what are popularly termed the learned professions is the 
legitimate result of merit and painstaking endeavor. In cominercial life 
one may come into possession of a lucrative business through inheritance or 
gift, but professional advancement is gained only by critical study and 
research long continued. Proper intellectual discipline, thorough professional 
knowledge and the possession and utilization of the qualities and attributes 
essential to success have made the subject of this review eminent in his 
chosen calling and he stands today among the scholarly and enterprising 






Z^^) 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 393 

physicians and surgeons in a community lon-i; distinguished for the high 
order of its medical talent. In the civic and political circles of DeKalb 
county the Doctor has also long been a prominent figure, having served faith- 
fully and efficiently in positions of public trust and responsibility, having 
added prestige to a name already honored and dignified by his father. 

Francis M. Hines was born on January 26, 1861, in Jack.son township, 
DeKalb county, Indiana, and is the son of Henry and Sarah Abigail (Smith) 
Hines. Henry Hines was born in .\shland count}-, Ohio, on April i, 1839, 
a son of Francis and Lovina (Culler) Hines. In 1844 his parents moved to 
Kosciusko county, Indiana, where the father died in 1877. Henry Hines 
lived with his parents until his marriage to Sarah .\l5igail Smith, February 
6, 1858. She was born on .\pril 8, 1838. in Medina county, Ohio. The year 
following their marriage they came to DeKall) county, settling in Jackson 
township, where he entered upon the task of creating a f:inn out of the 
wilderness. He there I^ecamc the owner of one iumdred and sixty acres of 
land in sections 10 and 11, which eventually became one of tlie choice 
farms of that locality. He continued the operation of that farm until tlie 
fall of 1896, when he was elected treasurer of DeKalb county and moved to 
Auburn, where his death occurred about six months later, on July 6, 1897. 
Henry Hines was a remarkable man in many respects and during the entire 
period of his residence in tliis county he enjoyed to a notable degree the 
confidence and high regard of all who knew him. Me was elected justice of 
the peace, and. by successi\-e re-elections, served continuously for eighteen 
years, or until his election to the office of county treasurer. He did not 
desire the office, but his fellow citizens insisted on re-electing him. Even 
tempered, level headed and with a keen sense of the fairness of things, he 
conducted his justice court in such a manner as to satisfy all litigants, and 
it was frequently the case that disputants would refer their troubles to him 
for settlement without law proceedings. His sense of justice, fairness and 
honesty made him a man of influence, though he was firm for what he be- 
lieved to be right and was absolutely fearless. His word was as good as a 
bond, and any statement from his lips was accejited without question. 
Henry Hines was a successful man in his material affairs and at the time 
of his death owned, besides the home farm, two saw-mills, one in Jackson 
township and one in Union township. 

To Henry and Sarah Hines were born the following children : Lillie 
Louisa, now deceased, was the wife of James H. Farver, of Jackson town- 
ship, this county: Francis M. is the immediate subject of this sketch: \\'esley 



394 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

L. is a practicing physician at Warsaw, Indiana; Leonard Arthur, now 
deceased, was a successful physician at Warsaw at the time of his death; 
Lovina Ann is the wife of Alfred J. Geisinger, of Auburn; Effie A. is the 
wife of Lewis M. Geisinger, of Auburn. The mother of these children 
survives and is living in Auburn. 

Francis M. Hines was reared to manhood on the home farm in Jackson 
township, securing his education in the public schools, also attending the 
normal school at Auburn several terms. At the age of nineteen years he 
began teaching school in his home township, continuing to follow that 
vocation until 1889. In the fall of that year, having determined to take up 
the practice of medicine, he matriculated in the medical department of the 
Methodist Episcopal University at Fort Wayne, where he was graduated in 
March, 1892, with the degree of Doctor of jMedicine. He then returned to 
Auburn and in May following he began the active practice of his profession. 
Successful from the start, Doctor Hines was soon in command of a lucra- 
tive practice in both medicine and surgery, and during the subsequent years 
he has stood high among his professional colleagues in this community. 
In November, 1898, Doctor Hines was elected treasurer of DeKalb county, 
assuming the duties of his office on January i, 1899, and so satisfactory were 
his services that in 1900 he was elected to succeed himself, thus serving 
four years as treasurer and retiring from the office with the commendation of 
all the people. 

Prior to his election as treasurer. Doctor Hines had ser\ed as a mem- 
ber of the Auburn city council from the third ward. During his term it was 
decided to install a municipal light and water plant, and, largely through 
the efforts of Doctor Hines, this was accomplished at a much more reason- 
able figure than was at first deemed possible. He was urged to again run 
for councilman, but declined, owing to his nomination for the county 
treasurership. He also gave to his city six gears' \alua1)le ser\icc as a 
member of the school board. 

Politically, Doctor Hines has always been aligned with the Democratic 
party and has taken an active interest in political and public affairs. In the 
fall of 1902 he was elected chairman of the Democratic county central com- 
mittee and two years later was a delegate to the national convention of his 
party at St. Louis, when Alton B. Parker was nominated for the presi- 
dency. During the Doctor's official life he did not abandon the practice of 
his profession, giving his personal attention to his practice as far as was 
possible and employing an ofifice assistant to take his place when his official 
duties prevented him from doing professional work. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 395 

On March 29, 1885, Doctor Hines was married to Lillie Ann Carper, 
who was born and reared in Jackson township, this county, the chuighter 
of John and Sarah (Friedt) Carper. Her parents, who were natives of 
Ohio, came with their respective famihes to DeKalb county and were pioneer 
settlers in Jackson township. To Doctor and Mrs. Hines have been born 
the following children: Dorsey Mark, born May 5, 1886, attended the Indi- 
ana University School of Medicine at Indianapolis, graduating in 1909, and 
is engaged in the practice with his father; Ralph died in infancy; Vera 
Grace received a splendid education, attending the Western College for 
Women at Oxford, Ohio; the State Normal School at Terre Haute, Indiana; 
the Tri-State Normal School at Angola, Indiana, and the State Normal 
School at Ypsilanti, Michigan. Since the fall of 1909 she has been teaching 
in the Auburn public schools, being in the DeSoto school building that was 
erected while her father was a member of the school board ; Nellie Faith, 
who graduated from the Auburn high school, and attended college at Jack- 
sonville, Illinois, is teaching sewing in the Auburn public schools; A. V., 
born April 16, 1892, graduated from the Auburn high school in 1908 and 
from the medical department of Indiana University in 1912. He served a 
year as house physician at St. Vincent's Hospital, Indianapolis, and is now 
engaged in the practice of his profession at Auburn ; Victor Glenn, born 
September 4, 1895, died at the age of six years; Lillian died in infancy. 

Religiously, Doctor Hines is an earnest member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, in the prosperity of which he is deeply interested and to 
the support of which he contributes liberally. Personally, he is genial and 
unassuming, possessing to an eminent degree those qualities of character 
which commend him to the friendship of all with whom he comes in contact, 
and he not onlv enjoys a wide acquaintance throughout the county which 
has been honored by his citizenship, but he is deservedly popular among all 
classes. 



CAPTAIN JOHN F. OTTO. 

Among the representative citizens and honored ex-soldiers of DeKalb- 
county, Indiana, is the subject of this review, who. after a quarter of a cen- 
tury of untiring efifort in business pursuits, is now retired and living quietly 
in his home at Auburn. To such men as Captain Otto we turn with particular 
satisfaction as offering in their life stories justification for works of this 



396 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

character, owing to the life of honesty and sobriety he has led and his ener- 
getic nature and patriotic spirit. 

Captain John F. Otto was born in Erfurt, Prussia, on December lo, 
1826, and at the age of fourteen years was apprenticed by his parents to learn 
the trade of a glove maker, serving as such until he was eighteen years old. 
He then enlisted in the Prussian artillery service and assisted in crushing tlie 
rebellion in the South German states, participating in two battles and in the 
siege of the fortified city of Rastadt in 1848 and 1849. I" 1851 Captain Otto 
was discharged from military service as a non-commissioned officer, and im- 
mediately emigrated to the United States, landing in Xew "S'ork City in May 
of that year. He soon found employment as a farm hand near Albany. Xe\\ 
York, but was defrauded of his wages, and the following winter was one of 
privatifin and suffering, for, being a stranger in a strange land, without money 
or friends, he knew not which way to turn. In the summer of 1851 his par- 
ents came to this country and settled at Ruffaln. Xew York, liut he did not 
find them until the spring of the following year. He remained with them 
until the fall of 1853 when they all moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana, and he 
obtained employment in the shops of the Pittsburg & Fort Wayne railroad. 
He was thus employed at the outbreak of the Civil war and in October, 1861, 
loyal to his adopted country, he enlisted in the Eleventh Indiana Battery, being 
mustered into the ser\ice on December 17th of that year and serving with 
courage and \alor until January 7, 1863, when he was honorably discharged. 
At the organization of the battery he was commissioned junior first lieutenant, 
and on August 12, 1863, at Bridgeport. Tennessee, he was promoted to first 
lieutenant because of valiant service on the field of battle. On November 
17, 1863, he was placed in command of the Twentieth Ohio Battery, but was 
relieved by a general order from headcjuarters to return to Indiana on recruit- 
ing service. In the spring of 1864 he rejoined his battery. wMth which he 
served until the end of the war. He took part in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, 
Nashville, Murfreesboro, Manchester, Chickamauga, Chattanooga. Mission 
Ridge, Buzzard Roost, Dalton, Resaca. Kingston, New Hope Church, Burnt 
Hickor^^ Kenesaw Mountain (where he was wounded), Chattahoochee River 
and Atlanta. After his return from the army Captain Otto located in 
.\ul)urn. and in company with Ernest M.yers he engaged in the boot and shoe 
business. In this enterprise he was successful and in 1867 he bought his 
partner's interest and continued alone. Three years later he added a stock of 
groceries and continued his business with gratifying results until 1890, w^hen, 
having amassed sufficient in a material way to insure his future years against 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 3<^7 

want or eml)arrassnieiil, hi- retired from acli\c business and is now living 
quietly in his pleasant home in Auburn. 

On January 26, 1865, Captain Otto married .\lariah C. Keehling. (jf 
Fort Wayne, and to them have been born six children, namely : Kate is the 
wife of Isaac Grogg, of Auburn, who is mentioned at length elsewhere in this 
work; Francis and her brother, .Vlpha Blaine, are at Berkeley, California, 
where the latter is a successful pharmacist; Lucy is the wife of Herbert I. 
Scott, of Indianapolis; Clara is the wife of John M. Samuels, of Los Angeles, 
California, and Lizzie is living with her parents in Auburn. 



JOHN P. WIDNEY. 



The importance that attaches to the lives, character and work of the earlv 
settlers of DeKalb county antl the influence they e.xerted ujion the cause of 
humanity and civilization is one of the most absorbing themes that can pos- 
sibly attract the attention of the local historian. If great and beneficent re- 
sults — results that endure and bless mankind — are the proper measure of the 
good men do, then who is there in the world's history that may take their 
places above the hardy pioneer. To point out the way, to make possible our 
present advancing civilization, its happy homes, its arts and sciences, its dis- 
coveries and inventions, its education, literature, culture, refinement and soL-ial 
life and joy, is to he the truly great benefactors of mankind foi- all time. This 
was the great work accomplished l;y the early settlers and it is granted 1)\- all 
that they builded wiser than they knew, i'rominent among the worthy rej^re- 
sentatives of the pioneer element in the county of DeKalb was the well-known 
gentleman to a review of whose life the following lines are devoted. For 
many years he was a forceful factor in the growth and de\-elopment of this 
locality and because of his life and accomplishments he is eminently entitled 
to representation in the annals of his county, for the record would not be 
complete were there failure to give him his due meed of credit for the im- 
portant part he played in the early drama enacted here. 

John P. \\idney was horn of Irish parentage in JManklin county, i'enn- 
sylvania, on Xo\ember 28, 1816, his ])arents having been John and Jo;ui!ia 
(Patterson) Widney. In 1835, at the age of nineteen years, he married and 
in May of the following year the young couple came to DeKall) comity, Indi- 
ana, locating on the banks of the St. Joe ri\-er, in Concord township, where he 



398 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

entered a tract of go\ernment land. To the clearing and impro\ement of 
this land he immediately applied his energies and in the course of time suc- 
ceeded in establishing a comfortable home. In those years of toil and hard- 
ship inseparable from the life of a pioneer, John P. Widnev evaded no share 
of labor and during those early years he knew no idle moments. From want 
of facilities he had received but a meager school education ; but the necessities 
of pioneer conditions, and responsibilities as the head of a family so early in 
life, caused him to depend wholly on personal effort, guided by e.xceptional 
natural mental acumen. He developed such qualities of mind as won for him 
the respect and confidence of the early settlers, which was shown in an un- 
mistakable manner when the first election in DeKalb county was held, he being 
chosen with one other to constitute at the county seat the first canvassing 
board, whose duty was to verify the vote of the county to the • governor. 
Subsequently he was elected a member of the Legislature, serving in 1 847 and 
1848. In this public capacity he proved himself worthy of the trust of his 
constituents and the regard of his co-legislators. In 1850 he was elected 
county clerk, serving one term of four years. His official duties required his 
residence in Auburn, and he shared with that village its early struggles and 
its ultimate success. In 1852 he was cho.sen one of the town's board of 
trustees. He was later elected justice of the peace and in that capacity showed 
himself sound of judgment and prompt in decisidu. He was also deputv 
internal revenue collector and held other positions of trust. During the Civil 
war Mr. Widnev was active in his support of the Union cause, but did not 
enlist for active military serx'ice himself for the reason that, while putting in 
the first bridge across Twenty-six-mile creek, near Xewville. he had been 
severely injured, not fully recovering until late in life. In matters ])olitical. 
he was not a blind partisan, but gave careful consideration to men and mea- 
sures, casting his vote at all times for what he considered the best interests 
of the community, state and nation. He was a man of strong and positive 
convictions, and wrote much for the press, giving his views on questions of 
the da)- and on matters that pertained to the county. In religious faith, he 
was a Universalist. In character, he was prudent in his investments, wise in 
the management of his affairs, and frugal in his tastes, qualities which en- 
abled him to accumulate a goodly amount of material substance, which was 
largely shared by his children. In reputation, social, business or official, 
John P. Widney was regarded as an upright, honorable man. of the strictest 
integrity of thought and action. He "stood four square to every wind that 
blew" and never violated the confidence which his fellow citizens reposed in 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 399 

him. His last years were spent with his children, his death occurring on 
October ii. 1905, at the age of eighty-nine years — a long life, in which he 
gave the best that was in him for his family and the community. He always 
stood by the right as he knew the right, having the courage of his convictions, 
though sometimes in the minority. In evidence of this is the fact that he was 
renominated for election to the Legislature, but was defeated because he advo- 
cated the free-school system and a bill to regulate the sale of intoxicating 
liquors. It is a matter of fact that, though he was \ery successful in the 
accumulation of money, much of which he loaned, he ne\er charged more 
than the legal rate of interest, and ne\er distressed an\- one in the repayment 
of borrowed money, while, on the other hand, he ga\e material assistance to 
many a poor man in the securing of a home. His reputation for honorable 
dealing and just treatment of his fellows was firmly established and is emi)ha- 
sized by those who best knew him. Quiet and unassuming, he was never a 
seeker for public preferment, and it is said that he was never ])resent at a 
meeting where he was nominated for office, though, as a lo\al citizen, he 
gladly and efficiently performed his full dutv when called b\' bis fellow citizens 
to perform official functions. 

In 1835 John P. Widney was marrietl to fane L.inn. the daughter of 
John and Jane (Scyoc) Linn, and to them were born five children, of whom 
but two survive. Oliver H.. who is referred to specifically elsewhere in this 
work, and Samuel L. Mrs. Jane \\'idney died on October it. 1S51. and on 
May 30. 1852. he married Mary H. Widney. a daughter of Judge Widney. 
To this union were also born fi\e childreTi. of whom three are living. Mrs. 
Mai7 Alice Lewis, John Morris Widney and Mrs. Cora Lodewick. .Ml of 
the surviving children reside in j\ul)urn. with the exce])tion of Samuel L.. who 
lives at St. Joe. this county, and Mrs. Lodewick. of Ashland. Ohio. Mrs. 
Mary W'idne)' passed away at Auburn on Xovember 14. 1903, after which 
Mr. Widney made his home \\ itb his children, who ga\e to him the most 
loving and solicitous attention. 

The Linn and W'idney families had been for a number of centuries 
closely connected. The Widneys are descended from Colonel Widnej', w-ho 
was an officer in the army of William of Orange, of Holland. He accom- 
panied that prince from Holland to England in 1688 and was in the war 
against King James II. For his valuable services he received a large estate 
in county Tyrone, Ireland, which was handed down to his descendants. Colonel 
Widney's great-grandson, James W^idne\-. who inherited the estate, was a 
squire. In I7'84. when thirty-one years old. be sold the ancestral acres and 



400 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

came to America, buying six hundred acres of land in Path Valley. Franklin 
(then Cumberland) county, Pennsylvania. 

The Linn family is descended fmni the ancient Celts '.vho migrated from 
Scotland to Ireland after the conquest by William of Orange. They settled 
not far from the Widney estate and the two families became very close in 
their relationships. When James \\idney came to .\merica, he sent word 
back to Hugh Linn, his sister's husband, and in 1788 Hugh Lind and his 
family came to Pennsylvania and located near the Widney estate, in Path 
Valley. There they became successful in their material ]:)ursuits and promi- 
nent in the social. ci\ic and business life of the communitw 



LEVI BRANDABERRY. 



It is signally consistent that in this compilation be entered a memoir of 
so worthy and honored a citizen as was Levi Brandaberr\-, who was for 
many years a resident of the county and who here attained independence 
through his honest and well directed efforts in connection with the great 
basic art of agriculture, while he stood forth as one of the representative 
citizens of his township. 

Levi Brandaberry, whose untimely death on October 20, 1899, caused 
universal expressions of regret and sorrow throughout Smithfield township, 
was born in Stark county, Ohio, on June 2, 1844, and was the son of Benjamin 
and Elizabeth (Frick) Brandaberry. He \\as one of si.\- children, the others 
being Isabell, Cyrus, Caroline, .Sarah and Hannah. When the subject was 
but a boy the family moved to DeKalb county. Intliana, locating in Smith- 
field township, where the father bought a farm in the southern part of that 
locality, where the parents made their permanent home and died. On that 
farm Levi Brandaln/rry was reared to manhood and after his marriage in 
1870 he lived for two years on the paternal farmstead, at the end of which 
time he bought a farm in the southwest part of Smithfield t()wnship, compris- 
ing one hundred and one acres of land, and to this lie gave his undivided at- 
tentirm during the remainder of his life. T^ractical and progressive in his 
ideas, energetic and persistent in his methods, it was not strange that suc- 
cess crowned his efforts, for in him were combined those qualities of char- 
acter which insure success in an\' undertaking. He made many splendid 
permanent improvements on his farm, including a large brick house, a com- 
modious and well arranged barn and manv other features which gave the 






7ft 




LEVI BP.AND^BER.R-Y 



DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 4O 1 

place a splendid reputation as one of the up-to-date and modern farms of 
Smithfield township. Mr. llrandaljerry «(ave his personal attention to e\ erv 
detail of his work, and knew no sueh word as idleness. Hi^ death was 
caused hy being caught in a corn sluvdder, from which he received injuries 
that resulted in his death four days later. A careful and prudent business 
man, he had his affairs in good sha])e so that, although his death was un- 
timely, his widow found his affairs in good condition and has been enabled 
to carry on the farm work through tenants w-ith good success. She is now- 
making her home in Waterloo. Mr. Brandaberry was an earnest member of 
the Knights of Pythias, in the woHnngs of which he took an interested part. 
Because of his higii character. l)nsiness success and his genial nature, he had 
won and retained a host of warm friends throughout the conimunitx' where 
he lived, and his deatii was considered a distinct loss to the coiumunitx which 
had been honored by liis citizenshi]i for so many years. 

On October o, 1870. Levi Brandaberry was united in marria.ge with 
Margaret Haniman. w'ho was born in DeKalb county. Indiana, but went with 
her parents to Kosciusko covmty, this state. Her father died when she was 
but five years old, and her mother, upon whom was thrown the burden of 
rearing five small children, felt tmable to properly care for them and conse- 
quently Margaret was placed with a family by the name of Chambers, by 
whom she was taken to Illinois, where they made a home. They died there 
and she was taken into the liome of James .\dams at the age of ei.ght years, 
with whom she remained until seventeen years old. By these people she was 
not given proper consideration, being treated badly in many respects, being 
compelled to work hard and being clothed scantily and denied the oppor- 
tunities of a proper education. Tn the meantime her brother, who was 
desirous of ascertaining her whereabouts, had written postal cards to every 
postmaster in Ohio, Indiana and Illinoi.s, asking for information as to her 
whereabouts. The postmaster wliere she was then li\ing recognized the de- 
scription of her and gave her the card, to which she wrote a reply, and she 
was then informed that her relatives had about concluded that she was dead 
and wislied to see her again. This she told to the people with whom she 
lived, who grudi:ingl\- ga\e hei' -^ome clothes to travel in. W'lien slie ar- 
rived in the localitv where her relatives were, she was waiting at the railroad 
station and saw two women, evidently a mother and daughter, eyeing her 
closelv and whisjtering to each other. Finally one of them apijroached her 
and asked her name, which on learning, they told her they were her cousin 
(26) 



402 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

and aunt. However, she did not know them and even her mother seemed to 
her like a stranger. She felt strangely alone in the world, for fate had 
cheated her of a child's natural heritage, a mother's love, during the forma- 
tive period of her life. She did not remain long at home, but secured a place 
and worked out in the neighborhood until her marriage to Mr. Brandaberry, 
wlio was prosperous and provided well for her. eventually leaving her a good 
farm and a comfortable home. She was in the truest sense of the word a 
helpmate to her husband, contributing by her encouraging words and sound 
advice to his business prosperity and in the comnumity where so many of her 
years have been spent, she is held in the highest esteem by all who know her. 
No children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Brandaberry, but they adopted a girl, 
Jennie Fee. the daughter of John and Sarah (Johns) Fee, she now being the 
wife of \V. B. Williams, of King county, Washington. During the thirteen 
years which have elapsed since Mr. Brandaberry's death, Mrs. Brandaberry 
has had only two tenants on her farm, and has had very satisfactory busi- 
ness relations with them. She is a shrewd, keen and sagacious business 
woman, handling her affairs witii prudence and sound judgment, and be- 
cause of her kindly qualities of head and heart she has a large circle of warm 
and loval friends. 



A. BYRON D.^RBY. M. D. 

Devoted during a long period of years to the noble work which his pro- 
fession implies, the gentleman whose career we essay to briefly outline in the 
following paragraphs has been faithful and indefatigalile in his endeavors and 
has not only earned the due rewards of his efforts in a temporal way Ijut has 
also proved himself eminently worthy to exercise the important functions of 
his calling, by reason of his ability, his abiding sympathy and his earnest zeal 
in behalf of his fellow men. His understanding of the science of medicine is 
regarded by those who know him as being broad and comprehensive, and the 
profession and the public long ago accorded to him a distinguished place 
among the men of this class in Indiana. His has been a long life of earnest 
and jjersistent endeavor, .such as always brings a true appreciation of the real 
\-alue I, if human existence — a condition that must lie prolific of good results in 
all the relations of life. 

.A. Byron Darby was born in Fulton county, Ohio, on November i8. 
1839, and is a son of Samuel Byrant and Sepharna (Guilford) Darby, the 
former a nati\e of \'ermont an.d the latter of Massachusetts. These parents 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 4O3 

were married in Allegany county, Xew NOrk. in i<S26, and in 1836 they moved 
to what was then Henry, now h'ulton county, Ohio, the long, tiresome and oft- 
times dangerous journey heing made with two yoke of oxen and a lumber 
wagon. They were among the first settlers of Henry county, and in the 
organization and development of the county Samuel B. Darby was a promi- 
nent figure, he having helped to organize the first township in the county, was 
postmaster of the first jjostoffice, taught the first scliool and opened the first 
store, conducting the latter for several years. In his political affiliations he 
w^as first a Democrat, hut after the organizaliMU of tlie Republican party he 
allied himself with that organization and was thereafter acti\e in it-^ supjiort. 
He was a iiienil:er of the historic conxention which nominated John C. Fre- 
mont for the I'residency, and also the convention four years later which 
nominated Abraham Lincoln. His death occurred on July 15, 18S4, and he 
was sur\-ived many years b\- his widow, who died in i^oi), when nearly ninetx- 
nine years of age. They were the parents of nine children. 

A. Byron Darby recei\ed his earl}- education in the common schools and 
then became a student in Alford College, .Allegany county. New York, and 
later studied at Oberlin College, Ohio, where he paid his school e.\])enses bv 
teacln'iig and working boms n(jt re(|uired for stiid\ . Ha\ing determined to 
make the jiractice of medicine his life work, he <levotecl his spare time to the 
study of the necessary te.xt books and in i8nj ;md 1S03 he was a student in 
the Eclectic Medical College at Cinciiuiati, Ohio, where he was graduated in 
the spring of the latter year. Immediately after his graduation he located at 
Flint, Indiana, and in ])artnership with Dr. H. L. Smith practiced his profes- 
sion for about a year, at the end of which time, Dr. Smith moving from the 
place, the subject became the only ph} sician in that locality. Here he built up 
a large and profitable practice, but his health liecoming impaired he moved 
to Waterloo, DeKalb county, Indiana, which lias been his home since that 
time. Proper intellectual discipline, thorough jirofessional knowledge and 
the possession and utilization of the tpialities and attributes essential to suc- 
cess made Dr. Darl)y eminent in his chosen calling, and during all the years 
since he located at AX'aterloo, he has stood among the scholarly and enterpris- 
ing physicians and surgeons in a community long distinguished for the high 
order of its medical talent. His life here has been characterized not only by 
high professional ability, but also by the most profound human symj)athy, 
which has overleaped mere sentiment and becotne an actuating motive, for in 
youth he realized that there is no honor not founded on genuine worth: that 
there is a vital purpose in life, and that the best and highest accomplishment 



404 DEKAI.B COI'NTV, INDIANA. 

must come from a well trained mind and an altruistic heart. Those who have 
known him well have teen unstinted in their praise of his superior ability and 
the younger men in his profession have frequently sought his counsel, all ad- 
mitting his eminence. The large success which has crowned his life work. 
coui)led with his ripe experience and kind heart, have enabled him to bring 
comfort and confidence to the sick room and he has carried sunshine into many 
a home, his practice having extended n\er a wide radius of the surrounding 
county. i'rofessionally. the Doctor is a meml.er of the DeKalli County 
Medical Society, the Indiana State Medical Societ}- antl the American Medicai 
Association. For many years he was the efficient secretary of the hoard of 
health of \\aterloo. 

On April 28, 1864. Dr. Darb\' was married to Linda M. Huyck. who was 
born in Huron county, Ohio, on February 7, 1842, the youngest daughter of 
John P. and Lucinda (Bisil) W'hite, the former of whom was born in the 
state of New York, and the latter in Wrmont. Mrs. Darby came with her 
parents to Williams countw Ohio, when a }-oung girl and li\-ed there until 
her marriage to Dr. Darby. She actpiired a good, self-secured education and 
taughl a mimber of terms of school in Ohio and also several terms in Illinois. 
Afte'- he- removal to Waterloo she gained man}- warm friends during the long 
year.; of lier residence here and was closely identified with the social and church 
circles, !)ting always a leader in moral reform and acti\'el\' interested in the 
work of tlie ^^'oman"s Christian Temperance I'nion. She was possessed of 
more than ordinary lalent and until late in life was a leader in the circles in 
\\hich she mo\-e(l in her communitw .She engaged in literar\- pursuits and 
was a charter memlier of the Ladies' Miner\a Club, also an earnest and faith- 
ful member of the Christian church. Her death occurred on December 10, 
1900. To the Doctor and Mrs. Darby were born three children, namely : 
Hadsell Byron, born Jnnc 3. 1865, now lives at Fort ^\'ayne, Indiana, where 
he manages a drug store for Jacob Bills : he married Edith Griffith, of 
Corunna, this county, and the\- ha\e two daughters, Nina and Naomi; Frank 
William Darby, born on Febniar\ 1 1. 1868. .and who is engaged in the drug 
business in Waterloo, married Ne\a Snn'th. of .Steuben county, this state: 
Verna Darby, born November 6, 1878. is the wife of O. C. Lampland, who- 
is conducting the Lowell Observatory at Flagstaff, Arizona. Mr. and Mrs. 
Lampland were fellow students and graduated in the same class at the Indi- 
ana State LTniversity, and Mrs. Lampland gives valualile assistance to her 
husband in his observatory work. 

Dr. Darby has been a life-long supporter of the Republican party and 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 4O5 

has been active in its support. In 1900 he was elected to the state Senate and 
served during the sessions of 1901 to 1903, with credit to himself and honor 
to his district. He is a member of the Church of Clirist, and for many years 
was an active worker in the Sunday school. ['"raternally. he is a member of 
Waterloo Lodge No. 307, I'>ee and Vccepled .Masons, and of the Knights 
of Honor. Personally, Dr. Darby is genial and api)roacliable, ])ossessing 
those qualities which win friends, and be has been scrupnloush conscientious 
in all that he has said and dime. lie wav al\v;iy^ deeplv imbued with the 
courage of his couNiclions and bis relatii'n>^ with bis fellow uien ba\e e\'er 
been such as to win and retain their cnnlidence and esteem. 



r\ . either 


ot a past 


of mind. 


character 


:lesceiidair 


ts and of 


ii])le are 1 


IK It more 


b cnuiity. 


Indiana. 


. have not 


only led 


1 these wl 


10 follow 


been nf c 


iiiiimend- 



JACOB B. CASEBEER, M. I). 

The biographies of the representatixe men of a co 
or present generation, bring to light many bidden ircasi 
and courage, well calculated to arouse the ])iide nl" tlic 
the communitw and it is a source of regret tliat the 
familiar with the ])ersonal history of such men. DeKalb 
has been the home and scene of labor of maii\ men whc 
h\es which should ser\e as a lesson and an ins])iration t< 
them on to the stage of life's activities, but wlm ba\e also 
able service in important a\enues of usefulness. The well remembered ]ib\- 
sician whose name forms the caption of ibis brief memoir was one of the 
useful workers in the world's work, a man <<\ well rounded character, sincere, 
devoted and loyal, so that there are many salient points which render con- 
sonant a tribute to his memory in this compilation. Standing as he did for 
many years at the head of one of the most important and exacting of pro- 
fessions, his labors were long directed for the physical amelioration of the 
people of his community with such gratifying results. Personall\ . Doctor 
Casebeer was affable and iK)]uilar with all classes and stood ready at all 
times to encourage and aid all laudable measures and enterprises for the 
general good. By a life CMiisistent m motixe and because of bis mam- hue 
qualities of head and heart he earned the sincere regard of .a \a>t accjuaint- 
ance, and his success in his chosen field of endeavor bespoke for him the pos- 
session of superior attributes. 'S'et he was a plain, unassuming gentleman 
and straightforward in all bis relations with his fellow men. 

Jacob B. Casebeer was born in Holmes county. Ohio, on .\pril 1 1. 183Q. 



406 DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 

and was llie seventh in order of l)irth of thirteen children horn to David and 
Rehecca (Kenstrick) Casebeer. who were natives. res])ecti\ely. of Pennsyl- 
vania and Virginia, and farmers hy occn|)ati(in. ( )n the i)aternal side the 
family is of German descent. The parents of David, J<ilin and Xancy (Best) 
Casebeer, moved from Pennsylvania to Tuscarawas county, Ohio, when he 
was a child, and there the greater portion of his after-life was passed. He 
was married to Rebecca Kenstrick on October 2C>. 1826. their union resulting 
in the birth of thirteen children, namely: Susanna, Enos L., David W., Re- 
becca J\I., Elizabeth N.. Margaret C, Eliza E., Howard M., Jacob B., Sarah 
A., Martha J., John and Joshua. David Casebeer was a member of the 
Methodist Episcojial church and a man of exemplary character. His wife was 
the daughter of John and Sarah ( Hivner) Kenstrick and she, too, was an 
earnest member of the Methodist church. The death of this u-orthy couple 
occurred res|5ectively nn February 25. 1885, and July 18, 1873. 

Jacob B. CaseJK'er was indebted to the C( minion schools for the limited 
education which he received, his scholastic training being practically com- 
pleted wdien, the suniiuer after he was fourteen years of age, he was granted 
the privilege of attending a select .school two months before harvest and two 
months after, and to do this he was obliged to walk two and a half miles 
each way. In the winter of 1833-4 he engaged to teach a school which for 
some years had l;een noted for the unruly conduct of the larger scholars, 
but, by his firmness and tact, lie succeeded in mastering the situation and w-as 
retained in the school for four years, after which he taught in other localities 
three years longer. I )uring this jieriod he had pursued private studies and 
had received some op]Kirtunities for studying in advanced classes, thus be- 
coming a well educated man, largely through his own efforts. In i860 he 
went to Hardin count)', Kentucky, and. after working as a traxeling sales- 
man for a time, was emjiloyed as ])riiicipal of a graded school, and at the 
close of the regular term he took charge of a select school. Before the term 
of school was completed he was, on account of his well-known Union senti- 
ments, threatened with personal violence and requested to lea\-e the country, 
but he courageously completed bis c(iiitract. when he returned to Northern 
territory. The following .season he taught school at Middletown, Ohio, and 
the following year was principal of the schools at Fredericksburg, Wayne 
county, that state. During this latter period he en.gaged in reading medicine 
in the office of Dr. James ^Martin, of Fredericksburg, and in the fall of r863 
he entered the medical department of the l^ni\ersity of Michigan, where he 
remained until the following March. The next June, liaving passed a ri.gid 



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DEKALB COUNTY, INDI.\NA. .+07 

e.xaniination l)efore the Ohio l)oarcl of niechcal e> 
sioned a surgeon in the Union army antl assigned 
near Cincinnati, where lie was given charge of one 
Soon after he was promoted to tiie charge of that 
arm_v hospitals, remaining there until I'^jruars . i Si 
sioned assistant surgeon of tiie One lluii(h-ed ai 
Volunteer rnfantry. Me inimeihatel) joined his 
Carolina, and remained with it until ii was uiiistcre 
1865. He then returned to the oflice of 1 )octor .Ma' 
studies and assisted the Doctor until fall, w luu !h- 
Medical College, New ^'ork, where he was graduated, with the degree of 
Doctor of "Medicine, on March i. 1866. He immediately came to Auhurn. 
Indiana, and entered upon the practice of his profession, which continued 
practically without interruption up to the time of hi^ death, which occurred 
on July 10, 1909. In the winter of 1S73-4 he went t'l .\cw N'ork City and 
took post-graduate courses in the College of T'hysicians and .Surgeons, the 
New York jNIedical College and the Pjellexiie Hos])ital .Medical College. He 
was, at different times, associated in the practice with Doctors Kesslar, 
Spooner, Littlefield and Matheny, and on July 14, 1879, he and Dr. Matheny 
purchased a drug store, which they continued to conduct successfully for a 
number of years. Doctor Casebeer gained a high reputation as an able phy- 
sician and skilled surgeon, lieing called frequently to distant points, while he 
acted as surgeon for the Detroit, Eel River & Illinois Railroad, and was medi- 
cal examiner for a number of life insurance societies. He was earnestly de- 
voted to his profession and enthusiastic in its [iracticc. He was a close 
student, and kept abreast of the constant advances being made in the sciences 
of medicine and surgery, owning a large and up-to-date library and taking 
the leading medical periodicals. He was a forceful writer on professional 
subjects and se\eral of his papers, read before the .\mcrican .Medical Asso- 
ciation, were widel\- copied b\' the leading journals in tliis coiintr\- and 
favorably commented upon. He was a member of the DeKalli Countv Medi- 
cal Society and the Northeastern Indiana Medical .Societw having served as 
president of the last-named bodw 

Politically, Doctor Casebeer wa> ;in .ardent sup|)orler of the Republican 
party, being a man of strong and |)osiii\c com iction-^ on all (pieslions of 
work of temperance reform. Rebgiouslv. he was for many years an active 
public policy. On the tem])erance tpiestion he was es])ecially positive in his 
opposition to the traflic and was active and inlluential for nianv vear^ in the 



408 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

and earnest member of the IMetliodist Episcopal church and long served as a 
member of the official board. In local afifairs he was interested in everything 
that affected tlie welfare of the people and at the time of his death was 
serving as conntx- health officer. l\e had also, for many years. ser\-ed as 
pension examiner. 

Doctor Casebeer was twice married, first on I'eJjruary 5. 1863, to Har- 
riet G. Smith, of Fredericksburg. Ohio, the daughter of Eli B. and Fannie 
Smith. She died on January 28, 1869, leaving a daughter, Fannie B., who 
was born on November 27, 1865. The latter became the wife of Bernard 
Gunn, and her death occurred at Minneapolis, Minnesota, in the spring of 
1902. On June 4. 1872, the Doctor married Sarah E. Nycum, of Ft. Wayne, 
the daughter of \\'illiam and Margaret (Carr) Xycum. She was born in 
Bedford county. Pennsylvania, and at the age of two years was taken to 
Iowa by her parents, coming to Vt. \\'a_\-ne when she was four years old, 
li\-ing there until her marriage to Doctor Casebeer. To them was born a 
daughter, Hattie K.. bom .\i)ril i 1. 1873, who is now the wife of E. C. Alten- 
burg. of .\uburn. 

Although Doctor Casebeer's life was a busy one. his |)rofessional duties 
making heavy demands upon his time, he nexer shrank fr(jni his duties as a 
citizen and his obligations to his church, his neighbors and his friends. Al- 
ways calm and dignified, never demonstrative, his life was, ne\ertheless, a 
persistent plea, more by precept and example than by written or spoken 
word, for the purity and grandeur of right principles and the beautv and 
elevation of wholesome character. To him home life was a sacred trust. 
friendship was inx-iolablc and nothing coidd. swer\e him from the i)ath of 
rectitude and honor. 



PRICE DONNER WEST. 

.\mong the well known citizens of northern Indiana who have finished 
their labors and gone to their reward, the name of Price Donner West, who 
was one of the jirominent business men and highly esteemed citizens of 
Auburn, is deserving of special notice. He was one of those sterling citizens 
whose labors and self-sacrifice made possible the advanced state of civiliza- 
tion and enlightenment for which this section of the Hoosier state has long 
been noted. He was a benefactor in the truest sense of the term. His career 
was fraught with inestimable blessings to the world, for he was a man who 
did not believe in living to himself alone, but desired to hel]) those whom 



3^ 



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■y^r^-f^ -yj. 7f/^-^J-/ rf Jir/ /rf //If / 1/ 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 4O9 

fortune favored less on the highway of hfe, conse(|uentIy his nieniur) will 
long be revered jjy a wide eircle of friends and acquaintances in DeKalb 
county or where\er he was known. 

Price Donner West, son of I-'isher Curtis West, was born in Perry 
township, Allen county. Indiana. December 27. i8(ii. When about eight 
years old he went with his parents to Port Mitchell. Xoble county, Indiana, 
where the family lived for three years. At the end of that time the family 
returned to the old home in Allen county. Price, when a boy, attended the 
district schools. Thirsting for knowledge and assisted in his ambition by 
his mother, who was an educated woman, young West entered the Methodist 
Episcopal College, then located in Fort Wayne. He was graduated from 
this, his mother's alma mater, in 1880. He entered DePauw University, 
and, largely through his own labor during summer vacations, paid his own 
way through that institution, fnmi which he took his diploma in 1885. 
At tliis time his mim! turned to the law and he entered the I'niversity 
of Michigan at .Ann Arbor to prepare himself for the practice of his chosen 
profession. He was graduated from that institution, and, in 1889, he was 
admitted as a member to the bar of DeKalb county, Indiana. In 1892 he 
formed a partnership with Judge Hartman. .\fter the dissolution of this 
partnership Mr. West was alone for awhile practicing law and lending 
money. From this grew his desire to go into a banking business, and early 
in 1900 he formed a partnership with Charles M. Brown, and the law firm 
of Brown & West continued to lend money, and in 1903 organized the 
Savings, Loan and Tru.st Comijanw On the 1st ni Janua?-y. 1908, Mr. \\'est 
bought the interests of Mr. Brown and the partuershi]) was dissoh-ed. Mr. 
West was president of the Saxings, Loan and Trust L'ompany from its 
organization imtil his death. At all times Mr. West's business transactions, 
both in his law practice and in his trust company, were marked by the 
strictest integrity. In 1901 Mr. West's health failed and he was obliged to 
seek a change of climate to recuperate. He spent several months in Florida 
at St. Petersburg. He returned home much impro\ed. As a boy at home 
he worked beyond his .strength, and during bis \acation months in his 
college vears he was u]) from early dawn until late at night running a 
threshing machine and doing such other farm work as would enable him 
'to pay his wav through college the following school year. His amliition 
always exceeded his bodily strength. .Although Mr. West was the son of a 
rich farmer he lived and worked as a poor boy. always. His mother died 
in 1889. and, although a large part of the farm was her own. Price derived 



4IO DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

no benefit from it, allowing his father to retain and use it as he had in the 
mother's lifetime. 

The elder Mr. West was a man of sound business ability and his advice 
and judgment were eagerly sought and accei^tetl by the son, who always 
gave his father his entire confidence. The father, being a stockholder and 
directcjr (if the Savings, l.oan and Trust Comjiany. was in a position to 
give his son the benefit of his many }ears of experience, which he did. 
At the time of his death, I'rice 1 J. West was knuwn far and wide, and his 
trust company was one of the most popular and flourishing institutions of 
the kind in this section of the country. He was known as the "poor man's 
friend." Those struggling for a foothold in the world never asked him in 
\'ain for help, and those in trouble seeking his advice were received by 
him with the utmost sincei'ity and went away satisfie(4 that his adxice 
was right. 

Mr. West as a lawyer stood high. He was admitted as a member of 
the l>ar of the su])reme court ni Imliana Aiiril 2. njoi). ( )n the same date 
he was admitted to practice in the circuit cnurt of the I'nited States. In 
October of iqoS he organized the Ciarrett Sax'ings, Loan and Trust Com- 
pany in the neighboring town of Garrett. He was president of that institu- 
tion until within a few months of his passing away, when he sold all of his 
interests therein. He was president also of the Auburn Creamery Company 
and of the County Association of Insurance Agents. His father being old 
and blind, I'rice took the management (.)f his father's large farm in Allen 
county ui>oi] his own shoulders. He seldom took any recreation except to 
go to the farm for a few days' tramp through the fields and woods, every 
foot of which was dear to him. 

He was married December 27, 1895. to .Mrs. Mary C. Barnes. Two 
.sons came of this marriage, Fisher C. We,st. Jr., and I'rice Donner West. Jr. 
The mother of these children died March 10, IQ05. On June 19, 1906, Mr. 
West was married to Nanne Peterson, daughter of Henry C. Peterson, of 
Albion, Indiana. She and the two sons, Fisher, aged ten years, and Donner, 
almost nine years of age, are living at tlie home in .\uliurn. 

Although of a retiring disposition, this man was kind and obliging to 
all whom he met in a business or a social way, and no favor was too much 
trouble for him to grant. Being a man of many sorrows, be had sympathy 
for the sorrowing, and aided them in many ways. His life was not an easy 
one, but one filled with trials that usually beset the man who makes his own 
way. He loved his work and found great happiness in it. During the jiast 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 4II 

seven years he had seemed to be growing steadily stronger, so that his pass- 
ing was a shock to every one, as well as a great grief. 

He was a valued member of the Scottish Rite at i''ort W a\ne, and of 
all the Masonic orders at Auburn. A year before bis death he was worthy 
patron of the Order of the I-'astern Star, and also a member of the Knights 
of Pythias. He was also prominent as a member of the Commercial Club 
of Aul)urn. He was pulilic-spirited, Ix'ing intensely interested in the wel- 
fare of the community in which be Ii\ed. His Christian faith was e.xempli- 
fied b}' the many good deeds of his daily life. Being a most profound Bible 
scholar, he implanted a love for Bible stories in his two sons. The prepara- 
tion that Christ made for his ministry was the last lesson he taught his sons. 
He said: "Get an education to enalile you to do something in life. Get 
ready to do, then do it." In bis home life he was ideal. His every thought 
was for his wife and Iwn children. It was bis most earnest wish that he 
might li\'e to see Fisher and 1 )onner started in life for themselves. He 
was summoned by the death angel while sitting at bis desk on the evening 
of July 5, 1 91 3- His passing was the same as that of two of his mother's 
family. In the passing of this great and good man went the last of a family 
of eight children. He died as the Wheelers die, of apnplexy. Sincerity was 
the keynote of the character of this true friend, loyal citizen and superior 
business man. In every instance he was true to himself and his God, leaving 
nothing undone to gratify e\ery wish of those nearest and dearest to JTini. 
making his home a paradise tilled with the flowers of hue. 

Henry Clay Peterson, father of Mrs. Price D. West, was ln)rn in St. 
Mary's township. Adams county, Indiana. October 10, 1842. In Sejjtember 
of 1856 Mr. Peterson, with bis father's family. mo\ed to Iowa. l)ut in 
October of the following year the family returned to .\dams county. Mr. 
Peterson was educated in the common schools of Adams county and in the 
high school of Warsaw. Indiana. He was a classmate of Vice-President 
Marshall. In the Civil war he was a corporal of Henry Banta's Company 
I. Eighty-ninth Regiment of Indiana \'olunteer Infantry. He was mus- 
tered into service August 14. 1862. He was taken i)ri-;on.er at Mumfordville, 
Kentucky, in the fall of 1862. and was paroled and came home with bis 
company for a short time. He was exchanged at the time his regiment was 
returned, the regiment then being on post duty in Tennessee the greater part 
of the winter. He with his regiment was then in the Missouri canijiaign. 
the expedition up the Red river with General Banks, and Thomas's campaign 
at the battle of Nashville. He with his regiment i^articipated in the capture 



412 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

of Spanish I'ort and l^'urt Blakely at Mobile. In short, he was with the 
regiment from the time it was mnstered into the service imtil it was mus- 
tered out. Toward the latter ])art of the campaign he was chief clerk at 
.Majcjr-lieneral A. j. Snnth's head(|uarters in the field. 

.After his return from the arm_\- he taught school and read law with 
Judge Boho of the Adams circuit court. He was admitted to practice law 
at the bar in the Adams circuit court at the September term of 1876. At the 
October election of 1866, he was elected county surveyor of Adams county 
and served in that office one term, he being the only man of his party ever 
elected to an office in Adams county. Mr. I'eterson moved to Auburn in 
1870 and resided here until 1889, ulien he mo\ed to Kansas, and later in 
the same year mo\ed to A.lbion, wiiere he has resided since. While li\ing 
in this city he served three terms, or si.\ years, as pro.secuting attorney. 
He was a man who was decided in his opinions and free to express them, 
but you knew where he stood. He was courageous, fearless and honest; of 
the strictest integrit}- and a friend in whom yon could confide. He never 
plaved false, as do so many would-he friends. He always took an active 
interest in the affairs of life, had a wide accjuaintance and was one of the 
most influential men of his county. He was sixty-three years of age. 

Mr. Peterson was first married to Sarah E. Blossom, of l")ccatur, Indi- 
ana, I*'ebruary 7, 1S67. Her death occurred at Auburn, Ma\ _'_', 1874. He 
Avas again joined in marriage to Amy E. McConnehe}' at -\ul)urn. May 23, 
1876. Mr. Peterson practiced law for a short time in Decatur, after his 
office as sur\-eyor expired. He was the father of four children: Jessie A. 
Peterson: Blanche, wife of J. D. Hoffman, deceased: Jamie, deceased, and 
Mrs. West, the oldest. 



GEORGE O. DEXISON. 



It is not an eas}- task to describe adecjuately a man who has led an emi- 
nently active and bnsv life and who has attained a position of relative dis- 
tinction in the conimunily with which his interests are allied. But biography 
finds its most perfect justification, nevertheless, in the tracing and recording of 
such a life history. It is, then, with a full appreciation of all that is demanded 
and of the painstaking scrutiny that must be accorded each statement, and yet 
with a feeling of satisfaction, that the writer es.says the task of touching 
briefly upon the details of such a record as has been that of the honored subject 
whose life now comes under review. 



DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. 4I3 

George O. Dcnisun is a native of Richland enunt\ . ()lii(i. where he was 
bom on August 17, 1S43, the son <>f ( ieort;e 1'. and Salome \'.. (henner) 
Denison. He is of the ninth generation of the family in this country, the 
emigrant ancestor, William Denison, having come from England some time 
during the early colonial period, settling at Roxbury, Massachusetts. The 
family originated in Scotland where the name was spelled Danielstown. The 
subject of this sketch was reared on his father's farm to the age of seven years, 
when the family moved to \\'ood county, Ohio, where they resided about 
eighteen years, the home being located south of Toledo. In addition to his 
farm there the father also owned a tract of land southeast of Waterloo, Indi- 
ana, in (irant township, DeKalli county, and in t866 he came there with the 
intention of improving and selling it, George and his brother Felix being left 
to run the farm in Ohio. However, after living here for a time the parents 
found their Indiana home more to their liking than the Ohio place, conse- 
quently they sold the latter and their sons came to their Hoosier home, where 
they made their permanent residence. The subject of this sketch had always 
given his attention to agricultural pursuits, but in 1880 he engaged in the ice 
business, having constructed an artificial lake on his farm for that purpose, 
and he soon had an extensive business, furnishing all the ice to the town of 
W'aterloo, .Auburn and Garrett. H'.s brother. Levi, was associated with him 
in this business until about 1898, when they s])!it the business, Levi taking the 
trade at Garrett, and George continuing at Waterloo. Tie has carried on this 
business until the present time, and in this as well as in farming has achieved 
definite success. 

Li public afifairs Mr. Denison has been prominent for a number of years. 
In 1890 he was elected trustee of Grant township, holding the office for five 
years, and in i8g8 he was elected clerk of the circuit court, assuming the duties 
of his office in October, 19,00. In addition to the regular four years' term for 
which he was elected, by legislative action his term was extended to the end of 
the year 1904, after which he served as deputy clerk for a time, or until his 
election as mayor of Auburn. He discharged the duties of this ottice for four 
years and then resumed his previous j)osition as deputy clerk, in which cai)acitv 
he has served most of the time since, his continuous service in this position 
being due to his intimate knowledge of the official records and the business 
connected with the office of county clerk. This is also noteworthy owing to 
(he fact that as a Repul;lican he served under Democratic clerks. In March, 
1913, after the destruction Iw fire (if many of the county's books of record. 
Mr. Denison was appointed and commissioned in conjunction with Mr 



414 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Austin to restore the destroyed records, and is now engaged in this responsi- 
ble work, fur whicli lie is jirobably better (|naHtied than any man in the 
count}'. 

In 1873 Mr. Denison wa^ married tn Joanna Bowman, who was born 
and reared near Auburn, the daughter of Joseph and Ida ( Borst) Bowman. 
Her parents were early settlers of DeKalb county, having come here from 
Canton, Ohio, at a period prior to the advent of railroads here, making their 
permanent location about two miles west of .\uburn, where Mrs. Denison 
li\'ed until her marriage. Tt) Mr. and Mrs. Denison ha\e been born the 
following children: Nettie is the wife of Willis J. Eberly, of Waterloo, and 
they have three children. Fred. Helen and David: Daisy is the wife of Clyde 
Fee and lives on a farm east of Waterloo, and they have fi\e children. 
Hubert, (Georgia, Kenneth, and twins, Alene and Irene: Vay is the wife of 
V'erne (Jrosscop. and lix-es in .\ul:urn. and the}' ha\e two children. Catherine 
and Dorothy: George Bradford, the only son', is now running the farm and 
ice business for his father. He married .\gnes Brown, and thev ha\'e two 
children. 

Politically. Mr. Denison is, as before stated, a Republican and has been a 
stanch supporter of his party during the campaigns, and in this connection it 
is notewortb}' that the official positions held b}' biiu ha\'e all been attained 
without any solicitation on his part — certainly a marked testimonal to his 
personal standing and efficiency. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights 
of Pythias and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in the latter 
order he has passed the chairs in the local lodge and serxed as a delegate to 
the grand lodge. 

Mr. Denison has clear recollections of DeKalb count}- at a time prior 
to many of the public impro\-ements which now characterize this countx'. 
having, in early childhond, c^iue here on a tri]) with his parents, who were 
looking for land. He recalls the rough and unsightly appearance of the 
country, which was characterized by the entire absence of good roads and 
bridges, necessitating many detours in order to avoid streams and swamps. 

In the Denison family the military spirit has been prominent for iuan\ 
generations, the trait having been marked even in the first ancestor in .\merica, 
who had been a valiant officer of high rank in the English armv and pos- 
sessed a coat-of-amis. .\lthough Mr. Denison was legally too young for 
military service in the Civil war, he enlisted, but was too late to see any 
active service in the field. He has since been a member of the Waterloo 
Rifles, a well known local military company. His brother, Levi L.. was a cap- 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 415 

tain during the Spanish-. \imTicaii war. in which thi' sul)ject's nephew. Wilson 
H. Denison, was a hentenant. and the snbieet's sun. ilradtord. is now a heuten- 
ant in the National Guard, and i.s considered one of the best marksmen in the 
state, having been one of the eighteen sharpshooters chosen by contest at the 
state encampment to go to Sea Girt. Xew Jersey, where they took part in 
the great contest of National Guardsmen from the different states. He has 
been twice selected for this contest. 



GEORCiE C.\A[PB1-:LL. 



The 1 est history of a community or stale is the one that deals most 
with the lives and activities of its people, especially (jf those who. Iiy their 
own endeavors and indomitable energy, ha\e forged to the front and jdaced 
themselves where they deserve the title of progressive men. in this brief 
review will be found the record of one who has ontstrip|jed the less active 
plodders on the highway of life and among bis contem])oraries has achieved 
marked success in the business world, the name of George Cami)bell being 
honored by all owing to his ujjright life and habits of thrift and industry. 

George Campbell, a well known citizen of .\uburn and one of the most 
active members of the well kno\\n carriage manufacturing firm of Campbell 
& Sons, was born in Aul)urn. Indiana, on September 3. 1873. the son of 
Samuel L. and Mary (Palmer) Campbell. George Campbell was reared in 
Auburn, securing his education in the public schools and then at the age of 
seventeen years he commenced working in a trim shop. Not satisfied with 
this line of work, a few months later he beg.in to learn the carpenter trade, 
at which he remained about eight months and then turned his attention to 
blacksmithing. Here he found eni]ilo\-menl to his liking and energetically 
applied himself to learning this trade. In 1892 he opened a blacksmith shop 
of his own in Auburn, where Ijesides the regular custom work he also did 
the blacksmithing for his father's carriage shop. Soon afterwards he ac- 
quired an interest in his father's business and has continued with him ever 
since, being now^ the active manager of the business, which is one of the 
important industrial concerns of Auburn. In the management of this enter- 
prise he has shown a business ability and a soundness of judgment that has 
not only gained for him financial success, but has also connnended him to the 
confidence and good will of all who had dealings wn'th him. 

On April 26, 1894, George Cami)l>ell married Ada Miers. the daughter 



4l6 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

of Eli and Julia (Daley) Miers. her birth having occurred in Fairview town- 
ship, this count}'. When eight or nine years of age her parents moved two 
miles west of Auburn, where she li\ed until her marriage. Her father was 
one of the early settlers of DeKalb county, having come here with his mother 
when only eight years old, their former home having been in Stark county, 
Ohio. Eli Miers was thrown <n] his own resources at an early age, which 
fact developed his latent talents and he formed habits of self reliance and, 
going out into tlie world on liis uwii ;iccount, by strict integrity and indus- 
trious habits and rigid economy he was enabled to accumulate a competence, 
having eventually owned a fine farm west of Auburn. Tie died in Septem- 
ber, 1909, at the age of seventy-nine years, the last two or three years of his 
life having been siient at the home of his daughter. Airs. George Campliell, in 
Auburn. To Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have l;een born two children, Esther 
and W'ilbert. Mr. Campbell is a memlier of the Maccabees and the Trilie of 
Ben-Hur. Genial in disposition and courteous in manner, he has won a large 
and warm following among his acquaintances in Auburn. 

Samuel L. Campbell, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in 
Champaign county. Ohio, on jNIay j. 1841, and is the son of Joseph and 
.Susanna (Kessler) Campbell. W'lien Samuel L. Campliell was four years 
old his father died of typhoid fe\er and the mother and six children con- 
tinued for a while on the farm, one child having died in infanc_\- before the 
father's death. In the fall of 1868 the mother and lier sons, Samuel L., 
Isaiah and George \\'., came to Wabash county, Indiana, and bought a farm. 
When SamuelL. Campbell had reached his majority he went to the city of 
Wabash and learned the wagonmaker's trade, at which he was employed 
about six years, then he was employed in a like capacity at Ligonier two 
years, after which he came to W'aterloo in 1869 and was employed as a 
wagonmaker for two years. In 1871 he came to Auburn, since which time he 
has been closely identified w^ith the business interests of the city. In the latter 
eighties Mr. Campbell started a wagon shop, where he made and repaired 
wagons, and such was the (pialitv of his work that he soon gained an enviable 
reputation throughout the count}', and man}- of the splendid wagons he turned 
out at that time are still in active service, .\bout two years after he en- 
gaged in business on his ow-n account his son. George, came in as a partner 
and this firm has continued to the present time, enjoying an enviable reinita- 
tion throughout this section of the state. About twenty years ago the firm 
began the manufacture of deli\'ery wagons and carriages on a rather exten- 
sive scale, their first location being at the northeast corner of Fifth and 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 4I7 

Jackson streets, but so rapidly did the Inisiness increase that ihev were com- 
pelled to seek larger rjuarters. and in iS(j8 they came to their ])resenl location, 
where they are well situated and splendidly etjuipped tor all classes uf work 
in their line. They have a substantial building, tifty-two by eighty feet in 
dimensions, two stores and basement. In addition to the manufacture of 
light wagons and carriages they also deal in automobiles, handling the Stude- 
baker and R. C. H. machines, and also sell ^Milwaukee binders and mowers 
and Alamo gas engines. 

Mr. Campbell has for many years enjoyed a splendid standing among 
the business men of Auburn, who regard him as a man of exceptional busi- 
ness ability and good judgment. 

In 1870 Samuel L. Campbell married Mary Palmer, the daughter of 
(jeorge and Catherine ( Hoo\er) Palmer, hei- birth ha\ing occurred in 
Stark county, (lliio. At the age of aliout two years she acconii)auied her 
parents on their removal to DeKalh county. Intliana. locating on a farm 
three and one-half miles west of Auburn. Later they located in the city of 
.\ulnirn, where she has resided ever since. To AJr. and .Mrs. Campbell have 
been born four children, three sons and one daughter, the latter dying at the 
age of fourteen months of scarlet fe\ er. The -■ lUs are i'rank S.. (ieorge and 
^^'illiam E. bVaternally, Mr. Cami)l)ell is a member of the Knights of the 
Maccabees and the Tribe of Ben-Hur. 

Frank S. Campbell was liorn in Pleasant L;ikc. Steuben county. Indiana, 
on \o\'ember 28. 1871. being the first child born to his parents. Samuel I., 
and Mary (Palmer) Campbell. Wlicn he was a b.aby of l-,ut three or four 
months the famil}- moved to .Vubmii antl here be was reaied lo manhood, 
receiving a good practical education in the [)ublic schools. In bis youth he 
accepted employment with the Kibblinger Company, now known as the .\lc- 
Intire Company, where, under his father's tutelage, he learned carriage body 
building and designing. He was with that com])any twenty-five years, and 
for a number of years was foreni.an of the wood sho]) there with six to 
twenty-five men in bis depaitnient. lie made and built all kinds of bodies 
from buggy bodies to automobile bodies, ambulance and casket wagons. 
About T900 his health failed and he and bis wife went to \ew .Mexico. 
\Miile there he lauglil orchestra, band and piano music, also organized and 
directed a liand. lie remained there for two years, then returned to Auburn 
and returned to the Kibblinger C'omi)any. On January _>. 1913. he resigned 
and came in with his father and brothers in the linn of Campbell & Sons, in 
which place he is now engaged. He is a man of good business ability and 
{27) 



4l8 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

has contributed largely to the splendid success which the firm is now en- 
joying. 

On September ii, 1894, Mr. Campbell married Jennie Husselman. 
daughter of Henry and Ellen Husselman, she having been born and reared 
north of Auburn, and being the representative of one of the old pioneer 
families of this county. To this union has been born a son, Charles J., who 
first saw the light of day on November 11, 1895. Religiously, Mr. and ^Irs. 
Campbell belong to the Lutheran church, in which he has been an active mem- 
ber and where he conducts an orchestra in the Sunday school. During the 
past twelve years Mr. Campbell and his orchestra have missed but one Sun- 
day in each _\ear and their music is appreciated highly by the attendants of 
the school. He gives instructions to the orchestra members free, having a 
rehearsal e\'ery Wednesday night and the organization is one of which he 
is deservedly proud. 

William E. Cam])bell. son of Samuel L. and Mary ( Palmer) Campbell, 
was born on April 3, 1875, and was reared in this cit_\', receiving his educa- 
tion in the public schools here. In his early youth he entered the employ of 
Kibblinger & Company, where he learned carriage trimming and was after- 
ward employetl in sexeral other cities, including aljout three and one-half 
years at Butler, two }ears at Ligonier. two years at Albion, two years at 
Logansport and two years at Linden, Michigan. Later he was employed ror 
two years by the Modern Bugg}' Company at .\uburn. That he was a com- 
petent workman is evidenced b}- the fact that in e\ery shop in which he was 
employed he was foreman. In January, 1911. Mr. Campbell started the 
Auburn Auto Top Company and did a thri\'ing business for two years. He 
is now connected \\ ith the Campbell & Sons Company, referred to elsewhere 
in this sketch. In 1890, at Fostoria, Ohio, Mr. Campbell married Rosa 
Spruck and they have three children. Ruth, Eugene and Mary Louise. 

Fraternally, he is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of 
Elks and Fraternal Order of Eagles. He is a man of fine qualities of char- 
acter and enio}'s a marked popularity in the circles in which he mingles. 



JOHN J. OBERLLN. 



.\n enumeration of those men of the present generation who have won 
honor and public recognition for themselves and at the same time have hon- 
ored the locality to which thcv belong would be incomplete were there failure 
to make mention of the one whose name forms the caption of this sketch. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 419 

During a period ot many \ears he sustained a \erv en\ial)le reputation in 
•educational circles, and today is giving tlmnglitful and intelligent direction lu 
the financial affairs of DeKalh county, being the present county treasurer. 

John J. Oberlin is a native of the old Buckeye state, having been born in 
Summit county, Ohio, on .May 4. 1847, and is the son of Abraham. Jr.. and 
Alary (Stewart) Oberlin, both of whom were natives of Lancaster county, 
Pennsylvania. The subject's paternal grandfather also bore the name of 
Abraham. John J. Oberlin was reared on the paternal farmstead in Ohio, 
and received his educational training in the common schools of the nei.gh- 
borhood, his vacation periods l)eing spent in assisting his father on the home 
farm. He finished his education in the high school at Manchester, Ohio, and 
at the age of eighteen years began teaching school. He was eminently suc- 
cessful in this calling, which he followed for twenty-two terms. 

In 1872 Mr. Oberlin came to DeKall) county. Indiana, locating near 
Butler, and during the foll.)wing four years taught school there, lie then 
moved to Marshall county, this state, where he resided for .seven years, teach- 
ing school during si.x years of that time. While carrying on his educational 
work he had also engaged in farming, at which calling he was erpially success- 
ful. Returning to DeKalh county Mr. Oberlin located on a farm south of But- 
ler, to the operation of which he devoted his attention until i^i)},. when he was 
appointed postmaster of Ihitler, holding this ])osition four years to the entire 
satisfaction of the goxernnient and the ])atrons of the olfice : then for a \ear 
he was on the road as a traveling salesman, after which he engaged in the 
general mercantile business at lUitler. In kjo^ he was nounnated for county 
commissioner by the Democratic ])arty and was elected, holding the office 
three years. His services were entirely satisfactory and he was renominated 
for the position, but owing to the Repulilican landslide of that year he went 
down to defeat with the rest of the ticket. llowe\er. as evidence of his 
popularity it may be noted that while Roosevelt carried the county by si.K 
hundred and twentv-five ])lniality, .Mr. ( )berlin was defeated by onlv ninety- 
seven votes. Many Republican friends of his a,ssured him afterwards that 
had they thought there was any chance for his defeat, they would have voted 
for him. In the fall of 1910 Mr. Oberlin was the successful candidate of his 
party for countv treasurer, and in kuj was re-elected by the largest majoritv 
of any candidate on the ticket, being the present incumbent of that office. 
His sterling integrity, sound business judgment and wise discrimination in 
the administration of the county's finances have commended him to the con- 
fidence and resi)ect of all the citizens regardless of political lines. 



420 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Political!}-, Mr. Oberlin is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party. 
and has for a number of years taken an active part in the campaigns, his 
counsel and sound judgment l)eing considered in\aluable by his party col- 
leagues. Religiously, he and his wife are members of the United Brethren 
church, to which they are liberal contrilnitors. 

In y8f)Q John J. Oberlin was married to Catherine Beerer, a nati\e of 
Summit county. Ohio, and a daughter of George and Julia N. Beerer. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Oberlin ha\e been horn eight children, all living, namely : 
Minnie, wife of C. W. Beard, of Butler; Lemuel, who is a billiard ball turner 
at Cincinnati, Ohio, married Blanche Jewell, and they have two children, 
Clark and Gale : Charles, a farmer living at Butler ; Jesse, who is in his 
father's store at Butler, married Belle Xewton, and they have two daughters, 
Lucile and Catherine; Cl\'de B.. also in tlie store at Butler, married Luella 
Farley, and the\- ha\e one daughter. Mildred; Lloyd, who is employed as a 
molder in the ])lant of the Butler Company at Butler, married Goldie Hart- 
man, and the\- have two sons. Lindley and Burton; Grace \'iola is at home 
with her ])arents; Karl Lero\- is bis father's assistant in the county treasurer's 
office. 

In Mr, Oberlin's record there has been much that is commendalile and 
his character forcibly illustrates what a life of energy can accomplish when 
plans are wisely laid and actions are governed I))- right principles and high 
ideals. In his business career as well as his ])ri\ate life no word of sus- 
jiicion has e\er been breathed against him. Successful in business, faithful in 
the performance of public duty. res]:ccted in social life, and as a neighbor 
discharging bis duties as becomes ,-i liberal minded, intelligent citizen, he has 
won and retains the sincere rc'ard of all wIim know him. 



T. PERRY LONG. 



A man who boldly faces the res])onsi])i]ity ot life and by determined and 
untiring energy carves out for himself an honorable success exerts a power- 
ful influence upon the lives of all who follow him. Such men constitute the 
foundation of our rei)ublican institutions and are the pride of our civilization. 
To them life is so real that they llnd no time to plot either mischief or vice. 
Their lives are hound up in their duties, they feel the weight of their citizen- 
ship, and take jaleasure in sow'ing the seeds of uprightness. Such has been 
the career oi the stibject of thi- brief notice. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 421 

J. Perry Long, who enjoys a faxcirahlc reputation as a successful car- 
penter and builder at Auburn, was born al.Dut one mile north of (larrett, 
DeKalb county, Indiana, January 2^, 1807, and is a son of Samuel Harrison 
and Marietta (Wyant) Long. Samuel H. Long was a native of Ohio, and in 
an early day came to DeKalb county with his parents, Christian Long and 
wife, who were lifelong farmers and settled in thi> county when l)Ut little of 
the land had been cleared, hideed, where Garrett now stands was practically 
an untouched wilderness in which deer and other wild animals roamed un- 
disturbed. The land which Christian Long owned was located where now 
stands the Baltimore & Ohio railroad shops, this land being sought by the 
railway company when the subject of this sketch was a lad of nine years. 

Perry Long was reared on the home farm, where he remained until at- 
taining his majority, having ])erformed his [)art of the wijrk of lilling the 
soil and har\esting the crops antl in the meantime secured a good practical 
education in the ])ul)lic schools. At the age of t\\ent}'-one )-ears he came to 
Auburn and learned the carpenter's trade, which he has made his life work. 
For about eight years he was employed as a journeyman and then he formed 
a partnership with Ora J. Brandon, building contractor. Two years later 
Mr. Brandon retired from the i>arlnersliip to go into the lumber business, 
since which time Mr. Lung has cuntinuetl the lousiness alone. b'or maiiy 
years he has been numbered among the leading contractors of DeKalb county, 
and many of the best residences and business blocks in this section have been 
constructed bv him. His work has always been characterized liy thorough- 
ness in every detail and his absolute reliabilit\- in the performance of his con- 
tracts has gained for him the confidence cjf the public. l'er>onally, he is a 
man of splendid qualities and genial address and has well merited the high 
standing which he enjoys among his accjuaintances. 

Politically. Mr. Long is a stanch supporter of the DeinocraHc parly. 
and in 1904 was elected a member of the city council, the duties of which 
position he discharged to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. His 
fraternal affiliations are with the Knights of Pythias and the Knights of the 
Maccabees. 

Mr. Long has been twice married, first on May 13, 1888. to Florence 
Dirrini, daughter of William Dirrini. to which union were born three chil- 
dren: Ruth and \'esta. who live with their father, and Ethel, the wife of 
Orange Wasson, a farmer near .Auburn, to which union ha\e been born two 
children, Walter and Ruth. Mrs. IHorence Long died in 1900. and in June, 
1902, Mr. Long married Rosa l\U])ert, of Xew\ille. Her parents were 



422 DEKALB COUXTV, INDIANA. • 

Manassa Rupert and .Mary (Burden) Rupert, the father a native of Ma- 
honing county. Ohio, and the niuther of Allen C(ninty, Indiana. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Long have been born five children, namely: Perry Waldo. Rupert D., 
Mozelle Rosamond, Marietta Evangeline, and a Ijab}- not yet named. 



WARREN McNABB. 



The gentleman to a brief re\ie\v of whose life and characteristics the 
reader's attention is herewith directed was among the foremost business men 
of DeKalb county, and by his enterprise and progressive methods con- 
tributed in a material way to the industrial and commercial advancement of 
the city and county. He was in the course of an honorable career most suc- 
cessful in the business enterprises of which he was the head, and is well 
deserving of mention in the biographical memoirs of DeKalb county. Among, 
the prominent citizens of DeKalb county who have been well known because 
of the part they have taken in public affairs was he whose name appears at 
the head of this memoir, and who until recently was recorder of DeKalb 
county. 

Warren McXabb is a native of DeKalb county, in which he spent his 
entire life, his birth having occurred there on July 2(k 1857. His parents, 
David and Sophia (Dunfee) McNabb, were among the early settlers of the 
count}-. Da\ id was a nati\e of Center county, Pennsylvania, born December 
9, 1819, and was a son of John and Mary (''I'oung) McNabb, also a native of 
that state, the father being of Scotch descent and the mother of Swiss and 
English ancestry. \\'hen David McNabb was but thirteen years of age the 
family mo\ed to Ashland county. Ohio, where they remained until 1843, 
when tliey came to DeKalb county, Indiana, and entered eighty acres of wild 
land in section ^^, Fairfield tov.nship. There he Imilt a cabin home in which 
he resided for twenty years and then sold tliat |)lace and bought one hundred 
and twenty acres in section 32. When he first came to Fairfield township 
there were but five other families tliere, and in the early afifairs of the county 
he took a prominent and leading part. The land was covered with a dense 
forest, not a stick of timber having been cut on the land which he secured 
and the family lived with a neighbor. Air. Powell, about a mile distant, until 
their log house could be raised, which was done with the assistance of the- 
neighbors. 

On October 18, 1842, Da\'id McXalib married Sojihia Dunfee, the daugh- 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 423- 

ler of janics and Sophia (lla/lclii DunlVc, who removed from Adams 
county, I'ennsyhania, to Ohio in 1833. To David and Sophia AlcXahb were 
born eight children, namely: James, George, John, Francelia (Mrs. Harris). 
Warren, Ella (died at the age of live yeans), Martha (Airs. F. M. Dellen- 
bach), and Frank. 

Warren McNaljh was reared on the home farm and his education was 
recei\ed in the public schools of the neigh'.iorhood. .\t the age of twenty 
years he learned the trade of house painter and shortly afterwards secured a 
position in the BaltiuKire & Ohio railroad shops at Garrett as foreman of the 
painters, holding the position from March, 188 1, until 191^. In the fall of 
the latter year he was elected to the i)osition of county recorder after an 
acti\e Init clean campaign, and discharged the duties of this office until April 
18, 1913, when he died after a brief illness, being succeeded in the office by 
his son-in-law', Harvey O. Williams. He had retained his residence in (jar- 
rett until about ten days before his death, when he moved to Auburn. He 
stood high in the general esteem of all who knew him and his death was con- 
sidered a distinct loss to the comniunit\-, for he had always stood for the best 
things of life and had ever gi\en his support to all movements ha\ing for 
their object the advancement of the best interests of the community. 

Fraternally, Mr. McXabb was an enthusiastic member of the Independ- 
ent Order of Odd Fellows, having been the first person initiated in the Gar- 
rett lodge of that order after its institution, the e\ent taking place August 
29, 1883. Politically, he had been for many }ears a prominent supporter of 
and worker in the Democratic party, and had served efficiently as a member 
of the school board at Garrett. 

Shortly after accepting his emplovment at (iarrctt. Mr. Mc.Xabb was 
married to Laura McCague, of Elkhart, Indiana, who was born east of 
Corunna, this county, the daughter of George and Jane (Harper) McCague. 
Both parents were natives of Ohio, the mother having been born in Wood 
county, and they were married in that state, coming to DeKalh county in an 
early day and settling near Corunna. They had been preceded there many 
years by George McCague's parents, who settled in the same locality. Mrs. 
McNabb's parents moved to South Rend when she was a small child, and 
there she was reared until her marriage, first meeting Mr. McXabb while on 
a visit to Corunna. To .Mr. and Mrs. .Mc.Xabb were Ixirn four children. 
namelv : Harr\-, deceased; Frank, who resides in the west; Maude, the wife 
of Lee Hunt, of Kendallville : and Edith, the wife of Harvey O. Williams, 
who succeeded his father-in-law as county recorder. 



424 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Of Mr. McXaljl) it may be said that hi? was a positive character, and he 
possessed the quahties that command attention and assure success in any 
calHng. He was the scion of steding ancestry wlio played well their parts in 
the early settlement of northeast Indiana, and he ])roved to he a worthy de- 
scendant of his foreliears. Throughout an active and interesting career, duty 
was ever liis motive for action and lielpfulness to lu's fellow men not 1)\- anv 
means a secondary consideration. Thu'> liecause of his high standing and 
genuine worth he is eminently entitled to re])resentation in a historv of his 
countv. 



TAMES E. POMEROV 



In no profession is there a career more open to talent than is that of the 
law, and in no field of endeavor is there demanded a more careful prejiara- 
tion, a more thorough appreciation of the al)Solute ethics of life or of the 
underlying principles which form the l)a!^is of all human rights and privileges. 
Unflagging application and intuitive wisdom and determination fidl\- to 
utilize the means at hand, are the concomitants which insure personal suc- 
cess and prestige in this great profession, which stands as the stern conserva- 
tor of justice; and it is one into which none should enter without a recogni- 
tion of the oljstacles to he encountered antl overcome and the Ijattles to be 
won, for success does not perch on the banner of every one who enters the 
competitive frav, luit comes only as the legitimate result of capabilit}'. Pos- 
sessing all the requisite (|ualities of the able lawyer, James E. Pomeroy stands 
today among the eminent jjractitioners of DeKalb county, Indiana. 

James E. Pomeroy was born on December 14, 1867, at Canal Fulton, 
Stark county, Ohio, and he is the son of Francis M. and Mary (Duley) 
Pomeroy. The Pomeroy family, though originally of Norman blood, was, 
during a thousand years in the British Isles, so mixed with Scotch and Irish 
blood, that the subject may legitimately claim Scotch-Irish ancestry. The 
branches of the family in England, Ireland and America are descended from 
Sir Ralph de Pomeroy, who was an aide-de-cam]) under \^'illiam the Con- 
queror in his conquest in England. In 1730 a descendant of his, Thomas 
Pomeroy, came from Liverpool to .\merica and located near Chanibersburg, 
Pennsylvania, he being one of the first two white families to locate west of 
the Susquehanna river. His second son, John, was a noted foe of the Indians. 
About the close of the French and Indian war Thomas Pomerov's family and 




JAMES E. POMEROY 



DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 425 

about twenty other settlers at Chanihersburf^ were massacred by Indians. 
Colonial troops were raised, of whicli Jdhn Pomerdv was made Cdhmel, and 
under his leadership they pursued and punishetl the Indians so effectively 
that he was ever afterwards called Colonel John Pomeroy, the Indian Killer. 
Subsequently he moved to Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, where, in 
1782, he became lieutenant-colonel of the First Battalion of Westmoreland 
County Militia and was in actual service on the frontier of that county. 
Three of his sons moved, in 1816, to near Wooster, Wayne county, Ohio, of 
whom the youngest, Francis, the great-grandfather of the subject of this 
sketch, settled in what is now a part of Stark county, Ohio, and there his 
descendants have continued to reside to the present time. 

James E. Pomeroy received his elenientar\' education in the ]>ui)lic 
schools of his home town, graduating from the high school in 1884. Im- 
mediately afterwards, through the influence of James Sterling, one of the 
leading attorneys of that county, he was pre\ailed upon to enter the hitter's 
office and take up the study of law. .\bcjut that time, how ever, he was thrown 
upon his own resources and, by force of circumstances, he engaged in teach- 
ing school until he was about twenty-seven years old. In the meantime he 
had continued his le.gal studies in the Northern Indiana University, at Val- 
paraiso, Indiana, and in March, 1895, he realized in a measure his ambition 
by being admitted to the bar of DeKalb county at .\uburn. On October 4, 
1904, he w-as admitted to practice in the suiireme court and to the United 
States district court at Indianapolis in 1Q03. Since his admission to the bar 
Mr. Pomeroy has remained in the practice of his profession at Auburn, and 
■ has built up a large and remunerative clientele. It is scarce less than su- 
pererogation in outlining the leading facts in his life to refer to him as a 
lawyer in the ordinary phraseology which meets requirements when dealing 
with the average member of the legal profession. He has been indeed much 
more than eminently successful in his legal career, for he has become a master 
in his profession and a leader among men distinguished for the high order of 
their legal ability. As a member of the bar Mr. Pomeroy has faithfully and 
honestly discharged his duty. He has always counseled and maintained such 
actions and defenses only as have appeared to him to be just, and he has 
never been known to reject from any consideration personal to himself the 
cause of the defenseless or depressed. He has never sought to employ means 
other than such as have been entirely consistent with truth, and has never 
sought to mislead the court or jury by any artifice or false statement of fact 
or law, but has adhered so closelv to the established code of ethics that he has 



426 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

merited the confidence which is placed in him by his fellow members of the 
bar. Mr. Pomeroy has been connected with most of the really important 
cases which have been tried in the DeKalb court since entering practice and 
has been notably successful in his efforts. One of the most noted of these 
cases was that of Grover Enslcy, who was accused of murdering his wife's 
paramour and who was defended by Mr. Pomeroy. The evidence at the 
coroner's inquest showed that the defendant had taken both a revolver and a 
shotgun into a next-door neighbor's iiouse and there watched for his wife and 
her illicit visitor, and that w'.ien he saw them leaving the house to go to 
Fort Wayne he rushed out and shot the man. The wife sided against her 
husband. It took a week to try the case, the defense being handled with 
masterly skill by Mr. Pomeroy. The defense claimed that the shooting was 
an accident caused by Ensley stepping into a hole ; that he had the gun to 
scare the decedent and hold him until he could bring about his arrest. It was 
a dramatic scene when the defendant, who was proved to be a diligent, law- 
abiding citizen, and a kind and faithful hu.sband, took the stand in his own 
behalf. His looks and demenanor showed that lie was not a bad man. He 
had been advised by Mr. Pomeroy to say no unkind word of his wife, and he 
did not. The defendant had stammered badly all his life, and did so on the 
stand. For eighteen hours he was on the witness stand and tlie story de- 
veloped many touching details of sincere devotion and heart yearning, and 
the final tragedy, that moved to tears the jury and most of the spectators, 
some of them weeping aloud. Mr. Pomeroy's handling of the case was mas- 
terly in every way and showed that he had given to the defense much thought 
and study. He seemed to have every section of the law bearing on the case 
at his finger's ends. During his argument to the jury he won the admiration 
of all by the able manner in which he presented his side of the case, and the 
result enrolled him among tlie foremost criminal lawyers of the country. 
Within ten minutes after the jury retired they were practically ready for a 
verdict of accjuittal, and when their verdict was announced a great cheer 
swept over the court room and was taken up by the waiting crowd outside. 
No such scene was ever before enacted in DeKalb county and when the jury 
was excused, the tlirong, incUiding the jurymen, crowded around the de- 
fendant and Mr. Pomeroy, showering them with congratulations for the gal- 
lant fight they had made in a case that at first looked hopeless, but now 
looked as if it was settled in the only just and right way. 

On September i, 1895, ^'f''- Pomeroy was married to Ella Bunge, who 
was born and reared in Wilmington township, near Butler, the daughter of 



DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 427 

Fred Biinge and wile. i'Ved lUinj;^ came from (jc-rniany to the United 
States in 1834 and located near .\ul)ni-ii. where he and iiis family lived for 
many years. For the pas! thirty years the}- have lived on a farm one and a 
half miles west of Butler. Mrs. Pomeroy's mother, whose maiden name was 
Shoup. was born at Canton, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Tomenjy have no children 
of their own, but have adopted a boy, Blaine Lamar, now two years old. 
He is a son of Jesse O. and Lula (Balliet) Hilkey, a highly respected family. 
The lad's mother died when he was only ten days old, and he was adopted 
by his foster parents when he was nineteen days old. Mr. Pomeroy has a 
beautiful and attractive home at Van Buren and Fourth streets, .\uburn. He 
finds recreation and pleasure in the cultivation of flt)wers and plants and he 
has beautified his home by his artistic arrangement of the plants and shrub- 
bery. Personally, Mr. Pomeroy is a man of genial and kindly impulses and 
gives his sympathy and support to all worthy causes. In the civic life of his 
community he is an important f.actor and is numbered among the men of 
progress and enterprise. Because of his eminent ability, professional success 
and high personal qualities, he enjoys a wide popularity in the county which is 
honored by his citizenship. 



HARVEY O. WILLIAMS. 

The office of biography is not to gi\-e \oice to a man's modest estimate 
of himself and his accomplishments, but rather to leave upon the record the 
verdict establishing his character by the consensus of opinion on the part of 
his neighbors and fellow citizens. In touching upon the life history of the 
subject of this sketch the writer aims to avoid fulsome encomium and extra- 
vagant praise; yet he desires to hold up for consideration those facts which 
have shown the distinction of a true, useful and honorable life — a life charac- 
terized by perseverance, energy, broad charity and well defined purpose. To 
do this will be but to reiterate the dictum pronounced upon the man by the 
people who have known him long and well. 

Harvey O. Williams was born on May 12, 1890, on his father's farm 
one mile west of .\uburn, and is the son of John and Mary (Rinehold) 
Williams. The father was born at Millersburg, Ohio, and when about eigh- 
teen years of age came to DeKalb county, Indiana, with his parents, Cyrus 
and Amanda Williams. The family first located near Corunna, but subse- 



428 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

quently the parents located near Huntertown, Allen county, Indiana, where 
tliey spent the remainder of their days. John Williams was reared to the 
Hfe of a farmer, which \ocation he followed as a day laborer up to the time 
of his marriage in 1879, when he went to farming for himself just east of 
.\uburn on the Ashelman tann. .\bout seven years later he was enabled to 
I>u\ a farm uf his own a mile west of Auburn, where he li\'ed until 1897, 
when he dispnseil of that ])lace and bought another farm of one hundred and 
twenty-h\e acres located about eight miles south of Auburn, where he still 
resides. He has all his life been an active su])porter of the Democratic part}' 
and served as a member of the count}- council about six }'ears. In i()02 he 
made a close race for the ol'hcc of sheriff. 1 le ha-, long liecu numbered among 
the leading men c^f his communit}-. 

Harvey O. Williams was reared on th.e |xirental farmstead and attended 
the Autiurn public schools, graduating from the high school in 10 10. His 
first emplo}nicnt after leaving school was in tlie olticc of the master me- 
chanic of the Haltimore & Ohio Railroad shops at (iarrett, Indiana, where 
he remained until A])ril, 1913. when his father-in-law, Warren McNabb, 
county recorder, died, when !)}■ the hitter's re(|uest, Air. Williams was ap- 
pointed to succeed him in this official ])osition. and he has since served as 
recorder, the appointment being made on the iSth of Ai>ril. At the time of 
his appointment he was but twent}'-two }-ears of age, and is believed to be the 
youngest county official in Indiana. Though young in years, he is dis- 
charging the duties of his office in as efficient a manner as could be desired, 
and has earned the sincere regard of all who ha\e dealings with him and with 
the office. 

On June 18, 1912, Harvey O. Williams was married to Edith J. AlcNabb, 
of Garrett, Indiana, the daughter of W^arren McNabb, whose sketch appears 
elsewhere in this work. Politically, Air. Williams is a supporter of the 
Democratic jiart}-, and fraternally is a member of the Independent Ortler of 
Odd Fellows, antl with his wife, belongs to the Daughters of Reliekah. They 
are also memliers of the Alethodist Episcopal church, in which thev take an 
active interest and to the support of which they contribute liberally of their 
means. Socially, Mr. Williams is a member of the Phi Delta Kap])a (ireek 
letter fraternity. 

Mr. Williams has realized early that there is a purpose in life and that 
there is no honor not founded on worth, and no respect not based on accom- 
plishment. He has started right and his man\- friends predict for him a verv 
successful career. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. . 429 

DR. A. M. OSWALT. 

Each calling or business, if honorable, has its i)lace in human existence, 
constituting a part of tlie plan wliereby life's methiKls are pursued and man 
reaches bis ultimate destiny, l-'.merscn saiil that "" Ml are needed by each one." 
And that is a> true in i>ne axenue of \\U-\ actixities as in amitbtr. However, 
the importance of a business or profession is in a xery lar,ye measure deter- 
mined by its beneficence or usefulness. So dependent is man upon his fellow 
men that the xx'orth of each individual is largely reckoned Ijy what he has done 
for humanity. There is no class to whom greater gratitude is due from the 
world at large than to tho.se .self-sacrificing, sympatlietic, noble-minded- men 
whose life work has been the allexiatinn of sufi^ering that rests on humanity, 
thus lengthening the span of human existence. There is no known standard 
l)y which their beneficent inlUience can lie measured: their helpfulness is as 
broad as the unixerse and tiieir ])o\xer goes hand in hand with the xxonderful 
laxxs nf nature that come from the xery source of life itself. 

,\dam M. Oswalt was i)orn June 30, 1870. at Three Rixers. .Michigan, 
and is the son of Adam and Anna ( Detwiler ) Oswalt. .\t the age of five 
years the subject was deprixed by death of a nioilier's loxe and care, and he 
then went to live in the home of Charles Shelhart. xvhu reared him to man- 
hood. Soon after becoming a member of this household the family moved to 
a farm at Sherwood, Michigan, \xhere Mr. Oswalt sjient his boyhood days, 
securing his education in the common -cbooj-, there. su])plemenling this bx' 
attendance at the Tri-State College at Angola. Indiana, xxhere be receixed his 
diploma. The txxo folloxving \-ears were spent in farm lal)or at the liome of 
his foster father. In iSijj .Mr. ( )s\xalt engaged in general mercbandising at 
Ra\-, Indiana, which he cari'ied on successfully for fixe years, relinquishing 
that line of effort at the end of that period, boxxcxer, in order to take up the 
study of osteopathy which he had deteiinined to make his life work. To 
this end he entered the .\merican ScIk/oI of ( )steoi)alhx- ,at Kirksx ille, .Mis- 
souri. He graduated on January -'5, itjo^. lie immediatelx- engaged in the 
practice of the profession at South Kend, Indiana, hut one \ear later came to 
Auburn, where he has since been located, and in the practice of his profession 
here he has licen markedl}- successful. The science of osleo])atby is com])ara- 
tively new, but because of tlie notable success xxhich has accom])anied its 
practice, it has gained manx adherents, and it> i)rariitioners baxe gained an 
enviable standing in the jirofession. Dr. O'^xxalt has a|)|)lied himself closely 



43° . DEKAI.B COUNTY. INDIANA. 

to his profession and has gained the confidence and regard of all with whom 
Tie has come in contact because of his professional ability and personal worth. 
In 1897 Dr. Oswalt was married to Jessie Marie McNaughton, of Ray, 
Indiana, the daughter of Archibald and Fidelia (Lewis) McNaughton. Dr. 
and Mrs. Oswalt are members of the Presbyterian church at .Auburn, which 
they attend regularly, and to which they contribute liberally of their means. 
They move in the best social circles of the community antl enjoy the loyal 
friendship of all who know them. 



TAMES BO\\MAN. 



In the person of this \eiierable pioneer farmer, now deceased, we have a 
sample of a worthy race of people to whom the country is largely indebted 
for its development and progress. He was not a showy man, simply a plain, 
industrious tiller of the soil, who worked hard to get a start in the w^orld. 
provided well for his family, did his duty to his fellow men and made a good 
neighbor and citizen. To such as he Indiana owes much. Here and there, 
scattered over the .state in e\ery countw on well-tilled acres, they toiled and 
worked, cleared, grubbed and ditched, fduglu the forces of nature in the 
way of swamps and dense forests, gradually making heatlway until in time 
we see the beautiful and highly cultivated farms as the result of their arduous 
labors. Such were the pioneer farmers. The\- did not figure in public life. 
Their names were seldom mentioned in the jiapers, they lived cjuiet and un- 
pretentious li\es. but it w^as their work and their self-sacrifice that was grad- 
ually building up the state, adding to its wealth and beautw until it became 
one of the finest agricultural regions in the world. Mr. Bowman was a 
public-spirited man in all that term implied, was ever interested in enterprises 
tending to promote the general welfare and withheld his support from no 
movement for the good of the locality so long honored by his residence. His 
personal relations with his fellow men were e\er mutually ])leasant and 
agreeable, and he was highly regarded by all, having been easily ajiproached, 
obliging and straightforward in all the relations of life. 

James Bowman, who during bis life was one of the best known citizens 
of Waterloo and \icinit}- and an honored pioneer of Franklin township, 
DeKalb county. Indiana, was born in Onondaga county, New York, on March 
II, 1815, and his death occurred at his home in Waterloo on July 7, igoo, at 
the advanced age of eighty-five years. He came of a long line of sterling 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 43 1 

ancestors, the first nicnibcrs .if the r.ownian family having come lo this coun- 
try from Holland. Their remains now lie buried near Allsany, .\'e\\ ^^lrk-. 
To them was born a son, Peter, whose wife's Christian name was .Mary, and 
they lie buried in Belle Isle cemetery at Van Buren, New York. Peter and 
Mary Bowman had four children, three daughters and a son, the latter 
named John, having been born at Trenton, New Jersey, on A])ril 15. 1789. 
\\"hen he was hut five years old his parents moved lo New York slate and 
there he married Matilda Minner. who was liorn on September y, 1787, in 
Connecticut. They became the parents of tweKe children, ail of whom grew 
to maturity. The mother of these children died in 1834 and the father subse- 
quently married his first wife's sister, Sallie. Mis death nccurred in 1869. 
The fourth of the children in order of birth was James, the immediate sub- 
ject of this sketch. 

James Bowman was reared to maturity on the home farm in New York 
and received his education in the common schools. Shortly after his mar- 
riage, which occurred in 1839. he and his wife started west via the Lake 
Erie Canal and Lake Erie to Toledo, frnm whence the\- drove overland with 
ox team to Eranklin township, DeKalb county. Indiana, where he entered a 
section of gmernmenl land and erected a In^- cabin. Here he began the strug- 
gle common to the pioneer settlers of the frontier west, and in the creation of 
a home and the clearing and improxement of the farm he received the able co- 
o])eration and assistance of his wife. The farm w hich was thus located and im- 
pro\ ed has been since owned and occupied by his grandson. James Hodges, and 
mother, Mrs. A. J. Sinclair. In the spring of 185 1 Mr. Bowman moved to what 
is now the northeast edge of A\'aterloo, where he built a home and also erected 
a saw mill. At that time heavy timber covered the greater part of the land 
now the site of Waterloo and much of this timber was worked up in the mill 
owned by Mr. Bowman. He was a successful man in everything to which he 
addressed himself and as he ])rospered financially he contributed to the growth 
and development of the community in exery way possible, giving liberally of 
his means to the erection of churches, school houses, and in other ways con- 
tributing to the welfare of the citizens. For nearly twenty-nine years during 
his later life he was disabled liy paralysis to such an extent as to be confined 
to a chair. However, during t!iese nearly three decades he was always 
patient and cheerful and to the last maintained a dee]) interest in everything 
about him. His mind was as bright in his last years as at any period in his 
life, and he always managed his own business aflfairs. He was made of 
.those sterling qualities out of which the frontier settlers of the nn'dflle West 



432 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

were made and to him is due the gratitude of present generations for what 
he did in the way of opening up and clearing the way for the later splendid 
civilization which has characterized this section of the state. 

On September 26, 1839, in Onondaga county. New York, James Bow- 
man married Rebecca Jane Bort, who was born probably in Onondaga county, 
the daughter of Christian and Susan ( Ouackenbush ) Bort. To their union 
were born eight children, of whom five are now living, namely: Mrs. .\. J. 
Sinclair, Mrs. James P. McC'aguc, Mrs. C. E. Montaxon. Charles and b'rank, 
all of whom are li\ing in Waterloo. 



JAMES Y. W. McCLELLAN. 

Among the citizens of Auburn, DeKalb county, who, through their own 
persistent and well directed efforts, have achieved a gratifying measure of 
success in their vocation, is the gentleman whose name appears at the head 
of this sketch. With little outside assistance, he has steadily forged to the 
front, o\'ercoming obstacles and unfaxorable circumstances, imtil today he is 
numbered among the successful men of bis community. 

James ^". \Y McClellan, a well known citizen of Auburn, was born 
two and one-half miles south of this city on Xoxeniher 1 _', 1833. and is the 
son of James McClellan, Jr., and Mary Jane 1 Summers) McClellan. James 
-McClellan, Jr., wa^^ born on ()ctol>er jt,. iSjO, in Wayne county, Ohio, and 
was a son of James, Sr., and I-'.lizalielb. ( l\na])p ) .Mcllcllan, the former 
having been born on November 10, 1793. at .McKeesport, Westmoreland 
county, Pennsylvania. He was a son of John McClellan., who, it is believed, 
came from Ireland. Tt is said the McClellan family was of Scotch ancestry 
and is descended from a Scotch chieftain named Clell, who reigned over 
highland territory in Sditland. l^radition has it that Clell lived there many 
centuries ago and his domain was called Clell's land, sliortened to Clelland. 
"Mc" means "son of." The families in the United States liearing the names 
of MacLellan, .Md.cllon, McClellan and McClelland doubtless ^iirang from 
this original stock from the south western part ot Scotland. During the 
religious wars of 1(140 many families of the name moved from Scotland to 
Ireland, later coming fr.im Ireland to .\merica shortly liciore the .\merican 
Revolutionary war, settling in Nova Scotia. Canada and the New England 
states. New York, Pennsylvania and North and South Carolina. They were 
usually Presbyterians in their religious belief. James McClellan, Sr.. had 




JAMES Y. \V. McCLELLAN 



DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. 433 

two sisters and four brothers, of whom Robert was a captain in the war of 
1812, anotlier brother, Joseph, being a private in the same war. The other 
brothers were William and John. These brothers were all Presbyterians in 
their religious belief. About 1812 James McClellan, Sr., settled in Wayne 
county, Ohio, where he remained until i860, wlien he came west, settling 
in Huntington county, Indiana, and in 1866 came to DeKalb county. On 
June I, 1815, he married Elizabeth Knapp, who was born June 28, 1797, and 
died on November 28, 1846, being buried in \\'a}ne county, Ohio. James 
McClellan, Sr., died May 17, 1875, and is buried m Auburn. James ]\lc- 
Clellan, Jr., was reared on the paternal homestead in Ohio, and on May 1 1, 
1854, married Mary J. Summers, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Smith) 
Summers, who came from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, to DeKalb county 
in 1847 ^"<^ settled one mile east of Auburn, where they entered land and 
cleared a farm and remained all their lives. 

James Y. W. McClellan was reared on the home farm and received his 
educational training first in the public schools of Auburn, graduating from 
the high school in 1879. He then entered the literary department of the 
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, but, after two years' study there, 
his health failed and he was compelled to return home. The next twenty 
years of his life were spent in the operation of the home farm, in which he 
was eminently successful, both financially and in the complete restoration of 
his health. In 1898 Mr. McClellan moved to Fort Wayne, where for a year 
he ran a feed store, but then moved back to Auburn and has resided here 
since, most of the time being engaged as a real estate broker and dealer in 
fertilizer. He has been very successful in everything to which he has turned 
his hand and enjoys a wide reputation through this section of the state as a 
man of good business ability, sound judgment and wise discretion in all of 
his affairs. Because of his courtesy and absolute integrity he has commanded 
the confidence of all with whom he has dealt and no more popular man is 
numbered among Auburn's business men. Politically Mr. McClellan is an 
ardent advocate of the Democratic party and for a number of years has been 
active in its councils, having been a member of the county central committee 
for a number of years. He has been recognized in the way of public prefer- 
ment a number of times, having been a member of the county council and 
several times appointed drainage commissioner. In 1903 he was elected 
mayor of Auburn and his administration was one of the most successful 
this city has ever had. During his term of office a gas plant was built, an 
(28) 



434 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

interurljaii line was constructed through Auljurn and great progress was made 
in the paving of streets and in making other pubHc improvements. Fra- 
ternally, Mr. McClellan is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Free and 
.\ccepted Masons and he and jiis wife belong to the Order of the Eastern Star. 

On Xovember 4. [913, Mr. McClellan was elected mayor of Auburn 
for fcnir years by one of the biggest majorities .-\uburn ever gave a candidate. 

In 1885 Mr. McClellan married Jennie Barton, of .Ashland, Ohio, the 
daughter of Elisha and Sevilla (Weirman) Barton. Mr. and Mrs. McClel- 
lan move in the best social circles of .\ulnirn and are popular among their 
acquaintances. 



JOSEPH E. SHOWALTER, M. D. 

To be anything but mediocre in any profession requires not only a happy 
combination of natural faculties, hut also a strong personality, a blending of 
courtesy and affabilitx', and certain business qualifications that no discourage- 
ment- can overcome. The well known physician whose name forms the cap- 
tion to thi,- article and whose name has long been a household word in this 
county seems to possess these traits, for he has climbed, step by step, from a 
modest Ijeginning to a position of prominence in his community, being now 
numbered among the leading re])resentati\ es of the medical ])rofession in De- 
Joseph K. Sbowalter, of Waterloo, was born near Huntington, Indiana, 
on the i8th da\ of January. 18^13, and is a son of Levi and Clarinda A. 
(Shilling) Sbowalter. The Showalters in America are descended from good 
old German stock, the emigrant ancestor having come to America about two 
hundred years ago, settling in Xew Jersey, and from his eight sons have 
come the many representati\es of this family now scattered over the United 
States. The subject's paternal grandfather was Joseph Sbowalter. who was 
a prosperous citizen of Wayne county, Ohio, where he owned two hundred 
acres of land, besides which he gave eighty acres in Indiana to each of his 
children. His son, Le\i, was born in Wayne county in 1838, living there 
until he was twenty-two years of age. The eighty acres which he recei\-ed 
from bis father were located in Huntington county, Indiana, and thither he 
proceeded in i860. On the way he stopped in Concord township, DeKalb 
county. Indiana, where he formed the acquaintance of Clarinda Shilling. 
Their acquaintance ripened into love and some time after he had established 
himself in his new home, he returned to Concord townshiii and married her. 



DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. 435 

She was born in Stark county. Ohio, in 1841, and was the daughter of Joseph 
E. and Catherine (Hornberger) ShilHng. They came to Inchana in 1846, 
driving through and locating in tlie woods in Concord township, where the 
parents lived until late in life, when they moved to Auburn. In 1876 Levi 
Showalter bought the old Shilling farm, in Concord township, and there made 
his home for about twenty years, when he moved to Waterloo, where his 
remaining years were spent, his death occurring in i(>o8: his widow still lives 
in Waterloo. They were the parents of twelve children, of whom four died 
in infancy. Tho.se living are as follows: J(jsepli \\.. the immediate subject of 
this sketch: Mary, the wife of l-'rank I'arker. of Angola, Indiana; Cora, the 
wife of John .\. Friedeuhergei-. of i'ontiac. .Michigan: Jennie, who li\es in 
Waterloo, is the widow oi the late Daniel Koralaugh: llortense is the wife 
of William E. Ingalls, of Salem, Oregon; Myrtle, w iio i^ unnKirried. lives in 
Waterloo; William .-\., of Salem, Oregon; Hessie. of Waterloo, nnmarrieil. 

Joseph E. Showalter was reared on the paternal farm in Com-ord town- 
ship, receiving his elementary education in the common schools, and after- 
wards attending the Tri-State Normal School at Angola. He then engaged 
in teaching school for three years, when. ha\ing decided to take u]) the prac- 
tice of medicine, he matriculated in the medical (le]>artment of W'ooster Uni- 
versity, at Cleveland, where he was graduated in iN<)3, with the degree of 
Doctor of Medicine. .K few months later lie came to Waterloo, and entered 
upon the active practice of his profession, in which he has been engaged prac- 
tically ever since. Natural aptitude, thorough professional training and an 
ardent love for his work have combined to render him signally successful and 
among his professional brethren in this county he is held in high regard. He 
has been successful financially and is the owner of a fine farm of one hundred 
and forty-three acres, two miles south of Waterloo, which is well improved 
and on which the Doctor has recently erected a line large barn, up-to-date in 
every particular. 

In 1893 Doctor Showalter w^as married to 01i\e Moor, of Concord town- 
ship, DeKalb county, the daughter of Noah and Josephine (Nelson) Moor. 
Her paternal grandfather, William Moor, came from Ashland county, Ohio, 
in a very early day, the Nelsons also coming from the same locality. To 
Doctor and Mrs. Showalter have been born four sons, three of whom are 
living, namel}- : Edward Bruce, John Paul and Eugene D. 

Politically, Doctor Showalter believes in the principles of the Socialist 
party, but in local elections he supports the men and measures which seem to 
him best for the public welfare. Eraternally, he is an active member of the 



436 DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 

Independent Order of Odd Fellows and other fraternal orders. Quiet and 
unassuming in disposition, Doctor Showalter is, nevertheless, a man of force- 
ful personality and positive character and among his fellow citizens he is held 
in the highest regard. 



DR. SIMEON UNDERWOOD TARNEY. 

Each calling or business, if honorable, has its place in human existence, 
constituting a i^art of the plan v,-hcrehy life's methods are pursued and man 
reaches his ultimate destiny. Emerson said that "All are needed by each 
one." And that is as true in one a\'enue of life's actix'ities as in another. 
However, the importance of a Ixtsiness or profession is in a \ery large mea- 
sure determined by its beneficence or usefulness. So dependent is man upon 
his fellow men that the worth of each individual is largely reckoned b}' what 
he has done for humanity. There is no class to whom greater gratitude is 
due from the world at large than to those sympathetic, noble-minded men who 
have applied their efforts to the alleviation of human sufifering. There is no 
known standard by which their beneficent influence can be measured; their 
helpfulness is as broad as the universe and their power goes hand in hand with 
the wonderful laws of nature. Among this honored class in DeKalb county, 
Indiana, must be numbered him whose name appears as the caption of this 
article, who through a long course of years has enjoyed the respect and esteem 
of his fellow citi;;ens, and today is numbererl among the representative people 
of his county. 

Simeon Underwood Tarney is a nati\e son of DeKalb county, Indiana, 
having been born in Jackson county on October 16, 183S. His parents. 
Samuel and Elizabeth (Wyatt) Tarney, came -in 1837 from Ohio, and entered 
government land in Jackson township, which they improved and developed 
into a good farm, and there they spent the remainder of their days. Samuel 
Tarney was a typical pioneer, strong and stalwart of body, and equally rugged 
in character, being numbered among that sterling class who laid here the 
foundations for the splendid prosperity which has been inherited by the pres- 
ent generation. He w-as a practical millwright and successful farmer and 
was the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of good land. Politically, 
Samuel Tarney was an active supporter of the Democratic party and satis- 
factorily filled several local offices. To him and his wife were born seven 
children, of whom one died in infancy. 

The subject of this sketch was reared en tlie paternal farmstead, to the 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 437 

cultivation of which lie i^ax-e a hainl as soon as hirjje enougli. His ethicatiunal 
training was received in the common schools and at the age of twenty-one 
years he engaged in teaching school, carrying on this vocation dnring the 
winters for about five years, working on the farm in the summer vacation 
periods. In the fall of 1865 ^^^- Tarney engaged in the butcher business at 
Corunna, where he remained five years and then moved to -\uburn, where he 
opened a shop on Alain street, opposite the court house. He conducted a 
good business and remained thus engaged there for eighteen years, becoming 
well known as a man of good business methods and fair dealing with his 
patrons. 

As early as 1SS4 Dr. Tarney began work as a specialist in the treatment 
of rectal diseases, and in 1888 laid aside all other interests in order to devote 
his entire time and attention to this practice. His attention was first turned 
particularly to this form of ailment because of bis own sufferings from 
rectal trouble, for which he could secure no relief from methods or remedies 
then in use. He then devoted himself to a serious, study of the subject and 
finally, after a series of experiments, succeeded in formulating a remedy that 
efifected a complete cure in bis own case. Believing that he had discovered 
a valuable cure for one of the most annoying physical ailments, he then gave 
the remedy a thorough test on others until absolutely satisfied that he w-as 
right, and then he began placing the remedy before the public. The remedy 
is known as the Positive Painless Pile Cure and has had a wonderful sale, 
its beneficent effects being testified to b\' hundreds of testimonials which have 
voluntarily been given to the Doctor by those w bom be has treated successfully 
and who have been helped by this wonderful remed}-. The Doctor has been 
successful materially, as the result of the successful record of bis remedy, 
but more to him than material success has been the satisfaction of knowing 
that he has been instrumental in relieving human suffering and thus per- 
formed a real service for humawity. 

On June 17, i860. Doctor Tarney was united in marriage with Caroline 
O. Castner, who was bom and reared in .Seneca county. Ohio. To this union 
have been torn three children, namely: T.anra I'Tta is the wife of Joseph 
Guy, of Chicago; Madison Melvin. who died at the age of thirty-four years, 
was married, but left no children: Romeo Elliott spent most of his life in 
Auburn, Indiana, but is now- a resident of San Jo.sc, California. He has 
been twice married, first to Ada McNabb, by whom there were two children, 
Ralph and Ruth; his second wife, who was a resident of San Jose, was Edna 
Geach. 



438 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Fraternally. Doctor Tarney is an acti\e nienil;er of the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to the local ludge at Aulnn-n, which he 
instituted, being at that time district deputy grand master. He has been an 
Odd Fellow for forty years and still keeps closely in touch with the workings 
of the society, in which he retains a live interest. Though now in his seventy- 
fifth year, he retain>^ his physical powers to a remarkable degree, being as 
active as most men <if forty years and enjoying splendid health. Intensely 
optimistic in lii> view of life, he is a genial companion at all times and is well 
liked by all who know him. He owns some valuable residence and lousiness 
properties in Anliurn, including his own comfortable and attractive home, and 
is proud of a line cottonwood tree standing in the yard of his home, it ha\ing. 
since 1876, attained a height of ninety feet and a circumference of over nine 
feet. 

Doctor Tarney has been an e\e-witness of and active ])articipant in the 
wonderful development which has characterized this secticin of Indiana, his 
memory going back to the jiioneer days when wolves liowled around their 
log cabin home at night and wlieii deer were more ])lentiful than sheep are 
now. The pioneer home was primitively and scantily furnished, and lacked 
many things now considered actual necessities. i)Ut life in those days was less 
exacting and in many res]iects more carefree, so that the pioneers raised their 
children to habits of industry, jiersistence and economy which today are not 
emphasized as they should be. In the community where he has spent three- 
quarters of a century. Doctor Tarney has so li\-ed as to win and retain the 
sincere respect and confidence of the people and he is deservedly ])o])ulav in 
the comnnmit}- which has lieen honored by his citizenshi]>. 



lERRY A. BOLINCIEK 



Bv a life of persistent and well ajjplied inilustry, led along the most 
honorable lines, the gentleman whose name appears above has justly earned 
the right to be represented in a wcrk of the character of the one at hand, 
along with other men of DeKalb connty who have made their influence felt 
in their respective communities. 

Terry A. Bolinger, foreman of the trimming department of the Zim- 
merman Manufacturing Company at Auburn, was born in the city in which 
he now resides on December 29, 1872, and is a son of Andrew and Eliza- 
beth (W'alborn) Bolinger. These parents, who were both natives of the 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 439 

State of Pennsylvania, came in their childhood to Dayton, Ohio, where they 
were reared and where their marriage occurred. Durins; the latter sixties 
they came to DeKalb county, locating three miles west of Aulmrn, wlu-re 
the father followed farniin.i;- pursuits and also couducled a dairy, and 
there he lived until his death, whicli was llu' result of injuries received by 
being struck by a railroad train at ( larrett on August (), 18S7, while on his 
way home from deli\ering milk. lie lingered uutd Seiitember -;d, that year, 
when he passed awa} . He \\a> one of the leading members of the Lutheran 
church at Auburn, living a life entirely consistent with his profession and 
was an official of the church for many years, his wife also belonging to that 
society. They were the parents of four children, two sons and two daugh- 
ters, namely: Benjamin l*^-anklin. familiarly called l-'rank ; Ivmma. the wife 
of Emanuel JMiser ; Lettie. the wife of Levi \\dlf, and jerry A., the sub- 
ject of this sketch, who was fourteen years old at the time of his father's 
death. In 1888 the family moved to Auburn and here the mother still 
resides. 

The subject of this sketch resided on the home farm, in the work of 
which he took a, part until his father's death anil his mother's removal to 
Auburn, when he accompanied her to this city and here finished his educa- 
tion, which had been begun in the district schools. His iirst active employ- 
ment was in the ,\uburn woolen mills, where he rrm;iineil two years and 
then he entered the employ of the Kibblinger (/cmp.iny, m;inuf;icturers of 
carriages, where he learned carriage trimming. When .Mr. Alclnlire suc- 
ceeded Mr. Kibblinger, Mr. P)olinger remained witli him seven years and 
then accepted a position as a carriage trimmer with the Zimmerman Carriage 
Manufacturing Company at Auburn, with whom he remained five years, 
then going back to the Mclntire Company for five years longer. In Octo- 
ber, 1908, Mr. Bolinger went to Butler and took charge of the carriage 
trimming department for the Butler Manufacturing Compan\-, in which 
position he was retained three years, and then going to Elkhart. Indiana, 
took charge of the trimming department for the Crow Motor Car Com[)any. 
After remaining there one season Mr. Bolinger retiuned to .\uburn ;uk1 
on August 3, 1912, took charge of the trimming rocjin for the Zinunerman 
Manufacturing Company, having sixteen men under him. By natural adapt- 
abilitv and training Mr. Ivilinger is well (lualified t^ supervise this inipc.ri- 
ant department of the business and his services with the different firms with 
which he has been connected have been eminently satisfactory in every re- 
spect. He has at all times enjoyed the fullest meastu'e of confidence on the 



440 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

part of both his employers and the men iinder him and is considered an in- 
vakiable man in the position wliich lie occupies. 

In 1892 Mr. Bolinger was married to Lottie Shall, who was Iwrn two 
and one-half miles west of Auburn, the daughter of Eli W. and Adeline 
(dinger) Shull. Her father, who was born and reared here, is the son 
of Henry Shull, one of the early pioneers of this county. The dingers are 
also one of DeKalb county's prominent old families, the early generation of 
the family having located here at a time when corduroy roads were in vogue 
and bridges more conspicuous by their absence than otherwise. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Bolinger has been born a daughter, Jessie, who is now stenographer for 
the De Soto Motor Car Ccmpany. She was for a time employed in the city 
treasurer's office at Elkhart. 

Fraternally, Mr. Bolinger is a member of tlie Knights of Pythias and 
for a number of years was prominently identified with the Ancient Order 
of United Workmen. Religiously, the family are all members of the 
Lutheran church. In every phase of life's activities in which he has been 
engaged, Mr. Bolinger has performed his full part as a man among men 
and, standing four stjuare to e\-ery wind that blows, he merits the iiigli 
position which he now enjoys among his fellow citizens. Genial and un- 
assuming, he has a host of acquaintances throughout the county, among 
whom he is popular. 



JOHN W. BAXTER. 



It cannot be other than interesting to note in the series of personal 
sketches appearing in this work the varying conditions that have compassed 
those whose careers are outlined, and the effort has been made in each case 
to tlirow well focused light on to the individuality and to bring into proper 
perspecti\e tlie scheme of each resjiective career. Each man who stri\^es to 
fulfill his part in connection with human life and human activities is de- 
serving of recognition, whatever may be his field of endeavor, and it is the 
function of works of this nature to perpetuate for future generations an 
autlientic record concerning those represented in its pages, and the value 
of such publications is certain to be cumulative for all time to come, showing 
forth the individual accomplishments of which generic history is ever engen- 
dered. The bar of DeKalb county lias ever maintained a high standing, and 
among the alile members of the same is lie whose name introduces this para- 
graph. \\'ith a natural predilection for the law, and endowed with an 




)HX \V. HAXTKR 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 44I 

analytical mind and ready powers of assimilation, Mr. Ba.xter lias for a 
number of years been firmly established in his profession here, retaining a 
representative clientage and holding the esteem of his professional confreres, 
at the same time leading such a life as to gain the confidence and respect 
of all classes. 

John W. Ba.xter was born in I'Vanklin tow^nship, DeKalb county, Indi- 
ana, on November 19, 1849, and he is the son of Andrew and Nancy 
(Brown) Baxter. Andrew Baxter was born in Washington county, Penn- 
sylvania, the son of William and Sarah ( Rogers ) Baxter. He spent his 
childhood in Pennsylvania, moving with his mother lo \\'ayne county. Ohio, 
where his marriage to Nancy Brown occurretl. The latter was born in 
Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, and was the daughter of Andrew and Ellen 
(Richey) Brown, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of Ireland. 
William and Sarah Baxter were Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, from the north 
of Ireland. In the fall of 1840 Andrew Baxter came to DeKalb county, 
Indiana, and entered a tract of government land in section 5, Franklin 
township. He built a cabin and then returned to Ohio, and then, as early 
as possible in the spring of 1841, he brought his family to their new home. 
The land had not then been cleared antl Mr. Baxter's first crop of corn 
was planted by striking his axe into the ground, dropping corn into the hole 
and then tamping by stepping on it. In that priniiti\e way he succeeded in 
raising sufficient grain for feeding purposes. He si>ent i)ractically the rest of 
his life on that farm, moving to the city of Auburn when eighty-nine years 
old and dying two years later. Pie had lieen prominent in the civic and 
public life of his community for many years, having served several terms 
each as trustee and assessor of the township. He was twice married. His 
first wife, who died in January, 1856, left eight children, Elvina, Ellen, 
William, Andrew, Mary Jane. John W., Nancy Emeline and James B. 
About two years after the death of his fiist wife, Mt. Baxter married her 
sister Elizabeth. To the second union were liorn six sons, five of whom 
grew to maturity and surxivcd their mother, namely: Charles O.. Miles, 
Chauncey, Cory and George. Mrs. Elizabeth Baxter died on January 3, 
1877, and Andrew Baxter passed away on December 18, IQ03. Religiously, 
Mr. Baxter never identified himself with any church, though his leaning 
was toward the Presbyterian church, for which he had the greatest respect 
and veneration, as he did for all religious societies. Politically, he was a 
stanch Democrat, never voting any other ticket. Between him and his 
children there existed the warmest afifection, though on neither side was there 



442 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

much demonstration. Judged by present-day standards, Mr. Baxter did not 
receive much school education, but he had been a close student and was well 
informed in the fundamental sciences, being especially good in mathematics 
and a splendid penman. He took the keenest pleasure in assisting his chil- 
dren in their studies, and all but two or three of them afterward became 
teachers. 

John W. Baxter was reared on the home farm, attending school at 
Auburn, Angola and Butler, He then entered the law department of Alichi- 
gan State University at Ann Arbor, where he was graduated in 1876. He 
then borrowed one hundred and fifty dollars from a sister and one hundred 
and fifty dollars from a man, paying fifteen per cent interest to the latter, 
and with these funds lie bought a law library and began the practice of law 
at Butler. He formed a partnership with William T. Bope, who had been 
a fellow student in the office of McBride & Morlan, at Waterloo, when the 
two young men read law together, and later they had been classmates at 
Ann Arbor. They remained together two and a half or three years, when 
they dissolved partnership, Mr. Bope going to Bad Axe, Michigan, where 
he has prospered and still lives. In 1880 the clerk of the DeKaib circuit 
court died and Air. Baxter was appointed to fill out the unexpired term, and 
in the fall of that year he was elected to a full term (.)f fnur years. After 
the expiration of his term as clerk, Mr. Baxter resumed the practice of law 
at -Vuburn, where he has since remained. Though quiet and unostentatious 
in his manner, Mr. Baxter has impressed himself on the citizens of his county 
and he has been connected with much of the most important litigation tried 
in the local courts, while he has a heavy office practice and has done a vast 
amount of work that has not brought him prominently to the notice of 
the ])ul;lic. Per.sonally, he is a genial and companionable man, an interesting 
conversationalist and one who impres-^es himself favorably on all who come 
in contact with him. 

Politicallv. Mr. Baxter is a Democrat, though not a very active partisan, 
while religioush' lie and his faniilv are identified with the Methodist Episco- 
pal church. 

(In No\enil)er jij, 1877, Air. liaxter was united in marriage to F.lla 
Chamlierlain, the daughter of Dr. James X. Cliamlierlain. To this union 
have been born six children, one of whom died in early infancy, and one, 
Laura, died of dijihtheria at tlie age of four years; Mary, who is a graduate 
of DePauw University, is teacher of languages in the .\uburn high school; 
Frank, who graduated from the Indiana Law School in 1905, was for three 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 443 

years engaged in the practice with his father at Aulxnn ; going to h'ort 
Wayne on a linsiness trip, he lost iiis Hfe in tlie l)urning of the Xew .\veline 
hotel in that city; George graduated from Purdue University in the depart- 
ment of mechanical engineering, and, after teaching two years in that insti- 
tution, he went to Indianapolis, where he is now emplcjyed as a mechanical 
expert with the Rockwood Manufacturing Company; Ruth is a student in the 
high school at Auburn 



WILLIS RHOADS. 



Fealty to facts in the analysis of the character of a citizen of the type 
of the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch is all that is 
required to make a biographical review interesting to those who have at 
heart the good name of the community honored by his residence, because it is 
the honorable reputation of the man of standing and affairs, more than any 
other consideration, that gives character and stability to the body politic. In 
the broad light which things of good report ever invite the name and character 
of Mr.Rhoads stand revealed and secure and, though of modest demeanor, 
his career has been signally honoraljle and useful and may be studied with 
l)rofit by the _\-outh entering upon his life work. 

Willis Rhoads. the efficient and popular cashier of the City National liank 
of Auburn, Indiana, was born on October 2. 1867, in Steuben county, In- 
diana, and is the son of Richard F. and Nancy I Gates ) Rhoads. Both of 
these parents were natives of New ^'ork state, being brought by their re- 
spective parents to Indiana in their childhood. Richard F. Rhoads was the 
son of Lorenzo D. and Abbie Rhoads, who came to this locality in 1850 
and entered a tract of government land in Steuben connty. where they spent 
the remainder of their lives. Nancy Gates was born in P.roonie county. .New 
York, -and in 1840 was brought to Steuben count}-, where her parents also 
entered go\'ernment land and were numbered among the early pioneers. 
Lorenzo Rhoads had a brother who was a colonel in the w^ar of 1812 and 
the land which the family acquired here was obtained through government 
script. They still hold scri])t entitling them to forty acres of government 
land in certain states. Ricluird 1". Rhoads :uul .\ancv ( iates were married 
in Steuben county, were life-long farmers, mv\ livetl there to good old ages, 
the father dying in 1910 and the mother in 1011. They were members of 
the Methodist Episcopal church, and under their careful direction their 
son Willis was reared with correct habits .and insiilled with cirrrect principles 



444 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

of living. He was reared on the home farm and attended the pubhc school 
at Orland, graduating from the high school there in 1886; then he became a 
student in the Tri-State Normal School at .Angola, where he was graduated 
in 1 89 1, with the degree of Bachelor of Science; He then applied himself to 
the reading of law in the office of Judge Roby, at Angola, and in 1894 he was 
admitted to the bar, when Judge Stephen A. Powers was on the local bench. 
Mr. Rhoads continued his law studies and took a course at the Indiana Law 
School, where he graduated in 1895, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. 
Returning then to Angola, Mr. Rhoads formed a partnership with Judge 
Roby and entered actively upon the practice of his [jrofession. In 1896 he 
was elected prosecuting attorney for the tiiirty-fifth judicial circuit, com- 
prising DeKalb and Steuben counties, and was re-elected in 180S, thus 
serving two terms in this responsible position, in which he earned nian\- 
warm encomiums because of his faithful and able performance of duty. 
In 1900 Mr. Rhoads moved to Auburn and again formed a partnership with 
Judge Roby, who in the meantime had moved to that place. Five months 
after the partnership w.is formed Judge Roby was appointed to tlu- licncli 
of the .state appellate court, and Mr. Rhoads thereafter practiced alone until 
1907. Well grounded in the basic ])rinciples of law, a close student (if late 
decisions, careful and painstaking; in tiie preparation of his cases, and a 
forceful and effective pleader in court, Mr. Rhoads achieved a splendid suc- 
cess in his practice and earned the high regard of his professional colleagues. 
On May i, 1007, Mr. Rhoads was elected cashier of the City National Bank, 
of which he had been a stockholder since 1902, his selection being prompted 
largely by the notable success with which he had managed and closed up 
the affairs of the DeKalb Bank, at Waterloo, and the McClellan Bank, at 
Auburn, both being owned by the same stockholders and failing at the same 
time, and of which Mr. Rhoads had been appointed trustee in l>ankruptcy. 
As cashier of the City National Bank, Mr. Rhoads has demonstrated busi- 
ness and financial ability of high order and the splendid record which this 
strong institution is making is due in a large measure to his energetic eftorts, 
personal influence and sound judgment in the handling of its affairs. 

The City National Bank of Auburn was organized in 1902 with an 
authorized capital of $50,000, the principal promoters of the enterprise 
being W. H. Mclntire (who became president). Dr. F. M. Hines. F. E. 
Davenport, cashier, and 1. M. Zent, of .\ulnirn, and Timotliy J. Kniselv and 
David Knisely, of Butler. In 1007 Mr. Mclntire sold his stock in the bank, 
the new officiary being as follows: President, Dr. F. M. Hines: vice-pre.si- 



m^KAr.I! flHNTV, INDIANA. 445 

dent, C. M. Brown; cashier. Willis Rhoads, and assistant casliicr, l-'rcd \V. 
Knott; directors, F. M. Ilines, C. M. Brown, I. M. Zeni. Willis Rhoads, 
Rev. August Young, H. Garrett, Philip Carper and Emory A. Shook. The 
financial statement of the City National Bank, at the close of business on 
June 4, 1913, was as follows: Resources — Loans and discounts, $255,- 
706.63; overdrafts, $4,002.13; U. S. bonds to secure circulation, $25,000; 
other bonds to secure U. S. postal savings deposits, $7,000.00 ; bonds, securi- 
ties, etc., $4,000.00; banking house, furniture and fixtures, $18,330.64; due 
from national banks not reserve agents, $25,505.49; due from approved 
reserve agents, $60,647.37; checks and other items, $1,041.03; notes of 
other national banks, $880.00; cash on hand, $19,360.19; redemption fund 
with C S. treasurer, $1,250.00; total, $422,723.48. Liabilities — Capital 
stock, $50,000.00; surplus fund, $14,000.00; undivided profits, less ex- 
penses and taxes paid, $4,319,58; national bank notes outstanding, $25,000.00: 
deposits subject to check, $205,266.93; demand certificates of deposit, 
$93,877.82; saving deposits, $25,382.63; postal savings deposits. $4,876.52; 
total, $422,723.48. 

A Republican in his political affiliations, Mr. Rhoads has taken an 
active and effective interest in public affairs, and in 1908 he was the nominee 
of his party for state senator, but went down to defeat together with the rest 
of the ticket. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic order, in which he 
has attained the first fourteen degrees in the Scottish Rite, and he is also a 
member of the Knights of Pythias and the Knights of the Golden Eagle. 
Religiously, he is, with his wife, connected with the Methodist Episcopal 
church, of which he is one of the stewards. In the civic life of the com- 
munity, Mr. Rhoads has been a prominent figure and an influential factor, 
having been for a number of years a member of tlie Auburn library board 
and for a number of years chairman of the board of children's guardians. 
Sociallv, he and his wife move in the best circles and are deservedly popular 
among their acquaintances. 

In 1897 Willis Rhoads was married to Clara Morgan, a daughter of 
VVinfield S. and Elizabeth (McCurdy) Morgan. She was born four miles 
northeast of Butler, this county, where her parents had been early .settlers. 
Her maternal grandfather, John McCurdy, was one of the pioneer Metho- 
dist preachers in this county and was a well-known character and a man of 
great influence for good. To Mr. and Mrs. Rhoads have been horn three 
children, one son and two daughters, namely : Frank Morgan, born October 
18, 1898; Margaret Lucile, born October 27, 1902, and Joanna Elizabeth, 
born July 6, 1910. 



446 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

JOHN PETER HOFF. 

Clearly defined purpose and consecutive effort in the afifairs of life will 
inevitably result in the attaining of a due measure of success, but in follow- 
ing out the career of one who has attained success by his own efforts there 
comes into view the intrinsic individuality wliich made such accomplish- 
ments possible, and thus there is granted an objective incentive and inspira- 
tion, wliile at the same time tliere is t.-nkindled a feeling of respect and admira- 
tion. The qualities wiiich have made Mr. Huff one of the prominent and 
successful men of Auburn have also lirought him tiie esteem oi his fellow 
townsmen, for his career has been oni.- uf well-directed energy, strong de- 
termination and honorable methods. 

John 1'. Hdfi", wliii is rendt-ring efficient ser\'ice as sheriff of DeKalb 
county, Indiana, is a nati\e of this county, iia\ing been born at Auburn 
on October 2, 1885, and \k- is the son of Frank A. and Mary J. Hoff, who 
are mentioned elsewhere in this work. Mr. Hoff was reared in this city 
and recei\ed his (.-(Uication in the pul.ilic school>, attending tlie high scliool 
up to tile senior \-ear. He was then engaged for a tiuR- in his father's 
grocery store, but later I>ecame an employe in the .Vulnirn Steam Laundry, 
of which he acquiretl a one-third interest when nineteen years old. Shortly 
after attaining his majority, he became half owner of the business, but about 
a year later, sold out and going to Rockfprd, Illinois, went to work for the 
White Swan Laundry, a large concern, with which he was associated about 
six months. He then returned to Auburn and was again in his father's store 
until January, 1909, when he was appointed a deputy under Sheriff Thomas, 
serving in this capacity for four years. So efficient was his discharge of 
his official duties that in the fall of IQ12 he was elected sheriff of DeKalb 
county and is the ])resent incumbent of the office. It was believed that at 
the time he tocik the office he was the youngest sheriff in Indiana, and the 
youngest but one in the Lhiited States. Physically, Mr. Hoff is well quali- 
fied for his position, being a man of large build and determined character and 
fearless in the discharge of his duties. He is genial in his relations with his 
associates, a good mixer and popular in all circles in which he moves. 

On November 24, 1909, John P. Hoff was married to Lottie Wolford, 
a daughter of Frank W. and Clara M. (Royer) Wolford. Her father was 
a native of Williams county, Ohio, and in his young manhood came to 
Garrett, Indiana, to take employment with the Baltimore & Ohio railway 
in the yards there, first as switchman and later as conductor. To Mr. and 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 447 

Mrs. Hofif has been horn a dauf^htcr, Mary Josephine, whose birth occurred 
on October 19, 191 1. 

Politically, Mr. Hoff is a Democrat and, fraternally, is a member of 
the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Columbus. 
Religiously, he is a member of the Catliolic church, while ?vlrs, Hoff belongs 
to the Methodist Episcopal cliurch. Ixith hciiii^- earnest supporters of their 
respective churches. 

In view of the energy, determination and integrity wliich liaxe ciiar- 
acterized Mr. Hoft's life, and of his standing in the community where he has 
spent his life, lie is eminently entitled to representation in a work (jf the 
character of the one at hand. 



CHARLES R. REED. 



A career marked by earnest and indefatigal)le application has been that 
of this substantial ami honored citizen of Waterloo, wliere lie lias maintained 
a residence for many years, during all of which time his life has been an 
open book, known and read by his fellowmen. He was a \aliant soldier of 
the Civil war, where his fidelity was of the type which has characterized his 
actions in all their relations and gained for him the confidence and esteem 
of the public and unt)ounded respect of all witli whom he has been brought 
into contact. 

Charles R. Reed, who, after a life of strenuous activity, is now retired 
and residing in his pleasant home in Waterloo. Indiana, was Irorn in Butler 
township, DeKalb county, on October 13, 1842. tiie son of Russell and 
Marilla (Holbrook) Reed. Russell Reed was born probably in Vermont, 
and in New York state married Marilla Holbrook, who was born in Massa- 
chusetts, the daughter of Lyman Holbrook. Lyman Holbrook brought his 
family to DeKalb county from Jefferson count\ . New York, whither they 
had come from Massachu.setts, and in 1834 they settled in the southwestern 
part of Butler township, DeKall) county. In 1836 Russell Reed came to 
DeKalb county and settled on a farm adjoining the Holbrook farm in 
Butler township, and here he spent his later life with the exception of five 
years, when he lived in Iowa. His death occurred in 1864 and his wife sur- 
vived him many years, her death occurring in 1893, l)otli l)eing buried in the 
Huntertown cemetery. 

Charles R. Reed was rearetl to maturity in lUitk-r townslup. and in 



448 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

August, 1862, he enlisted in Company C, Eighty-eighth Regiment, Indiana 
Vokinteer Infantry, which was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. 
Mr. Reed enlisted as a private but was soon promoted to the rank of cor- 
poral. On September 20, 1863, he was wounded at the l)attle of Chicka- 
mauga and was confined in the hospital for five months. The day after he 
was wounded he was captured by the enemy, but ten days later was paroled. 
In the winter of 1864-5 1^^ ^"^'^s detailed to go to Chattanooga and thence to 
Charleston, Tennessee, to take charge of a company of men made up from 
different regiments. He participated in the battles of Perryville, Murfrees- 
boro, Chickamauga, and the battles, skirmishes and marches incident to the 
campaign leading up to Atlanta, and nearly all the other engagements of 
his regiment until the close of the war, receiving his honorable discharge on 
June 7, 1865, at Washington, D. C. A brother of his, Oliver Reed, died in 
the service at Jeffersonville, Indiana, in 1864. Before the war Mr. Reed 
had received his education in the district schools and had also attended the 
seminary at Huntertown, and after the war he attended the free school at 
Fort Wayne, completing here the education which had been interrupted by 
the war. He engaged in teaching school with considerable success in Allen, 
Noble and DeKalb counties, and also taught vocal music for twenty years, 
both in ordinary classes and in normal classes in Ohio, Illinois and Indiana, 
and in the public schools of Waterloo, resigning his position in the latter 
schools in 1911, although he was requested by the board to continue his 
labors there. During the same time that he was teaching school Mr. Reed 
also supervised the operation of his farm, in which he met with good suc- 
cess. He is now retired from active pursuits and is living quietly in his 
pleasant and attractive home in Waterloo. 

In 1868 Mr. Reed was married in Swan township. Noble county, In- 
diana, to Mary P. Perry, who was born and reared there, a daughter of 
Oliver and Mary (Francis) Perry. To this union was born one child, 
Clyde v., who is telegraph operator at Waterloo for the Lake Shore & 
Michigan Southern railroad, his wife being ticket agent. He married Ella 
Goodwin, the daughter of Leander Goodwin, and they have one son, Lynn 
Goodwin Reed. In the year that Mr. Reed moved from Noble county to 
Waterloo, 1871, his first wife died, she passing away on September 17th, and 
on March 16, 1876, he married Ella S. Smith, who was born in Franklin 
township, this county, tlie daughter of Henry and Mary Jane (Shaneholt) 
Smith. Her father, who was born in Ohio, was a son of Archibald and 
Mary (Thompson) Smith, the former a native of Teregles, Scotland, born 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 449 

on December 27, 1788, the latter born in Cumberland county, England, 
on October 29, 1794. These parents were married in Liverpool, England, 
on October it, i8i8, and immediately started for America, being ten weeks 
on the ocean. They lived in New York a short time, then moved to Stark 
and Medina counties, Ohio, where they followed farming pursuits until 
1841, when they came to DeKalb county, Indiana, locating near Hamilton in 
Franklin township, where Archiljakl Smith bought five hundred acres of 
land. Here his death occurred in 1861 and his wife died in 1876. riicir 
snn. Henry, married Mary Jane Shaneholt, in Stark county, Ohio, and 
came here in 1841. His wife died when their daughter, Ella S., was a cliild 
only three months old. and Henry Smitli's sister, Margaret, became the 
foster mother to the little one and reared her to womanhood. After Ella 
was grown to maturit\- and married to Mr. Reed she always thought of 
Aunt Margaret as a child would of a mother. Miss Margaret Smith lived 
wuth her parents until after their death, and then she and her brother, 
Archil)ald, lived in Waterloo for some years. In 1888 she became the wife 
of Jacob I. Frazer, who died in 1898. .uid now she resides in Waterloo. She 
was born near Massillon. Stark county, Ohio, on September 24, 1831, and is 
now eighty-two years old. Mr. Reed now makes liis Ikjuh- with her. Her 
life has been one of cjuiet self-sacrifice, performing m;iin- kind deeds for 
others, many of whom remember her with gratitude. Her training, example 
and instruction so imjjressed itself on Mrs. Reed that tlu- latter became a 
devoted wife and mother, rearing her children to honored and respected 
womanhood. To Mr. and Mrs, Reed were born the following children: 
Daisy A., the wife of Edmund Brown, of Uri)ana, Ohio; Mary Blanch is the 
wife of Frank Spiker, of Massillon, Ohio, and they have one son, Harold 
R. ; Mabel Margaret is the wife of Lawrence Eugene Pontius, a photograi)her 
at Columbia City, Indiana. The mother of these children died on January 
19, 1894. She w^as a devoted and faithful memlier of the Presbyterian 
church and was beloved by all who knew her. 

Charles R. Reed has led an active and strenuous life in some respects 
and has at all times enjoyed the absolute confidence of ;il] who knew him. 
Aside from the interests alread}- mentioned hv was ;it one time ;i ]);irtner in a 
flour and feed exchange and also served as I'nited States Express Company's 
.agent at Waterloo. He was twice elected justice of the peace, serving eight 
years altogether and the discharge of his duties was characterized by a sense 
of justice and discriniin;ition that e.irued the conmu-nd.-ition of all familiar 
(29) 



450 DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. 

with the proceedings of his court. He is a member of the Presbyterian 
church, in whicli lie is an elder, and also a devoted member of the Grand 
Army of the Republic, which he served as commander three full terms, 
filled out another term by appointment and is now commander of the post. 
His integrity of principle and purity of motive are unquestioned and being a 
man of splendid disposition he is consequently popular in all the circles in 
which he moves, and is eminently deserving of representation among the 
enterprising and progressive citizens of his cnmmunity. 



GEORtiE \V. NEWCOMER. 

Among the successful citizens of DeKalb county must l)e nuniljcred him 
whose name appears at the head of this sketcii. After a period of vears, 
during which he indefatigably labored along agricultural lines, he was pros- 
pered to a gratifying degree and is now enabled to enjoy that rest which he 
so richly earned. He is a man of stanch and reliable make-up and has won 
and retains the highest regard of those who know him. 

George W. Newcomer, one of the well known and pojiular citizens of 
Waterloo, was born in Columbiana county. Ohio, on the 15th dav of .\pril. 
1845, and -is a son of Christian and Mary (Wolfe) Newcomer. Christian 
Newcomer, who was loom in Pennsylvani.i, came to Columbiana county. 
Ohio, among its very early settlers. In iX_|;r the subject'^; parents moved 
to DeKalb county, Indiana, settling on section 2(), Franklin townshi]), wiiere 
the father entered eighty acres of government land at the regulation price 
of one dollar and a quarter an acre. At the time of their settlement not a 
stick of timber had been cut on the land and it was necessarv ti> clear a spot 
before a cabin could be erected. A tree located on the site of the cabin was 
utilized for shingles, the stump of the same being conx erted into a table for 
family use. There they established their jiermanent home and reared tiieir 
children, the father devoting his energies to the clearing of the kuul and the 
cultivation of the soil. Christian and Mary Newcomer were the ])arents of 
eleven children, of whom (jue died in infancy, ten grew to maturity, and 
five are still living. Of those who reached adult years the following mention 
may be made: Mrs. Nancy King lived in Waterloo until her death: Andrew 
died at the age of about twenty years; Peggy died in young womanhood, as 
did Kate; Barbara, who was the wife of Gabriel Miller, lived in different 
places in DeKalb county and is now deceased ; Mrs. Marv Camp lives at 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 45 1 

Fairfield Center; Maria is the widciw of Danie! Ciingericli. and lives at 
Butler, this county; Joseph lives in Waterloo; (ieor-jje W. and Christian also 
live in Waterloo. 

George \V. Newcomer hat! hut little opportunitv for receivinjj a school 
education in his youth, but he did learn the practical diUies of the farm and 
also imbibed those habits of industry and perse\erance which were such im- 
portant contributing elements to his subsequent success. He remained at 
home until his marriage in 1872, when he and his wife moved on to a tract 
of land which he owned. This land represented years of the most rigid 
economy and strenuous efifort on his part. He first secured five acres in 
Franklin township from his earnings and fr</ni the profits derived from this 
■land he bought ten acres more and then re])ealing the process he finally 
bought ten acres at a time until he eventual!) (jwned fortv-five acres of 
land. He later bought five acres more fmni liis father from wiiich to get 
timber to build a barn. He worked man\- ila\s for t\\ent\-five cents a dav 
and saved money. I^he young couple started on their matrimonial career 
with very little in the way of home comforts and no luxuries, but 1)\ pluck, 
energy and good management they jirospered until eventually Mr. New- 
comer became the owner of twn hundred ami f(irt\ acres df land. This 
tract is now di\ided into three parcels of eighty acres each, (ju each i>f which 
is one of his sons. He is selling the land tn these sons and one lias already 
paid for his tract. In .\pril, 1001. Mr. .Xewconier bnuglit a comfortable 
and attractive home on the south edge of I'niontown on an eminence over- 
looking the \alley of Cedar Creek across from Waterloo and there he now 
resides. 

On April 4, 1872, Mr. Newcomer married I>arbara \'an Horn, who was 
born in Noble county, Indiana, the daughter of Joiin and Annie (Rosen- 
berger) Van Horn. Mr. and Mrs. \'an Horn came from Chambersburg, 
Columbiana county, Ohio, to DeKalb county in the fall of 1853, driving 
through with teams to Noble county, this state. There they entered one 
hundred and sixty acres of land, none of which h.id been cleareti, and 
erected a cabin, constructing the doors, bedstead- and uiensils in the ])rimi- 
tive manner customary in those da\s. the cooking being done by the fire- 
place and the illimn'n;ition of tlie cabin l)einn provided li\- tlie old-fasiiioned 
grease lamp. Mrs. Newcomer's mother died about 1885 in l\ice countw 
Kansas, and her father died al>out eleven months later at Aetna, Newaygo 
county, Michigan. In Ohio John Van Horn had been employed in the coal 
mines at Chambersburg, but after coming to Indiana he devoted bis entire 
attention to farming. He and his wife belonged to tlie .Metliodist church. 



452 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

In Ohio he had been a member of tlie Free and Accepted Masons and was a 
member of the Grand Army of the Repulihc, the membership being con- 
sistent from the fact that he was a soldier in the war of the Rebelhon. Mr. 
and Mrs. Van Horn's respective mothers bore the maiden names of EHza- 
beth Hanselman and EHzabeth Hunsaker. Mrs. Newcomer was reared in 
Nol)le county, IncHana, until fourteen years of age, when she came to DeKalb 
county and lived with her uncle, George Van ITorn, about three miles east 
of Waterloo, in Wilmington townshi]). until her marriage. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Newcomer have been born six children, namely: Charles E., born May 12, 
1873, married Effie Mann, of Franklin township, the daughter of Jehu and 
I'^Iizalieth Mann. To them ha\e lieen born fi\e children. Marion, Harold, 
Howard, Grace and Gladys. Charles E. Newcomer has bought eighty acres 
of land from his father; Lona L. is at home with her parents; Mary M. 
first married Ed. McKague, by whom one child was born, Blanche Irene. 
After Mr. McKague's death she became the wife of John W. Brown, and 
they now live in Franklin township, this county: Arna O., born February 7, 
1879, married Ora Hodges, and lives on eighty acres of his father's farm, 
half of which he has paid for. Me is the father of two daughters, Gertrude 
;uid Mildred. Ora Hodges w:is the (hmghter of James and Lois (Holcomb) 
Hodges: Elmer G. Newcomer, l)orn October 22, 1882, married Junia 
Schultz, of Fr;iiiklin townshi]), the daughter of Allen and Aniatula (Mann) 
Schultz, and to Mr. and Mrs. Newcomer ha\e been born three children, 
Esther, Arthur and Ralph. Elmer G. Newcomer is operating eighty acres 
of his father's farm with the \ie\\ of purchasing the same; William L. New- 
comer, born May 29, 1893, "'i" married Mae Krum, daughter of Eugene 
and Delia (Shultz) Krum, of Ashley, DeKalb cnunty, on December 18, 
1913, is assisting his brothers on the farm: \'irgil anil \'ernon, twins, born 
July 29, 1885, are both deceased, one dying at birth, and the other at the age 
of five months. 

Fraternally, Mr. Newcomer is a men]l)er of the Free and ;\ccepted 
Masons, and he and his wife and daughter, Lona, are members of the 
Order of the Eastern Star. .V well lialanceil mind, sound and practical in- 
telligence and mature judgment are among Mr Newcomer's prominent char- 
acteristics, to which may also be added a geniality and amiability of dis- 
])osition which has won for him a large and loyal following among his 
acquaintances. Though now retired from active business pursuits, he still 
retains an intelligent interest in the welfare of the conmiunity and unre- 
servedly gives his support to every movement for the educational, moral or 
material advancement of his fellow citizens. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 453 

HARVEY T. JUDSON. 

Concentration of purpose and persistently applied energy rarely fail of 
success in the accomplishment of any task and when we examine the life 
record of Harvey T. Judson in order to find how he has won his position 
among the substantial residents of DeKalb county, we find that these have 
been strong elements in his business career. 

Mr. Judson was born at Eutler, DeKalb county, Indiana, un Ocldber 
20, 1882, and is a son of Charles and Lillie Helle (Holcumbj Judson. The 
Judson family has a long and honorable lineage, being traced back to the 
Judson who came to this country on the historic "Mayflower" in 1O20, and 
back of him throu.^h many centuries in England. The subject's father, 
Charles Judson, came to DeKalb county in 1878 from Bethel, Connecticut, 
locating at Butler, where he was employed as an engineer on the Wabash 
railroad. His wife, Lillie llelle Holcomb, was a nati\e of Danbury, Con- 
necticut. To Mr. and Mrs. Judson were born two sons, Harvey T., the 
immediate subject of this sketch, and George B.. who was born on June 2, 
1886, and who is now manager of the Highland Park State Bank at Detroit. 
Michigan. The family lived at Butler until about 1887, when they moved 
to Chicago, and from there to Detroit in i8c)(). and fin.ally to Ashley, DeKalb 
county, Indiana, in 1893. 

Harvey T. Judson received his educatii;n in the common school>. and 
for two years attended the high ■school al .Vshley. When seventeen years 
of age he went to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where be became a machinist's 
apprentice in the shops of the Wabash railroad. Here he learned his trade 
thoroughly and for a few months was employed at it, but in 1902 he became 
a traveling salesman for the Walter M. Lowney Chocolate Company, his 
territory covering Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. In this line he was eminently 
successful so that in January, 1909, he liecame manager of the Minneapolis 
branch for the Lowney people. In the meantime Mr. Judson had been on 
the watch for an available opportunity to engage in business for himself, and 
in May, 1910, he came to Auburn and established himself here. He has a 
splendid store well fitted up and stoeked with a well selected line of goods, 
and having a thorough knowledge of the Inisincss he has been able to cater 
to the wants of the public in a way that has attracted to him a large patron- 
age. He is eminently public-'^pirited in his attitude toward local affairs and 
is an active member of the .Vuburn Commercial Club. Though not long a 
resident of Auburn, he has already earned and commands the unreserved con- 



454 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

fidence and good will of tlie Inisine-ss men of tht- city and others who have 
had dealings with him. 

Politically, Mr. Judson gives his support to the Democratic party, 
though too busy a man to take a very active part in political affairs. Socially 
he and his wife move in the best circles of the city and are deservedly 
popular among their friends and acquaintances. 

On January i6, 1904, Mr. Judson married Mabel Camp, daughter of 
Aaron W. and Amanda Ellen ( Husselman ) Camp, who was born September 
10, 1884, in Smithfield township, a .sketch of whose parents appears else- 
where in this work. Mrs. Judson was reared in Smithfield township and 
received a good education, being a graduate of the Ashley high school. 
She is a lady of charming personality and is the center of the social circle 
in which she mo\es. Persona!l_\ . Mr. Judson. liy his straightforward life, 
correct business methods and strict integrity, has earned the commendation 
of his fellows and is rightfully numbered among the representative men of 
his community. 



LEANDER S. GOODWIN. 

The most elaborate history is necessarily an abridgment, the historiam 
being compelled to select his facts and materials from a multitude of details. 
So in every life of honor and usefulness the biographer finds no dearth of 
incident, and yet in summing up the career of any man the writer needs 
touch only the most salient points, giving one the keynote of his character, but 
eliminating much that is superfluous. Consequently in calling the reader's 
attention to the life record of the late Leander S. Goodwin no attempt shall 
be made to recount all the important acts in his useful life, nor recite every 
interesting incident in his somewhat remarkable career, for it is deemed that 
only a few of them will suffice to show him to I>e entirely worthy of a place 
in this volume along with his fellows of high standing and recognized worth, 
men whose names have figured pr<>minently in the affairs of DcFvalb county 
in the generations that are passed. 

Leander S. Goodwin was born on August 23. 1846, in .\shland county, 
Ohio, and was a son of Samuel and Elizalieth (Good) Goodwin. Samuel' 
Goodwin, who was born in Center county, Pennsylvania, on October 16, 
181 5, was the second son in a family of seven children, born to David and 
Catherine (Zimmerman) Goodwin, also natives of the Keystone state. In 
1822 David and Catherine Goodwin moved to \\'avne countv, Ohio, and: 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 455 

later to Ashland county, this state, where Samuel grew to manhood. In 
1843 'i"-' was married to Elizabeth Cjuod. and settled in Ashland county, 
where they lived until 1844, when the)- moved to Dekalb county, Indiana, 
settling on a farm in Union township, where they made their permanent 
home. At that time their farm was densely covered with timber and the 
task of clearing the land aiui putting it in shape for cultivation was one of 
large proportions, but, not discouraged by the outlook, Mr. Goodwin, by 
strenuous and persistent labor, cleared the land and in the course of time had 
one of the best farms in this locality, the improvement consisting of a large, 
comfortable residence and other sul)stantial farm buildings. He accumu- 
lated a valuable property and was alile to spend his later years in compara- 
tive ease. His wife died in 1865, leaving five children: Mrs. Mary E. 
Keck, Leander S., Joseph W., Mrs. Lucy George and Mrs. Alice Atwood 
Cummings. Leander S. Goodwin was reared to manhood on the farm in 
Union township, and in the fall of 1867 he married Rebecca Hively, who 
was reared a short distance west of Waterloo, being a daughter of David 
and Leah (Dayhuff) Hively, who came from Pennsylvania and probably 
lived in Columbiana county, Ohio, until their removal to DeKalb county. 
They located about one and one-half miles west of Waterloo some time before 
the Civil war and became known as substaiUial and progressi\e citizens of 
the community. After Leander Goodwin was married he followed farming 
a number of years, then engaged in the meat Inisiness in Waterloo, though 
also handling agricultural implements. In all the enterprises to which he 
addressed himself he met with gratifying success and was for a number of 
years counted a representative citizen of his community because of the 
active part he took in its progress and improvement and the substantial quali- 
ties of character which he possessed. Politically, he was active in the sup- 
port of the Republican party and at one time served as doorkeeper of the 
House of Representatives at Indianapolis. To his union with Rebecca Hively 
were born the following children: h'.lta, the wife of Daniel Blicker. of 
Waterloo; Ella, wife of Clyde \'. Reed, of Waterloo; .\lvin, ni Pleasant 
Lake, and Samuel, of W^aterloo. The mother of these children died in 
1884, and in 1890 Mr. Goodwin married Jennie Lawhead, to whom were 
born three children, Martha, Jay and Willie. Mr. Goodwin died in 1898. 
and his death was considered a distinct loss lo the community. Religiously, 
he was a member of the United Brethren church until the division in that 
society. He was a man of sterling qualities of character and impressed his 
personality on the community to a marked degree. His widow and her 



456 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

three children now live on the old home place at the western edge of the 
town of Waterloo. Mr. Goodwin's life was replete with duty well and con- 
scientiously performed in all relations. He was not a man to shrink from 
dut\ , howe\er irksome or dangerous, and possessed the traits that win in life's 
affairs. He is eminently deserving oi representation in a work of this char- 
acter. 



HUGH R. CULBERT,SON. 

The gentleman tn a review oi wliose life the reader's attention is here- 
with directed is recognized as one of the energetic, well known business men 
of Auburn, who b\- his enterprise and progressive methods has contributed in 
a material way to the commercial advancement of the city, besides filling 
worthily the responsitjie position of mavor of the citv. In the course of an 
honorable career he has been successful in the lines to which his efforts have 
been directed and enjo\s distinctive ])restige among the representati\e men 
of his city and county. 

Hugh R. Culbertson was born on his father's farm in Concord town- 
ship. DeKalb county, Indiana, on April 9, 1853, and is a son of Robert and 
Margaret (Robinson) Culbertson. Robert Culbertson was a native of the 
state of Ohio, but was numbered among the pioneers of DeKalb county, 
owning a good farm in Concord township. After the death of his first wife, 
the subject's mother, he married Mrs. Sidney Brown, widow of Samuel 
Brown. He remained on the farm until advancing years compelled him to 
relinquish active labor, and he went to live with a daughter, Mrs. Welch, in 
Jackson township, where liis death occurred. His widow was stricken with 
paralysis in her old age and was thereafter cared for by her son, Herman L. 
Brown, until her death, which occurred in 10 10. Hugh R. Culbertson is one 
of seven children born to his parents, two of whom died in infancy. Zephan- 
iah was a soldier in the Civil war and was killed at the battle of Shiloh ; Mary 
Jane, who is deceased, was the wife of John Owens, of Jackson township, 
this county; James, who died in the later eighties, was a veteran of the Civil 
war, and afterwards lived in Auburn, where he owned a good brick resi- 
dence at the corner of Main and Tenth streets; Emily became the wife of 
Daniel Welch and they lived in Jackson township, this county, until Mr. 
Welch's health failed, when they moved to Auburn, where he died. She 
later married Charles Jenkins, ex-county clerk and successful grocer at Au- 
burn. 




HUGH U. CULBKRTSON 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 457 

Hugh R. Ciill)(.rts()n spent his hoyhoixl ;ukI young manhood on the 
home farm in Concord township, reccivini; ins education in the district 
schools of that neighborhood. After his marriage, in 1875, he engaged in 
farming on his own account and was so engaged until 1881, when he went to 
Columbia City, this state, and was employed in the implement and buggy 
business. In August of the same year he came to Auburn and bought an 
interest in a hardware store in partnership with D. D. Snyder, and handled a 
regular line of hardware as well as farm machinery. In the fall of 1884 the 
hardware stock was sold to \\'. H. Kibblinger. Messrs. Culbertson and Sny- 
der continuing the implement business together until Mr. Snyder sold his 
interest in the business to \¥. R. Brown. Cidbertson & Brown continued 
together until i8c)i, when they added a iianhvare deparlnicnt and U>nk in M. 
Boland as a partner. .\ few years later Culhertsnn and I^DJand Ixiught 
Brown's interest and ran tiie business until September 4. i<)()4. when the 
Culbertson Hardware Comj)any was incorporated, with I lu.s^li R. Culbertson 
as the principal stockholder, the remaining stock being held b\- R. 1), \\'elch 
and F. E. Dragoo. In ic;o8 Mr. Welch sold his stock to Mr. Dragoo. The 
company has a paid-up capital stock of seven thousand dollars, and carries a 
large and complete line of all kinds of shelf and heavy hardware, as well as 
agricultural implements and farm machinery. The retail store is located on 
the north side of the public sc|uare and a large wareroom is maintained at 
the corner of Seventh and East streets. In i8()i Mr. Culbertson erected a 
large and attractive home at the corner of Second and Main streets, which is 
considered one of the handsomest homes in AuInuMi. The splendid success 
which attended Mr. Culbertson's business efforts came as the result only of 
the most persistent energv' and indefatigable efforts, and all tliat he has today 
has Ijeen honestly earned. His Inisiness record here has been characterized by 
the strictest integritv of word and deed and no man enjoys to a greater 
extent the confidence and good will of the people. 

A Republican in his political affiliations, Mr. Culberts<in has for many 
vears been an ardent supporter and active worker in the ranks of the or- 
ganization. He has a number of times served as a delegate to state conven- 
tions and was an alternate delegate to the national convention which nom- 
inated \\'illiam Howard Taft for the Presidency. In the fall of 1909 he was 
elected mayor of Auburn after a most spirited contest. The regular election 
resulted in a tie vote between the two leading candidates for the mayoralty, 
despite the fact that the city is normally Democratic by one hundred votes. 
A special election was then called and Mr. Culliertson was then elected by a 



458 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

majority of twenty-two votes. His term will expire on January i, 1914. 1-ra- 
ternaiiy, Mr. Cull)ertson is a meniber of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- 
lows and tile Knio^hts of Pytiiias. Mrs. Culbertson is a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church. 

In 1875 Hugh R. Culbertson was married to Harriett, the adopted 
daughter of James Dragoo. Mr. Dragon was a pioneer settler of this county, 
having come from Hayesville, Ohio, in 1837 and entered government land in 
Jackson and Concord townships. He became a successful farmer and busi- 
ness man, shipping large numbers of live stock to Eastern markets, and he 
took a prominent part in the civic life of the community. He was the father of 
two children and also adopted three girls, whom he reared wnth the same care 
and attention as if thev had Ijeen of his own flesh and blood. Mrs. Culbertson 
was born in the southeastern part of DeKalb county. Her father died when 
she was a little girl and she was reared in the Dragoo home. Mr. and Mrs. 
Culbertson ha\e a daughter, Nellie, born on March 10, 1896. 



JAMES CHAPMAN. 



Of those who have seen the wonderful development of northeastern 
Indiana from the swamps and primeval forests and who have played well 
their parts in the great undertaking, none deserve special mention in a 
historical work better than James Chapman, whose conversation is at once 
instructive and interesting as he recalls the pioneer days, the times when 
there were only log school houses, with puncheon floors and greased paper 
for window panes, the long miles of endless woods, large numbers of deer 
and other wild animals which haunted the forests at that remote period, and 
of the days when civilization first attempted to reclaim these lands, turning 
them into fine farms, where plenty and happiness now abound. 

Mr. Chapman was horn on March 23, 1827, in Stark count}-, Ohio, 
and is a son of John and Eunice (Boyle) Chapman. John Chapman was 
born probably near Beaver Ealls, Pennsylvania, and Eunice Boyle, who also 
was a native of the Keystone state, was of Irish parentage. She and John 
Chapman were married in their native state and subsequently moved to 
Stark county. Ohio, locating near Massillon. When James Chapman was 
about seven years old they moved to that part of Richland county which 
afterwards became Ashland count}-, Ohio, where the parents lixcd for many 
vears and reared their familv. In October, 1852, they moved to Allen 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 459 

county, Indiana, locating three miles southeast of Huntertown, where the 
parents spent the rest of their li\es, and where John Chapman successfully 
followed farming pursuits. James Chai)man li\ed en the home farm until 
eighteen years of age and then gave his attention U< carpenter work in which 
he became an expert and in which he was successful. Mis father not only 
conducted the home farm but gave considerable attention to veterinary work 
and was very successful in the treatment of dumb animals, especially horses. 
In addition to carpenter work James Chapman engaged in the buying and 
selling of all kinds of live .stock and also handled grain, wool and other com- 
modities in large amounts. .\n idea of the extent of his operations may be 
gained from the statement that in one year he bought and sold over one hun- 
dred and twenty thousand pounds of wool, and in one year sheared twenty- 
five hundred sheep which he had bought, shipping the wool to New York 
and Philadelphia. In 1884 Mr. Chapman came to Waterloo and bought a 
farm in the northeast quarter of the southeastern section of Smithfield town- 
ship, and here he carried on farming and made his home for about twenty 
years, at the same time dealing in livestock. About 1Q03 Mr. Chapman 
moved into the town of Waterloo, where he has since resided, and about 
1909, at the age of eighty-two years, he retired from active business and has 
since been living quietly in his beautiful and attractive home here. Politically 
Mr. Chapman was in early life a Democrat, but after the organization of the 
Republican party, or rather the first Lincoln campaign, he has been allied with 
the latter party and has been ardent in its support. His life has been a busy 
one and he has been closely identified in many ways with important business 
interests, having carried on many and diverse lines of business at the same 
time. He was an honest and energetic man and at all times commanded the 
respect of all with whom he had dealings. His last active work was to 
superintend the erection of the very pleasant and modern house in which he 
now resides, the place being provided with all up-to-date conveniences, and 
being a pleasant and comfortable home. Mr. Chapman is now the oldest 
man living in Waterloo and until he suffered from an attack of la grippe three 
years ago, he was remarkably active for his age, and even now at the age of 
eighty-six years his eyesight and hearing are only slightly impaired and his 
memory very good. 

On October 28, 1852, Mr. Chapman married Nancy Johnson, whose 
father, Robert Johnson, came from county Cork, Ireland, being of Scotch- 
Irish descent. Nancy Johnson was born and reared in Richland, afterward 
Ashland, countv. Ohio, where she lived until her marriage and for a shorf 



460 DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. 

time afterward. To Mr. and Mrs. Chapman were born five children: 
Eunice Josephine, the wife of Robert Underwood, a veteran of the Civil 
war, and she now Hves at Denver, Colorado; she has a daughter, Mrs. W. J. 
Railey, of Denver, who has one son, Robert Martin Railey ; Laura, who re- 
mains unmarried, lives with her father in Waterloo and has charge of the 
home and assists her father in the management of his affairs; Emma Eliza- 
beth is the wife of Marshall Lewis and lives in Franklin township, five miles 
from Waterloo; she is the mother of two chiklrL-n, Fred and Iva, the latter 
being the wife of Milton Wiler and tlu- niother nf three children. I'^sther, 
Alfred and P)crt Lewis; (jtinoc W'illiur died at the age of nineteen vears and 
Robert died in infancy. Mrs. Cluipnian died in October, 1904, just twenty- 
four da)-s prior to the fifty-second anniversarx- of their marriage. She was 
a woman of many gracious qualities of head and heart and was beloxed by 
the entire community in which she had spent so many active and happy years. 
Mr. Chapman is widely known for his kindly qualities and hospitality, no 
worthy per.son ever having left his door unfed and his high .standing among 
the people of this locality shows how well his life has been spent, for he is 
appreciated for his fine [)ersnnal qualities and for the active part he has taken 
in the upliuilding and development of the \-arious ci)mmunities in which he 
has lived. 



TAMES CRAIG DA^' 



Among the strong and mfiuential citizens of DeKalb county the reccjrd 
of whose lives have become an essential part of the history of this section, 
the gentleman whose name forms the caption of this biographical record 
occupies a prominent place and for vears has exerted a beneficial influence 
here. His chief characteristics seem to be keenness of perception, a tireless 
energy, honesty of purpose and motixe and every-day common sense, which 
have enabled him not only to advance his interests, but also to largely con- 
tribute to the moral and material advancement of the community. 

James Craig Day, the leading hardware dealer at Waterloo, Indiana, 
was born at Mansfield, Ohio, on May 18, 1857, and is a son of Henry C. 
and Mary (Casebeer) Day. Henry C. Day was a native of Pennsylvania, 
and came to Ohio with his parents in an early day, where he was reared 
and received his education, and here he was united in marriage to Mary 
Casebeer, who was born at Crestline, Ohio, near Mansfield. James C. Day 



DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA, 46 1 

was reared to manhood at Manslield. where he attended the puhhc schuols. 
and was afterward a student in the college at ( >herlin, that state. Upon 
completing his collegiate studies, he spent ahont a year on the paternal farm- 
stead, and then, in the spring of 1881, he came to Waterloo, Indiana, and in 
partnership with his brother, Frank P. Day, started in the hardware business. 
Two years later the brothers went to Kansas, where h'rank engaged in 
business at Kingman and remained there the rest of his life, Jame.^ C. 
engaged in the real estate business at (i.-irden City, but about four years later 
returned to DeKalb county, Indiana, and for a year was engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits in Fairfield township. In the spring of 1889 he came to 
Waterloo and i)ought the hardware business owned by the W'. H. Kibblinger 
estate, and has continued to conduct this business ever since, a iieriod of 
nearly a quarter of a century. During this time he has not onlv built up a 
large and profitable business, but has .dsn l)y h\> persistent industry, good 
business methods and upright life won the resi)ect and high regard of the 
entire community. He carries a I'lrge and well >elected line of shelf and 
heavy hardware, such as is demanded by the local trade, and the keynote of 
his success here has been that he endeavors to please every customer who 
enters his door. 

In 1887, soon after Mr. Day's return from Kansas, he was united in 
marriage with Jennie Lockhart. who was bom in Smithfield township, De- 
Kalb county, Indiana, a daughter of William C. and Mary (Spencer) Lock- 
hart. The latter died when Mrs, Da\- was 1)ut i baby of two years of age. 
and the latter was reared by Mr, Lockhart's second wife, William C, 
Lockhart was one of the best known and influential citizens in his section of 
the cotmty, and is mentioned in a personal sketch elsewhere in this work, 
Mrs. Day is a lady of culture and refinement, possessing many excellent 
qualities of head and heart which have commended her to the good opinion 
of those with whom she comes in contact. To Mr. and Mis. Day has been 
born one son, William C, born December ig. 1804. who is now completing 
the last year of his high school work in the Waterloo [niblic .schools. 

James C. Day has taken an intelligent and commendable interest in the 
public afifairs of his community and though not a seeker of public office, he 
was persuaded to accept the jjosition of treasurer of Waterloo fiir a two- 
year term, and so satisfactory was his administration that he w;is re-elected 
for a second term, discharging his official duties to the entire satisfaction 
of his fellow citizens. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knight-^ of 
Pythias at Waterloo, taking a keen intere-^t in the working of that order. 



462 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

while religiously, he and his wife are earnest and consistent members of the 
Presbyterian church. Genial and companionable, they enjoy the friendship 
•of a large circle of friends in the community and are numbered among 
Waterloo's best citizens. 



COLONEL E. MONTAVON. 

In every life of honor and usefulness there is no dearth of incident, yet 
in summing up the career of any man the writer needs touch only those 
salient points which give the keynote to his character. Thus in giving the 
life record of Colonel E. Montavon sufficient will be said to show, what all 
who know him will freely acquiesce in, that lie is one of tlie enterjjrising and 
progressive citizens of DeKalb county. 

Colonel E. Montavon, who for a number of years has been recognized 
as one of the leading citizens of Waterloo, Indiana, was l)orn on Deceml)er 
21, 1861. at Fremont, this state, and is the son of Peter and Catherine (Christ ) 
Montavon. Peter Montavcm was born at Alsace, France, and was a man 
•of splendid intellectual attainments, being alile to speak seven different 
languages. He was a shoemaker by trade and coming to .America he was 
employed in a number of cities of this country. On August 3, 1856, when 
twenty-six years old, he married Mrs. Catherine (Christ) Fluery, who was 
then but eighteen years old. She was born in Paris, France, and in voung 
girlhood married Joseph Pinery, wlm was employed later at a lime kiln in 
Detroit, where he fell into the kiln and was burned to death. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Montavon were born two children: Frank and C. E., the former dying 
in 1876 and the latter being the immediate subject of this sketch. Peter 
Montavon moved around c|uite a good deal, following his trade, having lived 
at Ouincy, Coldwater and Hillsdale, Michigan, and at Fremont and Angola, 
Indiana, as well as other places, and in 1869 was at Toledo. In that year 
Daniel Till, of Waterloo, was running a hardware store and shoe shop and 
employed six men in his line of work. He hired Mr. Montavon to come 
here as foreman of his shop and to serve as expert cutter of leather. Here 
he remained and later started a shop of his own at a time when shoes were 
all made by hand and he employed six men in their manufacture. At one time 
about thirty shoemakers were employed in the various shops in Waterloo. 
Peter Montavon continued in the business luitil his deatli, which occurred 
on November 23, 1903. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 463 

Colonel E. Montavon learned his trade under his fatiier's (hrectiim and 
was afterwards for awhile employed in a harness shoj). In June, 1883, at a 
time when the harness business was dull, an old friend of his, James Bow- 
man, who was running a dairy and needed help, prevailed on Mr. Montavon 
to go to the dairy and help him for a few days, which the latter consented to 
do, but at the end of that period Mr. Bowman insisted on the young man 
remaining with him. Montavon was unused to outdoor work, but he did his 
best and soon became accustomed to the new conditions. Owing to Mr. 
Bowman's paralysis, the women had been doing the milking, but when Mr. 
Montavon learned how to do it, he told them milking was no occupation for 
a woman and he would do it all. In October, 1883, Mr. Montavon married 
his employer's daughter, Sarah I. Bowman, and soon afterwards Mr. Bow- 
man offered to sell him a half interest in the dairy and let him work and pay 
for his interest out of the profits of the Inisiness. After that contract was 
carried out, Mr. Bowman sold the remaining half to him in a wav in which 
he could pay for it and later lie sold him a half interest in the home place and 
finally Mr. and Mrs. Montavon became the owners of the entire place, com- 
prising about thirty acres, located at the edge of Waterloo. The place is 
very elegantly located overlooking the valley of Cedar creek, and is con- 
sidered one of the coziest and most attractive little places in this locality. 
In the spring of 1906 Mr. Montavon sold liis dairy and continued the shoe 
shop formerly owned by his father, which he still operates and in which he 
has achieved a definite success. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Montavon have been born two daughters and a son, 
namely: Hazel is the wife of John C. Duncan. Jr.. lives in Waterloo and 
they have one daughter, Cyril; Mabel and Waklo are botli at home. 

Politically, Mr. Montavon is an ardent advocate of the Republican 
party, and in 1902 and 1903 he was elected a member of the Waterloo town 
council, being president of the board in 1903. In the fall of 1910 he was 
elected justice of the peace and is now discharging the duties of that office 
to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. Fraternally, he is a member of 
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 221, and has been through 
all the chairs, being now a member of the grand lodge of Indiana. He is 
also a member of Lodge No. 307, Free and Accepted Masons, at Waterloo, 
and is a member of the grand lodge in tliat order. He has been chief of the 
Waterloo fire department for seven years. He is regarded by all as upright 
and honest in all his business relations and he has the confidence and respect 
of a wide circle of aciiuainlaiices and friends tliroughout tlie count\-. 



464 nEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 

OLIVER H. WIDNEY. 

The respect which should always be accorded the brave sons of the 
North who left homes and the peaceful pursuits of civil life to give their 
services, and their lives if need be, to preserve the integrity of the American 
Union is certainly due the gentleman to a brief review of whose life the 
following lines are devoted. He proved his love and loyalty to the gov- 
ernment on the long and tiresome marches in all kinds of situations, exposed 
to summer's withering heat and winter's freezing cold, on the lonely picket 
line, a target for the missile of the unseen foe, on the tented field and amid 
the flame and smoke of battle, where the rattle of the musketry, mingled 
with the terrible concussion of the bursting shell and the deep diapason of 
the cannon's roar, made up the sublime but awful chorus of death. To the 
heroes of 1861-5 the country is under a debt of gratitude which it can never 
repay, and future generations will commemorate their achievements in fitting 
eulogy and tell of their heroic deeds in story and in song. Among the hon- 
ored veterans of the Civil war and respected citizens of DeKalb county, Indi- 
ana, none occupies a higher place in popular esteem than the gentleman whose 
name appears above, and who, now retired from active business affairs, is 
living quietly at Auburn, secure in the confidence and respect of all who 
know him. 

Oliver H. Widney was born near Newville. HeKall) county, Indiana, on 
the 1 2th of November. 1841, and is a son of John P. \^'idney, a sketch of 
whom appears elsewhere in this work. When the suliject was about two years 
old the familv mo\ed to what is now known as the H. M. Widney fruit 
farm, near St. loe, this count}', and in 1851 they moved to Auburn, the sub- 
ject's father having been elected county clerk. In the fall of 1856 the family 
returned to the farm, where :\Ir. \\i(lne\ grew to manhood. He had re- 
ceived his preliminary education in the public schools, supplementing this 
bv four terms' attendance at the Newville Academy, with the intention of 
taking up the study of law. However, the outbreak of the war of the Re- 
bellion interrupted his plans, and on August 7. 1862. he enlisted as a private 
in Companv H, Eighty-eighth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which 
command was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. The regiment first 
went to Camp Allen, at Fort Wayne, thence to Camp Morton, at Indianap- 
olis. When the Confederate General P.ragg made his advance on Louisville, 
the Eighty-eighth Regiment was sent to that city to assist in its defense. The 
command took part in the Buell-Bragg campaign, and, in October, 1862, 




OLIVKU H. WIDXKY 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 465 

was in the battle of Perrysville. After that battle, Mr. Widney was taken 
with chronic diarrhoea and was confined in a hospital at Danville, Kentncky. 
When partially recovered he and a number of other convalescent soldiers 
paid all their cash in order to get to Lebanon, where they rejoined their 
regiment. Going with the command to Tyree Springs, they crossed the river 
from Nashville just before the battle of Murphreesboro. There Mr. Widney 
became so ill from his sickness that he became unconscious and was left by 
his comrades, who were then maneuvering against the enemy. After awhile 
the warm sun revived him in a measure and for hours he wandered aim- 
lessly about, unconscious of his actions. Eventually he was found and taken 
into the city of Nashville, where he lay on the sidewalk until evening, when 
he was taken into the court house. After the battle a comrade. Dyer Mat- 
thews, and others returned to where they had left Mr. Widney for the pur- 
pose of burying him. expecting to find him dead. Afterwards they joked 
him as being unreliable, because he ran away from his own funeral. .\t 
Nashville, Mr. Widney was discharged on account of physical disability. 
However, he was too ill and weak to make the trip home alone and his father 
went to Nashville after him, it requiring five days to get him home, his 
condition was so precarious. After recuperating his health, Mr. Widney 
returned to his studies at the Xewville Academy, but he could not remain at 
home while his country needed his services, and. on July i8, 1863, he enlisted 
in Company D, One Hundred and Eighteenth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer 
Infantry, which rendezvoused at Indianapolis. On September i6th they 
started for Cumberland Gap, which lies at the intersection of the states of 
Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee. There, after a short time, the govern- 
ment ceased issuing rations and the soldiers had to forage for their sub- 
sistence, only one ration being issued to them up to the following February. 
The country had been foraged by both Northern and Southern armies until 
the residents of the locality were subsisting on parched corn, and it was 
under such conditions that the army was expected to feed itself. During that 
period they took Bull's Gap and fought the battle of Walker's Ford. After 
Bull's Gap, they were compelled to retreat to Cumberland Gap, and when 
the siege of Knoxville was raised they were at Tazewell, thirteen miles from 
Cumberland. The Confederates sought to escape and tlie One Hundred 
and Eighteenth Regiment fought them at Walker's Ford to prevent their 
escape and were successful in holding the ford. The regiment then returned 
to Tazewell and there Mr. Widney was taken sick and went to a church, 
where a hospital had been established, and he was made hospital steward. 
(30) 



466 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

His term of enlistment having expired, he then returned to Indianapolis, 
where he was discharged, and he then returned home. At the time of his 
discharge he held the rank of second sergeant, to which he was appointed on 
December i6, 1863. After his return home he and two other men tried to 
recruit a new company, in which efl'ort they were not successful, but the war 
was then about over. 

Mr. Widney, now that the grim specter of war had fled, settled down to 
peaceful pursuits, giving his attention to agricultural labors. He cleared 
up and improved a good farm, about two and a half miles north of St. Joe, 
and lived there until 1S77, when he traded that tract for the old homestead 
on which his father had settled in 1843 ^"d a part of which he himself had 
helped to clear. He lived on and operated this farm until about 1885, when 
he moved to St. Joe, being compelled to give up active labor on account of 
the effects of his army hardships and illness. In 1882 Mr. Whitney was 
elected a member of the board of county commissioners, and in 1884 he was 
re-elected, serving until 18S7. During his term of office some of the most 
important public improvements were inaugurated and carried to successful 
completion, including about four hundred drainage ditches, which were estab- 
lished or re-established. These ditches not only brought a lot of the best 
land of the county into cultivation, but also contributed to the banishment of 
malaria from this section. 

In March, 1890, Mr. Widney and his son, H. Aler\in, moved to All)ion 
and engaged in the lumber business, but in the following fall Mr. Widney 
sold his interests to his son and returned to St. Joe. where he lived until 1895. 
In that year he moved to .\uburn in order to care for his father, who died 
at the subject's home about a year later, .\fter the death of his father. Mr. 
Widney returned to St. Joe, and there, in 1900, he built the opera hou.se, a 
splendid building and a much-needed enterpri.se. Here also he and his son 
and son-in-law, C. F. Kagey, and H. Al. Widney established a lumber yard 
and a hardware store. 

Mr. \\'idney was admitted to the practice of pension law in all the de- 
partments at Washington concerning pensions, back pay, etc., during the 
early nineties, and he was highly successful in this line of efifort, as can be 
attested to bv thotisands of pensioners, and e.xpert examiners giving him a 
record as good as any in the United States. While engaged in that line of 
work, Mr. Widney traveled extensively. 

.\mong his old comrades Mr. \\'i(lney is held in the iiighest regard, and 
five different times he was elected colonel of the DeKalb Countv Veterans' 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 467 

Association. He was also twice elected colonel of the Eighty-eighth Regi- 
ment Association, being the present commander of that organization, and 
served it one term as adjutant. He was also president of the Old Settlers' 
Association two terms. 

On November 3. 1864, Mr. Widiiey married b'.mily b'. Maxwell, who 
was born in Wayne county, (^hio. the daughter of John and Mary (Thomas) 
Ma.xwell, who came to tlu\ county in 1S34, when she was but a little girl, 
locating in Concord towushi]). Her father was a carpenter and contractor on 
the Wabash canal, and it was while she was a student in the Newville Acad- 
emy that Mr. Widney formed her acquaintance. Her death occurred on 
April 29, 1909, and on January i, 1910, Mr. Widney married Mrs. lAicy A. 
Griswold, a native of Steuben county, Indiana, and a daughter of Myron 
and Lovisa (Dirlam) Tuttle, of Pleasant Lake. Mr. Widnev is the father 
of two children, a son, H. Mervin Widney, and a daughter. Mrs. Lenorr 
\V. Kagey. 

Mervin A\'idney. who was born ori ?\larch 24, 18^3. married Hattie 
Davis, of Newville, the daughter of Samuel S. Davis and wife, and they 
have two children, B. Von Dale and Doris. Mervin Widney was a partner 
with his father in the lumber business, but is best known as an apple grower, 
being a widely-recognized authority on horticulture. In 1895 he set out his 
first orchard, comprising about a thousand trees, to which he is constantly 
adding, so that now he is the owner of about two thousand five hundred 
trees. That he has been eminently successful in this line of efYort is evi- 
denced by the fact that at the State Apple Show, held at Indianapolis in 
the fall of igi2, he won twent\"-si.\ prizes out of a possible forty-one. 
also taking seven second prizes and fi\e thirds, taking more prizes altogether 
than any other exhibitor. He raises Grinies's Golden, .Starke, Banana, Bald- 
win, Rambo, Wolfe River, Wealthy, Fall \Vater and York Imperial varieties, 
and in the handling of the fruit, which is carefully graded, every attention 
is paid to the protection of the fruit, much of which is wrapped individually. 
Mr. Widney also raises large quantities of strawberries and canteloupes. 
He received the basis of his horticultural knowledge at the Purdue Agricul- 
tural Experiment Station, though years of experience have taught him many 
of the most valuable secrets in the planting, growing and care of fruit. For 
the past five years he has been connected with the Purdue lecture course 
and has lectured in nearly every section of the state, being very successful in 
awakening an interest in horticultural matters and talking in an interesting 
and instructive manner on the subject. 



468 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

ISAAC GROGG. 

There are individuals in nearly every coniniuniiy who, by reason of 
pronounced ability and force of character, rise above the heads of the masses 
and command the unbounded esteem of tlieir fellow men. Characterized by 
perseverance and a directing spirit, two \-irtues that never fail, such men 
always make their presence felt and the vigor of their strong personalities 
serves as a stimulus and incentive to the young and rising generation. To 
the energetic and enterprising class the subject of this review very properly 
belongs. Having never been seized with the roaming desires that have led 
many of DeKalb county's young men to other fields of endeavor and other 
states, where they have sought their fortunes, Mr. Grogg has devoted his 
life to industries at home and has succeeded remarkably well, as may be seen 
by a study of his life history. 

Isaac Grogg, who has an enviable standing as a progressive business 
man and public-spirited citizen, and who as proprietor of the Auburn Novelty 
Company, has been a potential factor in advancing the industrial interests 
of Auburn, was born on July 4, i860, in Keyser township, two miles west of 
Auburn, the son of Adam and Emily L. (King) Grogg. Adam Grogg, who 
was Ijurn in Stark county, Ohio, in 1840, was a son of Jacob and Sarah 
(Becker) Grogg. Jacob Grogg was born on February 14, 1814, at Canton, 
Stark county, Ohio, the son of Solomon and Mary (Snyder) Grogg. About 
the time he attained his majority he learned the miller's trade and in 1840 
he took charge of a mill at Pekin, Ohio, and later took charge of the Hos- 
tetter and Roof Mills, with whicli he remained connected until 1851. In the 
latter year he bought the farm west of Auburn and in the following year 
moved his family to the wilds of DeKalb county. He had married in 1837 
Sarah Becker, of Canton, Ohio, and she bravely bore with him the hardships 
and privations of pioneer life. Though Jacob Grogg never aspired to public 
office he was elected by his fellow citizens to several positions of trust and 
responsibility, in all of w-hich he acquitted himself with credit. On this De- 
Kalb county farm Adam Grogg was reared to maturity and married Emily 
L. King, who was born in Maryland and was a daughter of John and 
Catherine King. She came to this county in an early day with her parents, 
who settled a mile and one-half west of Auburn in Union township. Adam 
Grogg died on December 24, 1866, at the age of twenty-six years, at wiiich 
time the subject of this sketch was a boy of but six years of age. The latter 
was taken into the home of his grandfather, and his mother afterwards, im 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 469 

1871, became the wife u{ Daniel Lcwer, livin.u in Nidljle county al)out thirty 
years, or until Mr, Lower's death, and she afterwards became the wife of 
Daniel Thomas, spending her last years at Cornnna. Isaac Grogg remained 
with his grandparents until he was nineteen years old, and then went to 
Dayton, Ohio, where he learned the car finisher's trade. In 1885 he re- 
turned to Auburn and for a number of years was emijjoyed with the Zimmer- 
man Manufacturing Company plant, being foreman of their mechanical de- 
partment for C[uite a while. While with the Zimmerman Company Mr. 
Grogg drifted into the windmill and tank business, and from 1885 until 1900 
devoted his attention to that work, heiii^f part of the lime connected with the 
Zimmerman Company and about two years with the Monitor Manufacturing 
Company. After the latter com])any (|uit business Mr. Grogg established a 
small plant for himself, calling it the .Auburn Novelty Works and here did 
cabinet work and manufactured souvenirs and no\'elties of wood. In this 
enterprise he was successful beyond his expectations and established more 
than a local reputation. He was also interested in the manufacture of pat- 
terns, and while so employed made patterns for a concrete block machine 
for Messrs. Brost and (irosscup. His business grew so rapidly and he soon 
required larger quarters and decided to build a concrete block building 
for his shop. There being no block manufacturer in this localit}- he de- 
cided to make his own blocks, and his sons, delighted with the idea, urged him 
to buy a secoud-hand block machine that was then 
machine they commenced to make their own blocks 
them out at a rate of one hundred and lift\- a day. 
terial and care in the making, these blocks tm'ned out by them were of such 
a high quality that a demand was soon created for the blocks among their 
neighbors, to whom they sold them. The demand grew so rapidly that 
in a short time the new enterprise entirely superseded in e.xtent tlie wood 
and pattern work. By the next fall they needed more help and more ma- 
chinery, which tbc\- installed, .\lways striving for a better way to do 
things. Mr. (ir(jgg exercised hi- inventive genius and devised a continuous 
mi.xer for mixing the concrete by machinei-\-. which was economicall\" pro- 
pelled by a gas engine, and this improved machinery is now being manu- 
factured bv a company at Kendalh illc, Indiana. Mr. Grogg also designed 
an automatic scraper and finisher for a block making machine, which he 
sold to the Ideal Concrete Machinery Company, of South Bend. Another 
invention of his was a reinforcing device for placing and stretching the rein- 
forcing irons in concrete fence ])osts. and also a vaporizing system of steam- 



'or sal 


e. Buying this 


nd we 


re >oon turning 


I'sini; 


;■ first class ma- 



470 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

ing and curing concrete products. Mr. Gregg also designed an automa- 
tic brick tamper tiiat is to be manufactured by the Ideal Compan_v on a large 
scale. Mr. '^jrogg has manufactured many (jroducts besides the concrete 
blocks, including concrete moldings, column.^, [)edestals. etc.. and has dis- 
covered a method of making them almost white and much smoother in grain 
than ordinary blocks, being much more like marble and presenting a very 
pleasing and attractive appearance. (}uality has been the watchwonl in the 
building up of this business, and on this basis does Mr. (irogg base all repre- 
sentations as to his work. Indeetl, s(} well estalalished i.s the reputation of 
the Grogg factory that wiien one local concern projected the building of a 
four-story factory building, and Mr. Grogg was too busy at that time to supply 
the blocks needed for the buikling, the companv refused to get them else- 
where, but suspended their Iniilding operations until the next >^j)ring. This 
in itself is certainly a remarkalile tribute to the quality of the Grogg product. 
The business grew to such jjroportion that the first plant established near the 
center of Auburn l)ecame entirel\- inade(|uate for the purpose and now Mr. 
Grogg has a plant at the north end of Auburn, wliere he has plentv of r<iom 
for expansion and aljundant shipping facilities, being close bv the interur- 
ban road. His goods are delivered by auto trucks to local parties and in 
e\ery way modern and up-to-date methods are employed in the operation 
of the business. Always a hard worker, Mr. ''.rogg lias the satisfaction 
of realizing that his work has not been uniiroductive of results and that he 
has been a prominent factor in the splendid business growtii of this locality. 
He follows up-to-date business methods in his affairs and pavs his help In- 
time instead of by the piece, thus insuring a high quality of work rather than 
quantity. He is exact and reliable in all his business dealings and has gained 
a splendid reputation among his business colleagues. 

In 1887 Mr. Grogg married Catherine C. Otto. \\ho wa-; born anil rear- 
ed in Auburn, she and Mr. (irogg being acquainted from earlv childhood. 
She is a daughter of Captain John and Catherine (Reehling) Otto, who are 
mentioned elsewhere in this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Grogg have been born 
the following children: Earl J., Harold O., Russell I.. p:mily K., Huliert. 
Roger, Frank, who is good-naturedly called "Buster" by his associates, and 
Helen and Paul. Several of the sons arc interested with their father in the 
manufacturing business, and are alert in their efforts to achance the enter- 
prise in every way possible. They subscribe for all the technical periodi- 
cals touching on their business and are well versed in every phase of con- 
crete manufacture. Keenly alive to every avenue of information thev are fre- 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 47I 

qiient visitors to tile y;re:Lt cenifiit shows at Chicifjo and elsewlicre. and are 
numbered among tlie enterprising and energetic young men of .Vuburn. Per- 
sonall}', Isaac Grogg, though a very busy man, always finds time to greet his 
friends cordially and to take an intelligent interest in the public affairs of 
the (.■onmiunity. He gi\es his supjiorl unrcser\edly to c\ery mn\-enient for the 
material, moral, intellectual or sucial advancement o( Aul)urn and is well de- 
serving of the high place which he now iiolds in public esteem. 



FRANK A. HOFF. 



There is no positi\e rule for achiexing success, and }'et in the life of the 
successful man there are always lessons which might well he followed. The 
man who gains prosiJerity is he who can see and utilize the oppcirtunil} that 
comes in his path. The essential conditions of human life are ever the same; 
the surroundings of indi\-iduals differ but slightly, and when one man passes 
another on the highway of life to reach the goal of prosperity before others 
who perhaps started out Ijefore him. it is because he has the power to use 
ad\antages which ])robal)ly encomjKiss the whole liumau race. Today among 
the prominent citizens and successful Inisiness man of Aui)urn stands i-'rank 
A. Hoff. The qualities of keen discriminatiou. sound judgment and execu- 
li\-e abilit\- enter \'er}- largely into his makeup and ha\e been contributing ele- 
ments to the material success which has come to him. 

Frank A. Hoff, of Auburn, Indiana, to whom belongs the distinction of 
having been in business continuously longer than anyone else here, was born 
in Aix-la-Chappelle, or .'\achen. Germany, on September ii. 1855. His 
early education was secured in his native land and in 1H74, at the age of 
eighteen years, he came to .America, o\-er which he traveled extensively for 
four years, having located at Fort Wayne, at Philadelphia in 1876, and at St. 
Louis in 1877. In 1878 he came to .Auburn and engaged in the grocery busi- 
ness, with which he has been ideiUilied continuously since, with constant and 
increasing success. He has ;i well estalilishcd trade, his splendidh- si(jcke(l 
store being located on Seventh street innning through to I'j'gluh street. ;md 
being recognized as one of the ]jrincipal business houses of this citv. ilis 
eminent business cpialities. sterling integrity and genial manner ha\e gained 
for him the confidence and friendshi]:) of all who have dealings with him and 
no man in the communit\- stands higher in the general esteem than he. 



472 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

In 1878, after locating in Auljurn, Mr. Hoff married Mary J. Xeireter, 
who was born and reared at Fort \\'a_\ne, Indiana. To them have l:een horn 
the foUowing children: Minnie K. ; M. Jeannette; Emma E. is the wife of 
Frank Darling, of Fort Wayne, and they have two children. Robert Hoff 
and Jewell Jeannette; John P.. who is a resident of Auburn, and who is 
sheriff of DeKalb county, married Lottie Wolford, and they have one daugh- 
ter, Mary Josephine: Clara J.: Carl W . and ]\larie J. Mr. Hoff and the 
members of his family are all identified with the Catholic church and in the 
social life of the community they are prominent figures, being highly esteemed 
for their genuine worth. 



JOHN LEONARD DAMS. 

The spirit of a pure, noble and earnest life Inirned in tlie murtal tene- 
ment of the late John L. Davis, than whom no citizen of DeKall) county 
attained to higher distinction in connection with the material and civic de- 
velopment of this favored section of the state of Indiana, while none wielded 
a wider or more l)eneficeut influence in connection with the promotion of pul> 
lie enterprises and utilities which conser\ed such development and progress. 
His life was one of fullness and completeness, one of vigor and inflexible integ- 
rity. He accomplished great things for the general good and was not denied a 
due individual rew ard in the matter of temporal affluence. .\ man of rugged 
strength of character, of finest moral fiber, and one wdio realized a magnificent 
measure of useful accomplishment, his name is deeply engraved on the pages 
of the history of his county, so that such a publication as the one at hand 
must needs enter a tribute of honor and appreciation to his memory if any 
measure of consistency and symmetry is to be claimed for the same. He 
was universally recognized as a splendid citizen, of lofty character, sturdy 
integrity and unswerving honesty. During the period of his early years here 
he shared fvdly the trials and difficulties of those trying times. He was one 
of the sturdy figures upon which the burdens of the community fell, and he 
struggled devotedly with others in bringing about the resultant evolution of 
development. Hand and heart and purse were always open to the necessities 
of his neighbors, and the record of those years is one of tireless and unselfish 
devotion. To write the history of Mr. Davis would be to write a hook and 
in the limited s\rAce of a biographical memoir one can but touch upon the 
more .salient facts in the long, useftd and somewhat remarkable career of this 




JOHN LEONARD DAVIS 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 473 

honored man, and briefly sum up his life by saying t'.ial he was a good man — 
such a man that the world was better for his having lived in it. He was a 
good husband and father, faithful and loving ; a good citizen and friend, con- 
stant and reliable ; a man in the fullest sense of the word, wide, comprehensive 
and far-reaching- in life's affairs. 

John Leonard Davis was born on No\eml)er _^, 1834, at Black Rock, 
now a part of the city of Ijutfalo, New ^'ork, and was a son of William and 
Deborah W. (Dutcher) Davis. He was reared at i'.lack Rock, and in the 
spring of 1853 he went to Wabash, Indiana, where his brothers, William 
Kirby and Lewis 11. Da\is, were engaged in llu- b.inlware business, and in 
their establishment he learned the trade of a tinner. In the fall of 1854 he 
returned to his old home in New York, and there, on December i, 1856, he 
was married to Louisa Hauenstein, of Buffalo, New- York, where she had 
been born and reared. After his marriage, Mr. Davis followed farming at 
Aurora, New York, where he remained for six years. He then came to 
Auburn, Indiana, arriving here on Octo])er 16, 1862. His brother. Joseph D. 
Davis, w-as then in business here as owner of the Pioneer Hardware Store 
and, being in failing health, he had rc(|uested the subject to come and take 
charge of the business for him. On the death of biseph D. Davis, which 
occurred in April. 1865, the subject of this sketch became his successor in the 
hardware business and for thirty-five years his aliility and his genial and 
affable manner ever increased the popularity of his store. After he bad been 
in business two or three years, his store was burned down and in 1868 he built 
on the same location, at the corner of Main and Eighth streets, what has since 
been known as the Da\is Iniilding. a substantial building that has been in 
continuous use for forty-fi\e years, and is still in splendid condition. Its 
fire-resisting qualities were put to a severe test in February, 1913. when the 
large buildings extending from the Davis building to Jackson street were de- 
stroyed in a fire. Although separated from the fire only by an alley, this 
building escaped with less damage than some of the buildings on the opposite 
side of the street. By careful attention to the wants of his patrons, carrying 
a carefully selected stock and exercising sound judgment and good business 
methods in the conduct of his affairs, Mr. Davis enjoyed a large and profitable 
business here through the _\'ears and became known as one of tlie most sub- 
stantial business men of his community. 

In 1873 or 1874 ^f*"- Davis took an acti\e part in the efforts to advance 
the city's interests, giving freely of his time and money in the construction 
of the Detroit, Eel River X: Illinois and tlie Baltimore \- Ohio railroads. The 



474 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

transformation of the former stage-coach town of six hundred souls into a 
thriving citv with excellent transportation facilities was due in a large part 
to his initiati\e and personal efforts, and in many other ways he showed his 
public spirit. He assisted in the bringing of natural gas to Auburn and, 
although it lasted only about two years, it was a matter of public spirit that 
justified the investment of his capital even when the outcome could not be fore- 
seen. Another enterprise to which he contributed liberally of his time and 
money was the attempt, about 1890, to establish a county fair at Auburn. He 
also contributed liberally to the starting of several factories and other enter- 
prises looking to the upbuilding of his home city, and he ever stood ready 
with willing hands and open purse, to do what he could for the general wel- 
fare. During the decade that followed 1875 Mr. Davis became interested in 
Garrett, buying real estate there and building two commodious business rooms, 
one of which he occupied with a hardware store antl a liank, at the same time 
conducting a hardware store and bank at Auburn. In 1886 Mr. Davis 
was elected to the office of county treasurer, tilling the position with rare 
ability for three and a half years. After leaving public office, Mr. 
Davis again gave his undi\i(le(l attention to his lousiness interests, in hanks 
and stores, until the panic of 1893 101896, when he, in common with many 
other business men, suffered reverses in business. He was not discouraged, 
however, and courageously applying himself to his affairs with greater energy 
than ever, he re-established his hardware business and put it on a firm 
financial basis, in December. 1899, Mr. Davis became ill and from that time 
until his death, which occurred on August 14, 1900, he was not alile to give 
his attention to business affairs. Thus passed a man whom his fellows de- 
lighted to honor, for through the long years of his residence in the community 
he was ever true to the trusts reposed in him, whether of a public or a private 
nature, and his reputation in a business way was unassailable. His actions 
were ever the result of careful and conscientious thought, and when once con- 
\'inced that he was right, no suggestion of polic\' or ])ersonal profit could 
swerve Jiini from the course he had decided upon. His career was complete 
and rounded in its beautiful simplicity: he did his full dut\- in all the relations 
of life, and he died beloved by those iK-ar to him, and respected and esteemed 
1)}- all his fellow citizens. 

rolitically, .Mr. Davis was a life-long Reiniblican, liis first presidental 
vote having been cast in 1856 for John C. Fremont, "The Pathfinder," while 
his last vote was for him whom he considered "The Prosperity Finder," Will- 
iam McKinley. Fraternally, he belonged to the Masonic order, in which he had 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 475 

attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, and he also was a Noble 
of the Mystic Shrine. He was kind and sympathetic, ever ready to help those 
whose discouragements weighed them down. A trait of character that en- 
deared him to his large circle of friends was his congenial nature. .\ge did not 
diminish it, for its glow was as ardent at sixt)' as at twenty. Another trait 
which bound him with links of !o\e o a large circle of friends was his un- 
swerving fealty to friendship. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Davis were horn four children, n.uiiely : Lewis Alliert. 
who died on October 20, 1875, in his nineteenth year; l'"red, who was born 
July 19, 1859, and died October 18, 1892, aged thirt} -three years, ser\ed as 
deputy county treasurer under his father's administration, and at the time of 
his death was book-keeper in his father's store at Garrett ; Claudia died in 1866, 
in her third year; Edna Alene, the only living child, resides at Auburn with 
her mother, and is prominent in the social life of the community, being a 
member of the Ladies' Literary Club, president of the \\'<iman"s League, 
and a member of the Auluuni Evening Musicalc. Mrs. Davis and her daugh- 
ter are earnest members of the Preslix'terian church and are active in its work. 
Mrs. Davis is a member of the Woman's Christian Temijerance L^nion and 
has had an eflkient and appreciated part in its work. She is a lady of many 
gracious qualities of head and heart and is well liked by all who know her. 



LAFAYETTE }. MILLER. 



The true measure of individual success is determined by what one has 
accomplished. An enumeration of those men of a past generation who suc- 
ceeded in their special vocations in DcKalb county, Indiana, and at the same 
time left the lasting imprint of their strong personalities upon the com- 
munity, men who won honor and public recognition for themselves, and at 
the same time conferred honor on the locality in which they resided, would 
be incomplete were there failure to make a prominent reference to the gentle- 
man whose name initiates this paragrajih, for although Lafayette J. Miller 
has long been sleeping the sleep of the just, his influence still pervades the 
lives of nianv who knew liini .'ind hi> memory will long be cherished here, 
for his name is deeply engraved on the pages of L^eKalb county's history, 
for through many years he was an important factor in the material and civic 
history of the same. The spleixlid success w'hich came to him was the direct 
result of the salient points in his character. With a mind capable of laving 



476 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

judicious plans and a will strong enough to bring them into execution at the 
proper moment, his great energy, keen foresight and indomitable persever- 
ance resulted in the accumulation of a comfortable competency. He carried 
forward to successful completion whatever he undertook, and his business 
methods were ever in strict conformity with the standard ethics of com- 
mercial life. His is the record of a well balanced mental and moral constitu- 
tion, strongly influenced by those traits of character which are ever of 
especial value in a progressive state of society. 

Lafayette J. Miller was born in Seneca county, Ohio, on August 25, 
1835, and his death occurred at his home in Auburn. Indiana, on August 17, 
1902, at the age of sixty-six years and ele\en months. He was a son of 
Jolm Wesley and Hulda (Jones) Miller, the former probably of German 
descent and the latter it is thought of Welsh ancestry. John W. Miller was 
a Lutheran minister, although he had been reared in the Methodist faith. 
When the subject of this sketch was about ten years of age his parents 
located first in Allen county, where the subject was reared to manhood. 
About the time he was reaching the age of maturity the family moved to 
DeKalb county, their residence being for a mnnber of vears unsettled owing 
to the father's work in tlie ministry. 

Lafayette j. Miller received his eilucalinn in the schools of the various 
places where the f;iniily lived, and at the ;ige nf alKait nineteen vear^-. he be- 
gan teaching school, whicli soeation he follovetl in different places a number 
of years with splendid .success. He finally gave u]) teaching and honght a 
small farm near Corunna, becoming agent of the Lake Shore railroad ;it 
that place. He maintained his residence on the farm a greater i)art of the 
time, but devoted his entire attention to liis railroad work, having been the 
representative of the railroad company at Corunna when it was an important 
grain shipping point, sometimes having a number of men under his direction. 
He served as agent of the Lake Shore railroad eighteen or more years, and 
in 1882 was elected treasurer of DeKalb county, serving two terms with 
credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of his fellow citizens. Upon 
the expiration of his term of office Mr. Miller engaged in the grain business 
at Auburn near the Lake Shore depot and followed this business with con- 
siderable success up to the time of his death. Of sound business ability and 
strict integrity, he not only was able to accumulate a fair amount of this 
world's goods, but he gained what is of far greater value, the confidence and 
good will of all with whom he had dealings. He possessed an optimistic 
spirit, carrying the gospel of good cheer wherever he went, and possessed 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 4/7 

to a marked degree tliose characteristics wliich win and retain friendship. 
He performed many acts of kindness known only to himself and tiie re- 
cipient. He was a faithfnl hnshand, a kind and loving father and a puhlic- 
spirited citizen. 

In November, 1858, .Mr. Miller was imited in marriage to I-^lizabeth 
Ellen McNabb, the daughter of Robert and Prndence ( Pearson j McNabb, 
her father having been Ijorn in Ireland and coming to the United States with 
his parents when but ten years old, while his w'ife was of Yankee parentage, 
having been born in the state of New Jersey. Mrs. Miller, who was born 
in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, on February 25, 1841. was a child of but 
eight years when her parents moved to Illinois, where she lived until young 
womanhood, when the family moved to Haysville, Ohio, and when she w-as 
fifteen or sixteen years old, the family located in Allen county, this state, 
where she was residing at the time of her marriage, her parents remaining in 
Allen county to an advanced age. To Mr. and Mrs. Miller were born two 
children, Orlan, who died on October 16, i8g8, and Ida, wlio became the wife 
of Frank A. Borst, now a resident of Auburn, Indiana. Mr. Borst was 
born at Wadsworth, Ohio, in 1854, a son of Joseph A. and Mary Etta 
(Beach") Borst. Joseph Borst was a native of Schoharie county. New York, 
and became the owner of the Western View fruit farm near Wadsworth, 
Ohio, one of the best known fruit farms in that section of the state. He also 
owned at one time the largest celery farm in the world under one manage- 
ment, and in the business life of his section he was a prominent and influential 
figure, having, assisted in the promotion of a railroad in that locality. Frank 
A. Borst came to Corunna, Indiana, in the early seventies, being in the employ 
of the Lake Shore railroad there, and was afterwards elected auditor of 
DeKalb county, performing his duties in an efficient manner, and upon the 
death of Mr. Miller, he succeeded to the latter's grain business at Auburn, in 
which he is still engaged, and in which he has continued the splendid success 
so auspiciously inaugurated by Mr. Miller. He has also been very successful 
in the manufacture of concrete-making machinery. To Mr. and Mrs. Borst 
were born four children, namely: Charles O.. born September 10, 1880, 
is a graduate of Oberlin College and the law department of the University 
of Michigan, and is engaged in the practice of law and the abstracting of titles 
in Auburn, where he enjoys a splendid business and is numbered among the 
city's successful business men. He married Georgia E. Zimmerman, tlie 
daughter of Franklin T. Zimmerman, deceased, and is the father of four 
children, Marion, Josephine, Richard and Mary Elizabeth; Ruth Borst be- 



478 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

came the wife of Earl Cline, and they have a daughter, Genevieve; George 
remains at home with his father, and Lafayette J. died in infancy. Mrs. Ida 
Miller Borst died at South Bend, Indiana, on January 13, 1908, and is buried 
at Auburn. She was a lady of many splendid qualities of head and heart, 
who had endeared herself to all who know her and in her death the com- 
munity sustained a distinct loss. Mrs. Miller, the widow of the immediate 
subject of this sketch, now makes her home with her son-in-law, Mr. Borst, 
in Auburn, and though quiet and unassuming in her disposition she has l)y 
her kindly manner and worthy life endeared herself to all who are acquainted 
witli her. 

Lafayette J. Miller was a man who. in every respect, merited the liigh 
esteem in which he was universally held, for he was a man of public spirit, 
intellectual attainment and exemplary character. In dealing with mankind, 
his word was his bond ; deceit never entered into any transaction he had with 
his fellow men. One glance of his frank eye, one word spoken with sincerity, 
carried conviction. His plain, rugged honesty, his open-hearted manner, 
undisguised and unaffected, impressed itself upon those with whom lie had 
dealings, and the example of his life was an inspiration to others. 



ELI YARXELL WILLIAMSON. 

From the pioneer period through many decrule^ the late Eli ^'arneIl 
Williamson was conspicuou'^ly identified with tlie hu-^iness and material in- 
terests of Waterloo and DeKalh county, Indiana, ;ind he won for iiimself an 
honorable position in the circles in wliich he mo\ed and was a distinct type of 
the successful, self-made m.an. Not a pretentious or exalted life was his, but 
one that was true to itself and to which the biographer may revert with 
feelings of respect and admiration. He was identified in a prominent way 
with the various activities of the county and. having attained prestige by 
successive steps from a modest beginning, it is eminently fitting that a sketch 
of his life work, together with an enumeration of his leading characteristics, 
be gi\ en in this connection. He was recognized as a man of strong and alert 
mentality, deeplx- interested in everything pertaining to the advancement of 
the community along material, civic and moral lines, and for years he was 
recognized as one of the progressive and repre.sentative men of his city and 
county. Having started in a lowly capacity he gradually forced his way to 
the front and. by faithful service and prompt discharge of every duty de- 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 479 

volving upon him, finally accjuired a comfortable competency and at tlie same 
time won and retained the good will and high regard of all who knew iiini. 

Eli Y. Williamson was bom in Chester count}, Pennsylvania, on May 
23, 1828, and died in Waterloo, Indiana, on March 25. 191 1. He was a son 
of William and Matilda (Yarnell) Williamson, which family moved from 
Pennsylvania to Stark county, Ohio, when the subject was but eight years 
of age, and from that time onward he practically took care of himself, start- 
ing out in life on his own account at a period when most boys are just be- 
ginning their education. In 1854 Eli Williamson left Canton, Ohio, as a 
passenger on the first passenger train from Canton to Fort Wayne on what 
is now known as the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago railroad. He came 
to Fort Wayne. Indiana, thence made hU way on foot through the then un- 
broken forests to the Brandeberry farm north of Waterloo, DeKalb county. 
In 1859 he engaged in the manufacture of fanning mills, which he continued 
for thirty years with splendid success, the mill which went h\- the trade name 
of the Taylor & Williamson Fanning Mill acquiring a wide reputation and 
large sale throughout this section of the country. Mr. Williamson was one 
of the founders of ^^'aterloo, and was one of the three men who met in 
council and named the town. From that time forward he was closely allied 
with its progress and development and was identified with its building inter- 
ests, having erected a number of the earlier buildings, some of them still 
remaining as landmarks of the i)ioneer period, in 1856 he hewed tiie timber 
and built the first house in Waterloo, now known as the Klotz property on 
Maple street, and in the spring of the following year he built the dwelling 
now known as the D. L. Leas property, in which, on November 2}, 1857. he 
established his home, having just married Susan Rohrbaugh. She was a 
daughter of Daniel, Jr., and Elizabeth (Beck) Rohrl)augh. Her parents, 
who were natives of Union county, Pennsylvania, had moved from their na- 
tive state to Stark county, Ohio, and thence in 1850 to DeKalb county, 
buying one hundred and five acres of land in the northern part of what is 
now Waterloo at a time when there were only two houses in that town. The 
family name had been originally Rohback, but in one community where the 
family had lived the people had confused their name with that of some 
former residents by the name of Rorebaugh and eventually tiiis family 
changed its name to accord with public usage. Daniel Rohrbaugh was a 
cabinet maker and coffin maker, and was a well known pioneer of Waterloo, 
being a prominent figure in its early affairs. Mrs. Williamson died in Janu- 
arv, 1893, leaving the following children: Elmore Williamson and Mrs. 



480 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

William S. Sewell. of Waterloo, Mrs. Howard B. McCord, of Auburn, and 
Ernest B., of South Bend, Indiana. Mr. \\'iIliamson was not only keenly 
alive to the adwuicement of his own interests, in which he was eminently suc- 
cessful, but he took an active and effectual interest in the civic life of the 
community in the early days, serving at different times on the board of trus- 
tees for the town of Waterloo and being often consulted on public affairs in 
which the town had an interest. In private he assisted many of his neighbors 
who were less fortunate than he, his liberality being sometimes taken ad- 
vantage of to his financial loss and his sympathy not always being rewarded 
with the gratitude which it deserved. His protracted residence in this section of 
the state made his name widely and familiarly known and his life and the 
history of this locality for a period of over a half centuiy was pretty much 
one and the same thing. He lived to see and take a prominent part in the 
growth of the community and was one of its wisest counsellors and hardest 
workers. His was a long life of honor and trust and no higher eulogy can 
be passed upon him than to state the simple truth that his name was never 
coupled with anything disreputable and that there never was a shadow of a 
stain upon his reputation for integrity and unwavering honesty. 



CHRLSTIAN NEWCOMER, JR. 

The gentleman whose name forms the caption of this biographical re- 
view has long enjoyed distinctive precedence as one of DeKalb county's most 
enterprising and successful agriculturists and business men, and besides en- 
joying the reputation of one of the county's representative men of affairs, he 
has at the same time won a reputation for honesty and square dealing in all 
the relations of life. 

Christian Newcomer, Jr., was born on June 8, 1847, in Columbiana 
county, Ohio, and is the son of Christian, St., and Mary (Wolfe) Newcomer, 
the father having been a native of Pennsylvania. To these parents were born 
nine children, four sons and five daughters, of which the subject of this 
sketch was the last born. In the spring of 1849 the family came to DeKalb 
county, Indiana, locating on a tract of land in Franklin township, on which 
not a stick had been cut, and where it was necessary to clear a spot on which 
to build a small cabin. Here Christian Newcomer, Sr., acquired eighty acres 
of land and on this tract the family made a permanent home, the parents re- 
siding there until their death, which occurred, the father in 1870, when 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 481 

seventy-seven years old, and the mother on August 6, 1892, in her eighty- 
fifth year. The suhject of this si<etch spent his youthful years under the 
parental roof assisting his father in the work oi the farm, and in young man- 
hood he and his brother Joseph rented a farm which they operated together 
about three years, at the end ui which tune the subject left home and for a 
while worked out. Eventuall\- Mr. Newcomer bought a tract of forty acres 
of land in the southwestern pari of ilie township, for which he paid thirty- 
one dollars and a quarter ])er acre. He wa^ \\isrl\ economical in his earliei 
days and saved sufficient money wilh which to make a first payment on this 
land, going into debt for tlu' l)alance. Ily energetic eti'ort and wise judgment 
he was prospered in his operation of this land and was able to add to it from 
time to time until he is now the owner of ninety-six acres of as good land as 
can be fountl in the township. To tiu- managemeni of this farm lie tievoteil 
his attention until No\ember b, i()o8, when lie nuwed to Waterloo and 
bought the interest of his father-in-law, iiobert W. Crooks, in a furniture 
store, his partner being the subject's son, D. E. Newcomer. He is devoting 
his entire attention to this enterprise and is enjoying a large and profitable 
patronage throughout the conunmiity. The store is well stockeil with a large 
and complete line of furniture and is numjjcred among the substantial con- 
cerns of the kind in this section of the county. 

In April, 1874, Christian Xewcomer was married lo Mariha Crooks, 
the daughter of Robert W. ant! Mary Ami ( Burdick ) c'rook^. and to this 
union have been born four children, two boys and twfi girls, namely: \\'ill)ur 
R., born January 17. 1875, received a good common and high sciiool educa- 
tion and then entered the Tri-State Normal Scliool at Angola. Indiana, after- 
wards attending the Indiana Dental College, and is now engaged in the prac- 
tice of dentistry at Waterloo. lie ser\ ed eight years as town clerk of Water- 
loo, making a splendid reccjnl in thai oflice. He married Pearl Branden- 
berrv. the daughter of Cyrus and Dora ( Hall) lirandenberry. and they have 
a daughter, Virginia; Delbert Eugene Newcomer, born in 1876, is his 
father's partner in the furniture business. He married Annie Leger. and 
they have one daughter, llifi; Nellie, the wife of Daniel Kimmel. a farmer 
one mile west of Waterloo, and they have a son. Wilbur J.; \'er;i, who re- 
mains at home with her parents, is attentb'ng the Waterloo high scluxii. Mr. 
Newcomer ])ossesses liusinc-^ aliility of a high oixler .and the continued 
growth in pulilic fa\-or of the business with which he is identified is largelv 
due to his keen interest and correct business methods. He is careful and 
(31) 



482 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

metlKidical. sonituhat conservative in his \ iews and not inclined to be carried 
away by visionary schemes. In addition to his business interests, which he 
makes paramount to every otiier consideration, Mr. Newcomer has always 
e.xerted his influence in the promotion of the material prosi)erit\- of iiis com- 
numity and endeavored to clisciiartie liis duties as a citizen witli the i^nod of 
his fellow men at heart. Personally, he possesses to an eminent degree those 
<|uahties which win friendship and lie enjoys a wide acquaintance and marked 
|)opularity in this conmiunit)-. 



KE\'. .STEPHEN BROWN \V.\KD. 

The importance that attaches to the li\es, character and work of the 
pioneer ministers of the i^ospel in any community, and the influence thev 
have exerted on the cause of humanity and ci\-ilization is one of the most 
absorbing themes that can possilily attract the attention of the local historian. 
Tf great and beneficent results — results that endure and bless m.-mkind — ;ire 
the proper measure of the ^ood men do, then who is there in the world's 
history that ma>- take their places above tiiose sturdy, self-sacrilicing, ( .od- 
fearing and consecrated men who, withinU tliought of personal comfort or 
the iironiotion of their own interests, have devoted their li\es to the u|.lifling 
of their fellow men and the building nji of then" .Master's kingdom 011 earth. 
In the history of DeKalb county of a past generation no figure stands out 
with more prominence, because of faithful ser\ice and beneficent results, 
than that of Stephen B. Ward, who gave the best years of his life to the service 
of God and his fellow men and who. though long since pa.ssed to the higher 
life, is still remembered with grateful api^reciation by many who knew him 
and sat under his bles.sed ministrations. 

.Stephen B. Ward was born in Randol])h, Portage county, Ohio, on July 
22. 1816. His parents, josiali and .Mindwel! (Harris) Ward, both <lied be- 
fore he was four years old, and lie v.;is bound to William Jones, of Randolph, 
with whom he remained until he was nineteen years old. He was given the 
advantage of a go<id practical e<hication in the romnion scliools and b\- pri- 
vate study, having followed a systetuatic course of reading, .\fter his mar- 
riage, which occurred in 1839, he lived in Randolph and in Columbiana 
county, Ohio, until 1842, when, on January 22d, he moved to DeKalb county, 
Indiana, settling on land which he had previously purchased in Wilmington 
township and to the improvement and cultivation of which he now devoted 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 483 

his attention. At the age of si.xteen years Mr. Ward had been converted and 
joined the Congregational church, but in 1841 he united with the Baptist 
church, and was soon afterwards licensed to preach. After coming to 
DeKalb county, and while ent^aiied in farming, he had appointments to 
preach in different ])arts of the county. tra\eiing through the woods on foot 
or on horseljack, often riding twenty or thirt\ miles a day in order to fill his 
appointments. In the summer of 1847 he was regularly ordained a minister 
and thereafter he dexdteil tiie greater part of his attention to tiie preaching 
of the gospel and pastoral work up to alioiu 1880. when advancing age com- 
pelled him to reiini|uisli Ins work anil retire to more private life. He iiad 
moved to Auburn in 1832, antl there his death occurred on Januar\- 31), 1894, 
in the seventy-eighth year of his age. As a preacher Rev. Ward possessed 
peculiar force and power, at times rising to heights of oratory and always 
commanding the close attention of his hearers. During his active years he 
was a busy man and it is said that he pei fornietl more marriage ceremonies 
and held more funeral services than any other mini.ster in DeKalb county. 
He was a most earnest antl zealous Chrisiian, his life being a beautiful e.xam- 
I)le of simple, trusting faith. He loved his fellow man and it was his great, 
absorl)ing desire to bring tbeni into a kiiowled-e of a nobk-r and a higher 
life. He was one of the strong pillars of his cburcb in ibis coniniunity and 
was public spirited in his attitude towards all movements for the general 
welfare. He took a high moral stand on all political questions of the day, and 
was a strong advocate of temperance, in both |iublic and pri\ate life, his own 
life being in strict accord w itb his teachings. He was a member of the In- 
<iiana Legislature in 1857. 

In 1839 Rev. Stephen B. Ward was married to l.;iura .\lhcrton I'.rooks, 
who was born at Dalton, New Hampshire, on b\*bruary 10, 1823, and who 
died at .\uburn, Indiana, on .March 20, 1907. She was the daughter of Dr. 
George \V. and Mary ( .\therlon ) Brooks. The mother died when iier 
<laughter, Mrs. \\ ard, was but an infaiU and the latter was taken by her father 
to Xew York, and later to Lorain county, Ohio, where her marriage oc- 
curred. She also made a public profession of religion at an early age and 
joined the Baptist church, of which she remained an earnest and steadfast 
member until she passed from the church militant to the church triumphant. 
She was to her husband a true helpmate in the fullest sense of the word, en- 
during the hardships and privations of the early days, and in after years her 
recital of pioneer incidents was both interesting and instructive. To Rev. 
Stephen B. and Laura Ward were born three children, namely: Mary A.. 



484 DEKALB COUNTYj INDIANA. 

born January 15, 1850, who hccanu- the wife of Lieut. Jolm H. Ehlers, of 
the Eleventh Indiana Battery in the Ci\il war, a rank practically the same as 
captain in tiie infantry ser\-ice. Mr. I^hlers became a prominent drugg^ist at 
Auburn, where he lived until his death, which occurred on lune 22, 1882. 
His widow, who continues to reside in Auburn, is well known for her relig- 
ious and educational work, having been for a number of years after her hus- 
band's death engaged in the work of the Woman's Baptist Home Mission 
Society, her labors calling her frcfjuently into the Southern states, where she 
.spent much of her time. She was for se\eral years an instructor in Shaw 
I.Iniversity, and in the Baptist Mission training school at Chicago. Harris 
D. Ward, born January 8. 1847. '^ ■> successful merchant at Kendallville, In- 
diana. He married Florence Iddinys July 8. i86f). and their onl\- son, Lewis 
Ward, is with his father in the ^tore. He was married to Marv Mallorv 
November to, 1897, and is the father of a daughter, Morence.Miorn Decem- 
ber 31, i8c)(). Vesta AL. born April 26, 1841, who is the widow of the late 
Dr. David J. Swarts, resides at .Vuburn, where she is practicing medicine. 
-She and hei' late husband are mentioned at length elsewhere in this work. 



DAVIS E. CARUTH. 



The memory of the worthy subject of this memorial biography is re- 
vered by a host of friends and acquaintances, he having spent his energies 
through a long life of strenuous endeavor to make the most of his opportuni- 
ties as well as to assi.st as best he could his neighbors to improve their condi- 
tion, for he did not believe in living to himself alone, manifesting an altruistic 
sijiril and kind heart, liis s\nipalhies going out to those who needed assist- 
ance or encouragement, .and in all the relations of life he proved signally true 
to every trust. He possessed a social nature and l>y his gem'.al and kindl}- at- 
titude to those with whom he came in contact, he won the confidence and 
respect of everyone. 

Davis E. Caruth was born in Chester countv. Penns\l\ania. Mav 16. 
1852. .\fter securing his education in the ]ni!)]ic schoo's he entered the 
emplo\- of railroads and at the ;ige ipf twenty-one \'e;irs. when the Baltimore 
& Ohio road w;is being built through IVKalb county, he came here as a line- 
man, working the line construction at the time when the town of (iarrett was 
just being started. He remained with the Baltimore & Ohio company for six 
or seven vears. .'\fter his m-irriage, which occurred in 1876, Mr. Carutb 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 48; 



-iniANA. 




> and then rem 


KiVcd 


';nilic Tclo.t^rap 


h Coi 



lived at Walkerton, Indiana, ahmit four yi.-ai> and then rcmdvcd l</ (■liica.<;o, 
vvhcrc he was engaged with liie Alhintie & P;; 
ing in charge the line maintenance. .\ year hiter he went hacl< to Auburn and 
for a short time worked fur the liaUimure iV Ohio ivailroad ComjianN ami 
later for the Kickel Plate Railroad Company, jjeing with the latter road ahoui 
five years as superintendent of telegraph construction between Chicago and 
Buffalo. During the period of his employ with the Nickel Plate company 
Mr. and Mrs. Caruth lived at Fosloria. Ohio. hi 1887 they returned to 
Auburn and established their, permanent liunie. Mrs. Caruth's father died 
and Mr. Caruth gave up his railroad work in order to give his entire atten- 
tion to her father's former business affairs an.d his farms. Thereafter Mr. 
Caruth maintained his home here until his death, which <iccurred on June 15, 
■1912. 

In 1876 iMr. Caruth married (JorneHa Lockwood. the daughter of 
Alonzo and Rosamond ( Phelps) Lockwood, the lattei l>eing a sister (jf Reu- 
ben Lockwood, deceased, whose sketch appears elsewhere ni this work. Mrs. 
Caruth was born and reared on her father's farm about fivL- miles south of 
Auburn, and when aiiout seven vears of age she accompanied her [)arents 
on their remo\al to .\uburn, where she li\ed until her marriage to Mr. 
Caruth. To this umon were born two daughters. KLir j., the wife of Ashton 
Staman. a druggist at .\nburn, and (iertrude C. the wife of I'^dward O. 
;Little, jeweler and' city clerk of .Vulmrn. who^e --ketch appears elsewhere in 
this work. 

Fraternally, Mr. Caruth was a Mason of high degree. lia\ ing lieen a 
member of the Scottish Rite, thirty-second degree, for oxer twenty : years. 
Religiously, he was a member of the Presbyterian clun-cli, and during his 
entire life he always stood for the right regardless of public sentiment. Be- 
cause of his positive stand on all questions and his high personal character 
he won a host of friends who esteemed hiiu for his genuine worth. He was 
deeply interested in everything that wa^ for the i)etterment of the town in 
which he lived and lent a helping hand whenever he could for the public wel- 
fare. He loved Ins fellow men irrespective of rank or circumstances and 
was in turn beloved by them. He remembered the sick in their distress and 
was their friend in their hours of isolation and lroui)le and fre(|uently gave 
material assistance where it \\a> neetled. During bis ,icti\e life he ga\e strict 
attention to his business affairs and for luauy years he never lost a day 
while in railroad employ. His superior officers held him in the highest regard, 
for he was not only well qualified to discharge important official duties, hut 
was a man who without effort made friends and alwavs retained tliem. 



486 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

EDWARD O. LITTLE. 

Edward O. Little was born in Auburn, Indiana, on March i, 1879, and 
is the son of Henry E. and Sylvia (Orr) Little. Henry E. Little was born 
in VVilliamsport, Pennsylvania, and was a son <>i .Vndrew Jackson and 
Amanda (McDowell) Little. Amanda McDowell, who was born at Lan- 
caster City, Pennsylvania, was a daughter of Robert and Mary (Roth) Mc- 
Dowell, and accompanied her parents on their removal to Columbia and 
thence to Williamsport, where her marriage occurred. .\ndrew Jackson 
Little was a native of Columbia, Connecticut. After liis marriage lie re- 
mained at Williamsport for some years, iDeing engaged in his young man- 
hood as a teacher in the college at that place. During the same period he 
devoted all his leisure time to the study of law, acquiring a fine legal educa- 
tion. He was admitted to the bar and developed into a most successful 
lawyer, practicing extensively in the Pennsylvania supreme coun. He was 
a man of force and strong personality and was especially strong as a pleader 
before court and jury. He practiced for many years in l^ennsvlvania. bin 
about i860 he was induced to go U> Coidwater, Michigan, where he met with 
great financial rever.ses. Soon afterward lie moved U> I'^nl Wavne, Indiana, 
where he remained until the beginning of the Civil war, when he moved to 
Auburn, continuing in his law practice there, .\bout 1880 Mr. Little sufifered 
an attack of typhoid fe\er, from tlie effects of whicli hi>^ health was per- 
manently injured and thereafter he relin(|uished his law practice, living re- 
tired until his death, which occurred in 1884. He left a widow and four 
children: Andrew Jackson, William, Henry and John (/onger. Henry E. 
Little, after completing his common school education, learned the printing 
trade at .\uburn and accepted a position in the office of the Auburn Courier. 
of which he Iiecame foreman at the time when the office was owned by 
James Barnes. Later Mr. Little bought a paper at Hicksville, but soon after- 
wards sold out and he and liis brother, Andrew Jackson Little, started the 
Garrett Clipper. He was a strong and forcible writer and a courageous 
newspaper man and was not afraid to s])eak the truth regardless of fear or 
favor. He and his I)rother developed the paper into mie of the best news- 
])apers of the community, with a large circulation, but tliey eventually .sold 
the paper, though later Henry and his son, Tracy Little, bought it back and 
ran it until Henry Little's death, which occurred on July 27, 1905. Sylvia 
(Orr) Little, wife of Henry E., was the daughter of Edward and Rachel 
(LIpdike) Orr. Rachel Updike Orr was born in 1X33 and traced iier ances- 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 487 

try back to Louis Janscn op Dyck, a Hollanck-r w lio canic to America l)ffore 
1653, and located at Albany, New York. He was descended from the 
nobility in Holland and through them from the ancient races that warred 
with the Romans, his ancestry being traced to Henric, who was born in 1261 
of a knightly family. Rachel Updike Orr's father was John Updike, who 
was the son of George Updike, a son of Esquire Luther L^pdike, the latter a 
justice of the peace in Kingwood, Alexandria and Hunterdon counties. New 
York, anil for fifty years was an associate judge of llie cummon pleas coiu-l, 
and was an ensign in the war of Revolution, having served through the 
greater part of that struggle. He was a man of ability, prominently con- 
nected with public affairs, well to do in his finances and a successful and 
popular preacher in the Baptist church. .\n uncle of Rachel Orr, George 
Updike, was a prominent man in New York city, and was active in pro- 
curing Lincoln's nomination, he himself being elected mayor of New ^'ork 
city. Sylvia (Orr) Little died at xAuburn, Indiana, May 14, 19 10. 

Edward O. Little was reared in Auburn and graduated from the high 
school in 1897. During the following five years he served an apprenticeshif) 
to the jeweler's trade under the direction of D. A. Hodge, at that time, a jew- 
eler in Auburn. Mr. Little then engaged in business on his own account in a 
small way at (jarrett, where he remained nine monllis, ;uhI in 1903 removed 
to Auburn, opening a store in a small frame building on .Main street between 
Seventh and Eighth streets. He prospered in his \ enture and in the follow- 
ing March he moved his store to his present place of business on the north 
side of Seventh street, just west of Main, where he has been in business ever 
since. He carries a large and well selected stock of jewelry and altogether has 
a store that is a credit to the city. He is a good workman and has always 
evinced a desire to thoroughly please his jKitrons. 

Mr. Little is a Democrat in politics and to him l)el<Mig> the distiiHliou 
of having served in an elective public office longer than any other jjerson 
served in Auburn up tf) this writing. He was elected cit\ clerk of .Vuhurn in 
the spring of 1904, and has teen twice elected to succeed himself. The dis- 
charge of his important duties has been characterized by the utmost faith- 
fulness and ability and he has been rejjeatedly urged to stan<l for re-election. 
but has refused to allow his name to be used again. He has been prominent 
in local i)oliticaI affairs, and for four years, from 1904 to 1909, he sened as 
secretary of the Democratic county committee and for the last four years 
has been a member of the executive committee of the organization. Frater- 
nallv. he has l)een a member of the Knights of Pythias since 1900. and has 



488 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

held various ofPicjal positions in tiic cnk-r. ha\ in,y; served as past cliancellor, 
keeper of records and seal and master of work. He is also a n.ember of the 
Masonic order, in which he has attained every dejiree up to the fifteenth de- 
gree of the Scottish Rite. Mr. and Mrs. Little are members of the Pre.sbv- 
terian church. 

On October 21, 1903, Mr. Little was united in marriage to Gertrude 
C. Caruth, the daughter of Davis ¥.. and Cornelia C. (Lockwood) Caruth. 
who are mentioned elsewhere in this work. .Mrs. Little was born at Wal- 
kerton, Indiana, on September i, iS/cj, and in her childhood accompanied 
her parents on their removal to Auburn, where she has lived ever since. Mr. 
and Mrs. Little are the parents of two sons, James Edward, born April 21, 
IC)()6. and Robert Henrv, l)orn December 2^. lonS. 



MILES r'..\XTER. 



Few residents of DeKalb county are as well and favorably known as the 
enterprising business man and representative citizen whose life storv is Ijrieflv 
told in the following lines and none stands higher than he in the esteem and 
confidence of the community in \\l'.icli he resides and for tlie material ad- 
vancement of which lie has dcAoted so much of liis time and induence. 

Miles Ba.xter was Ijorn along th.e north line of DeKalb countv, two 
miles west of Hamilton, Indiana, on January 2/, 1864, and is the son of 
Andrew R. and Elizabeth (Rrown) P)axter. .Andrew Ba.xter was born in 
WashuT^ton counlv, Penns\-l\;uiia. and was the si,n of William and Sarah 
( Powers) iiaxler. He suenl his childhood in his native slate, and then came 
wiib his mother to \\;niie county. Ohio, where he met and married Nancy 
P>i-o\\n. She was l)orn in .\lleglien\- county. Pennsyhania. the daughter of 
.Andrew and Ellen (Ritchie) Brown, the former a native of Scotland and the 
latter of Ireland. William and Sarah Baxter were Scotcli-Irish Presl)yter- 
iaiis from the north of Ireland. .Andrew Baxter came to DeKalb county, 
Iiuliana. in the fall of 1840 and entereil a tract of government land in section 
5, Franklin township. He built a cabin, after which he returned to Ohio and 
as early as possible the next spring he brought his family to their new home. 
The land not being cleared, he first planted corn by striking his axe into the 
ground, dropping corn into the hole and then stej^ping on it, closing the hole. 
In that way he raised enough of a crop for feeding purposes. He spent prac- 




MILES BAXTER 



S8(), wlu-n Ik- 


iiK.ved to 


lie served sex 


eral times 


wice married. 


His first 


Klvina. Ellen 


. William. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 489 

tically the rest df his life on that plaee, or until 
Auburn, where he died when ninety-one \ears old. 
as trustee and as as.sessor ol" his township. He wa^ 
wife died in January, 185O, leavini;- ei.<;ht ehildrei 
Andrew, Alary jane. John W., Xancy l-.nieline and James R. .\l>out two 
years later he married his first wife's sister, I'dizahelh Ilrown. who lu-canie the 
mother (jf six son^, fixe of whom s^rew to maturity .and snrxived her. ntunely: 
Charles ().. Miles, fhauneey, Cory and ( ieor^'e. The mother of these chil- 
dren died on January 3, 1877. and Andrew P.a.xter died on December 18, 
t()()3. He was a Presbyterian at heart and had gretit respect and veneration 
for the church, but never joined formally. He was deeply interested in pub- 
lic affairs and always voted the straiti'ht Democratic ticket. His rehitions 
with his family were of the hi,irhest order, a warm affection existinj;- between 
them, though there was hut little demoiistraliou of thi^ fceliuLi. .Xccordin.u' to 
present-day .standards, he did not possess much of an education, hut in the 
fundamentals he w;is well informed and. heiii,i;' a man of strong common 
sense and sound iiidqnient, his ad\ice was considered \;dual>le l)y those who 
sought it. He understood arithmetic well and was an excellent penman, and 
did much in the \\a\- of instructini;- hi-~ children in their studies and stimulat- 
ing them in their educational efforts. That his influence was effectual is 
noted in the fact that, with hut two or three exrep'ion>. all (if the children 
became school teachers. 

Mile.s Baxter was reared on the home farm mnil he was about seven- 
teen years old, when. h;i\ ing a desire t<' fake up leaching, he began attend- 
ing teachers' normal scho<ils in order to jirepari' himself for that xocation. 
He taught his first term of sehool during the winter of 188^4 and then si)ent 
two years in the Tri-St;ite Normal School at Angola. He then taught for 
about six years, after which, during 1887. he was a tr;i\eling salesman in 
Kansas. Returning then to DeKalh county, he taught school for two or 
three winters, farming during tiie smnmers. In iS()i Mr. Baxter took up the 
study of law in the office of his brother. John IVtxter. continuing to apply 
himself in this way about two years. He then went on the road in the inter- 
ests of the AubiuMi Foundry and Machine \X'orks for about four years, and 
then for a time was interested in the grocery and restaurant imsiness. In 
i()0() Mr. Baxter engaged in the real estate, loan and insurance business at 
Auburn, which has commanded his attention ever since. Mr. Baxter's pre- 
vious experience had been a xaluahle schooling for him in some respects for 



490 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

the line to which he is now giving his efforts, besides which liis sound judg- 
ment, accurate information as to real vahies and his persistency have brought 
their rewards, and he is now commanding his full share of the local patron- 
age in his lines. 

.Mr. lia.xter, fr^ni the time he attained his majoritw has been active in 
his support of tile Democratic part\- and since about iS88 lias l)een connected 
with the county central committee. b>om iyo6 to IQIO he was county chair- 
man and has twice been a delegate to state conxentions of bis party, having 
been chairman of the DeKalb county delegation to tiie convention which 
nominated Thomas R. ^'larshall for governor. He lias fre(|uently iieen 
active in congressional district politics. While in the restaurant and grocery 
Inisiness Mr. Baxter served two years as treasurer of Auburn, giving a satis- 
factorv administration of the office, and from looo to 1904 he served as 
trustee of Uniou townsliip. In i()i_^ lie was recommended by Congressman 
('line for tiie postmasterslii]) at .\uburn. 

In i88q Miles Baxter was married to Mollie McDowell, who was liorn 
and reared on the McDowell farm, .1 short distance we.^t of .\uburn, being 
the daughter of Elijah j. and Mary .\. ( C.eorge ) McDowell. Two children 
were born of this union, one dying in infancy and tlie other at the age of si.x- 
teen months. Mrs. Baxter died in June, i8c)j, and on January 12, 1897. 
Mr. Baxter married Minnie M. McDowell, a sister of hi> first wife. They 
have two children, Helen and Stanley Miles. 

Mr. Baxter and family are identified with the IVesbyterian church, of 
which he is a trustee and otherwise active in advancing its interests. Frater- 
nally, he is a member of Auburn Lodge No. igi. Knights of Pythias, of 
which he has been a member for eighteen years. He has passed through all 
the chairs of tiie subordinate lodge an<l has been a delegate to the grand 
lodge. Fn connection witii .\ubnrn Lodge tiiere is a Fraternal Relief .\sso- 
ciati<in. composed of members <.f ibc order, the organization prf)viding a 
fund for tiie immediate use of tlie lamily in case of death. Of this organiza- 
tion Mr. Baxter is president. He Is also a member of the American Yeoman 
and the Tribe of Ben-Hur. Mr. P.axter is earnest in his support of every 
movement which is calculated to advance the best interests of the commun- 
ity along any legitimate line. I'\ his advocacy of wholesome living, pure 
politics and honestv in business, lie has long enjoyed the undivided respect 
and esteem of all who know him, being regarded as one of DeKalb county's 
most substantial and worthv citizens. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 491 

ELX;AR W. ATKINSON. 

Tlie subject of Ijiography yields to no other in point of interest and 
profit. It tells of the success and defeats of men, the difficulties they have 
encountered and gives an insight into the methods and plans they have pur- 
sued The obvious lessons therein taught will prove of great benefit if follow- 
ed, and the example of the self-made man should certainly encourage others 
into whose cradle smiling fortune has cast no glittering crown to press for- 
ward to nobler aims and higher ideals. 

Edgar W. .\tkinson. who enjoys marked prestige in DeKalb county as a 
leading member of the legal fraternity, and who is now numbered among 
the enterprising public-spirited citizens of Auburn, was bum at Beverly, Ohio. 
on February 21, 1877, and is the son of Joseph and Hannah M. (Ludman) 
Atkinson. Mr. Atkinson spent his boyhood days on the home farm at Bev- 
erly, attending the common schools until si.xteen years of age. At the age 
of fourteen years he had taken an examination for teacher's license and 
had received his certificate. Continuing his studies two years longer he 
then began teaching and at the age of twenty he secured a first-class certifi- 
cate for five years and rendering him exempt from examination. A year 
or two later he took an examination to teach algebra, physiology, physics 
and chemistry, receiving certificates in those subjects. He followed the vo- 
cation of a teacher for seven years, and then, aspiring to higher and wider 
fields of usefulness, he attended Valparaiso University, at X'alparaiso, Indiana, 
where he pursued classical studies and also the law course, graduating from 
that institution in June, 1903. Mr. Atkinson then came to Auburn and with 
a classmate named John Stafford formed a partnership and they began the 
active practice of law. A year later Mr. Stafford returned to his home in 
Kentucky and thereafter Mr. Atkinson practiced alone until June, igo6. 
when he liecame deputy clerk of the DeKalb circuit court, holding this posi- 
tion until December i. 1908. He then formed a law partnership with W. 
W. Sharpless and for fifteen months they maintained a law ofifice at Garrett, 
Indiana. On March i. 1910. Mr. Atkinson returned to Auburn and he 
formed a partnership seven days later with Dan M. Link, with wdiom he has 
continued in the practice. The story of Mr. Atkinson's life is an interesting 
one, showing a determination to succeed that would brook no obstacles and 
a spirit of industry that was deterred by no ainonnt n\ w<irk. elements that 
were bound to insure success in any undertaking. Wliilc in the clerk's office 
Mr. Atkinson was frequently employed from seven in the morning until ten 



492 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

at night studying law at every leisure moment and learning by memory ever>- 
case on the docket. He was of a disposition that enabled him to avoid an- 
tagonism and he made warm friends of practically every fellow member of 
the bar. His removal to Garrett was with a definite idea in view and he 
returned to .Auburn with the same definite plan before him. Farsighted, 
keen and sagacious, he always aims to be sure that he is right and then, when 
so assured, he boldly goes ahead in the performance of his duty, regardless of 
outside opinion or criticism. Messrs. Atkinson & Link have been engaged 
in much of the important litigation which has been tried in tlie local courts, 
including many cases venurd td this court fmm other counties, and they have 
been uniformly successful in their practice. Mr. Atkinson is careful and 
thorough in the preparation of his cases and prompt in the handling of them, 
and because of the careful observance of professional ethics and his cour- 
tesy to the other members of the bar he is held in high esteem by his- colleagues-. 
In the public life of the community Mr. Atkinson has shown a commenda- 
ble interest, giving his earnest support to every movement calculated to ad- 
vance the best interests of his fellows, and because of his genial disposition 
and unassuming manner he has endeared himself to all who know him. 

On June 23, 1908, Mr. .Atkinson married Mary E. Rose, the daughter of 
Judge James E. and Mary F. Rose, and to tlii- union have been born a daugh- 
ter, N'irginia Rose, and a son, Joseph Edward. 



RALPH L. THOMAS. 

The career of the well known and highly respected gentleman whose 
name heads this review illustrates forcibly the possibilities that are open in 
this fair land of ours to men of earnest puri)ose. integrity and sterling busi- 
ness qualifications. .\ well spent life and an honcirable career constitute his 
record, and he is esteemed liy a host of friends in the city of Auburn, where 
he maintains his home, and throughout DeKalb county. 

Ralph L. Thomas, of .Auburn, Indiana, ex-sheriff of DeKalb county 
and now deputy sheriff, was born in this city on the 6th day of .April, 1874, 
and is the son of David F. and Jemima ( Link ) Thomas, the former being the 
son of David and Anna (Batchie) Thomas, his liirth having occurred near 
Canton, Stark countv, Ohio, in 1841. David Thomas was born in Wash- 
ington county, Pennsylvania, in 1805, and was the son of John and Mary 
Thomas, who settled in Ohio in 1810, being nimibered among the early pio- 



DEKALB c:OUNTY, INDIANA. 495 

neers of that state. Jnlm Tlionias was a scldier in lla- war of 1812. Anna 
Batchie, who was a native of Switzerland, was twenty-one years of ai^e 
when their family came to America. Here her fatiier li\ ed to an advanced 
age, his death occurring at the age of one hundred )'ears and nine months. 
David Thomas and Anna Ratchie were married in Stark county. Ohio, 
where the\- resided until iH^h. when they mo\ ed to I.ouisxille, that state, and 
eventually came to Richland township, DeKalh county, Indiana, where David 
Thomas died on March 3, 1862. being survived a number of years by his 
widow, who died on April 26, 1883. David F. Thomas, who accompanied his 
parents to DeKalh county in iSso, was reared on the home farm in Rich- 
land township and lived there until his marriage to Jemima Link in 1866, re- 
siding there also for a short time afterward. In 1870 he moved to the Link 
farm, on which the city of (iarrett is now located, where he resided two 
years, moving then to .Auburn, where, with the e\ce[)tion of two years, 
i8q! and 1802, spent in Chicago, he spent the remaintler of his life, his death 
occurring in igoq. He was an expert all-aroun:l mechanic, ran a threshing 
machine and could construct an engine ()r build a house from foundation to 
roof. He was a Democrat in his political views, hut was not an active parti- 
san. Flis wife, whose maiden name was Jemima E. Link, was born in Ash- 
land county, Ohio, in 1844. and was the dausrhter of Samuel and Susannah 
(Lantz) Link. Samuel Link was the son of .\dam Link, who was the son of 
Jacob Link, and it is belie\-ed that both Samuel ami .Adam were born in Penn- 
sylvania. Jacob Link was a gunsmith .and also niaiuifactured gun powder. 
He owned four Inmdred and twent\- acres of land where the city of Wheel- 
ing. West X'irginia, now stands, his land now In-ing the site ot a large semi- 
narv. .\bout the beginning of the Revolutionary w.ar he and all his family, 
exce])ting his son, Adam, were massacred by Indians. .\dam, who was away 
from home at the time of the disaster, was warned on his return and fled for 
his life. He ne\er returned to claim the estate, nor would he permit his chil- 
dren to do so. He became a soldier in the war of the Revolution. ])articipat- 
ing in nianv of ihe hardest fought battles of that struggle, and was an aid-de- 
cani]) to a general in that war. He died in Crawford county, Ohio, at the 
age of one hundred and .seven years, being the last survivor but one of the 
war for Independence. Samuel Link, father of Mrs. Jeniini;i Thoni.as, was 
married in Ohio to Susan Lantz, and thev reared eight children. While liv- 
ing at Ashland he was employed as a pump maker. In the spring of 1853 
two of his sons came to Auburn and in the fall of the following year he and 
his entire familv c;inie to DeKalh countv, locating in Jackson townsjiip. Here 



494 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Samuel Link contiiua-il to make pumps aiul put cknvn nearly all the \vell> in 
his part of the county, in which he was very successful financially. About 
1863 he bought eig^hty acres of land on which the town of Garrett now 

stands, though .-it the time he purchased the land it was covered with a dense 
.i^riAvth (if timlier. He built there a Inj^- cabin which was the first house in 
(iarrett. This bouse remained imtil al)out t\vent\- years ago and was a well 
known lantlniark. There the Link family li\ed until tbe\- sold the land to 
the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad ("om])any, and then bought aiiotber farm, a 
smaller place located near their son, Holmes Link, where they spent ibeir old 
age. 

Ralph L. Thomas was reared in Auburn and received his early educa- 
tion in the public schools. When about fourteen years of age he began learn- 
ing the baker's trade and a year later went to Lima, where he established a 
small bakery for another man. In i8()() he and his brother, William .\.. en- 
gaged in the bakery business in .\uburi\ but tb.e following year the\- were so 
unfortunate as to lose their entire property b}- fire. For a short time the\- 
enga,ged in the wJKile^ale and retail candy business, but later again entered 
the liakerv Inisiness, Inning a place in the north part of .Vuburn, where there 
bad been a creamery establi>bed. This they overhauled and 'established 
macbiner\- for a steam bakery when they a,gain suffered the loss of their 
plant bv fire. Immediately afterwards they put in a temporary plant on Ninth 
street and continued their business until they could rebuild. Their new bak- 
er\- wa-- located on the south side of Seventh street, at the corner of l-'.ast 
street, and here the twf brothers continued the business together until K)05. 
wlien the subject of this sketch was appointed city marshal, an appointment 
wbicli came to him without anv solicitation on bis part, but wbicli be was 
urged to accept by the city authorities. He held the position two years .-ind 
rendered efficient service to the city, maintaining good order without any 
trouble worth mentioning and giving excellent satisfaction during tbe period 
of bis ser\ice. In 1907 Mr. Thomas opened the Interurban restaurant, hav- 
ing a partner, C. F'".. Frick. A year later he sold out and then entered into a 
partnership with his brother in the bakery business, in which he was engaged 
until January, 1Q09. In the fall of iqoS Mr. Thomas was elected sheriff of 
DeKalb county bv a majority of nearly a thousand, the largest majoritv ever 
cast for a candidate in DeKalb county up to that time. In igio he was re- 
elected bv a maiority of twelve hundred thirty-nine, figures that have never 
been eipialled in this county. During tbe four years' tenure of his office he 
has bad more than five hundred prisoners in charge, including law breakers 



DEKALB COUNTY, Ii\' DIANA. 4y5 

and insane persons, and also was busily engaged in the discharge of other offi- 
cial business, but never lost a prisoner and had no difficulty in the perform- 
ance of his duty. In 191 1 Mr. Thomas organized the DeKalb Detective As- 
sociation and since then every horse stolen in tliis county has been recov- 
ered. The society has seventy-two members distributed over the county, 
covering all the main roads in each lownship. On the commission of a crime 
a notice is sent out to each memljcr to be on the lookout and he warns all his 
neighbors, so that many are on tlie alert all over tlie countv when a crime is 
committed, and il i> thus comparati\el\- eas\ to apprehend a horse thief and 
other criminals. Mr. Thomas has thus had a varied career, having been a 
baker, a manufacturer of candies, and a pulilic oflicial. and m every phase of 
life's endeavors to which he has tle\-oted liimself, he has performed his part 
as a man among men, e\er recei\ in,i; the confidence and regard of all who 
have known him. While engaged in the candy business, he and Iiis brother 
manufactured what was known as Thomas Brothers Cough Drops which 
attained a marked degree of popularity and reached a wide sale. 

Politically, Mr. Thomas lias lieen a life-loui; supporter of tlie Demo- 
cratic party, ha\'ing l)een active in the state and county organizations and 
doing effectual work during campaigns. b'raternally, he is a memlier of 
the Knights of Pvtiuas, the Knights of the Maccabees, the I'enevoient and 
Protective Order of Elks, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and also helped 
institute the local lodge of the Modern Samaritans. Personally, Mr. Thomas 
is a man of splendid physicpie, a good mi.xer, makes friends easily and was a 
brave and fearless officer in the dischar,ge of his official duties, though witli 
malice toward none and charity to all. In his relations with his fellow men 
he is courteous and genial and posses,sing marked domestic taste, he finds his 
ciiief (.njoyment in his home where, laying aside the cares of Jnisiness life, he 
enjovs the companionship of his wife and children. 

When but seventeen years old Ralph L. Thomas married Olive Kiplin- 
ger, of Waterloo, the daughter of .Michael and Mora (Dennison) Kiplinger, 
whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. To this union were born five 
children, namelv: \"ictor. who is engaged with the Home Telephone Com- 
pany at Auburn, married Edna Baumgartncr, of War.saw ; Bernard died at 
the age of four years; Ruth died at the age of three years, their deaths oc- 
curring but four days apart, fom diphtheria ; LaX'one died at the age of two 
and one-half years of scarlet fever; Dale is now eight years old, and is the 
idolized member of the family. 



496 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

JOHN C. LOCHNER. 

Few citizens of DeKalb county, Indiana, are as widely and favorably 

known as Jdlin C Ldiimer. (me nf the cimnty's most useful and highly es- 
teemed men, and editor and publisher of the Auburn Weekly Bee. His 
life has been closely identified with the comnumity and his honorable business 
career has brought him before the public in such a way as to win the esteem 
and confidence of his fellow men and give him an en\ iable reputation among 
his. contemporaries. Keen perception, tireless energy and honesty of purpose, 
combined with mature judgment and every-day conunon sense have been 
among his most prominent characteristics and, while laboring for individual 
success, he has also been instrumenlal in promoting tlie ad\-ancement and 
prosperity of the community with winich lie is identified. 

John C. Loclmer was born in Jackson township, DeKalb county, hidiana, 
on August I, 1871, and is a son of Jacob and Mary (Wyatt) Lochner. 
Jacob Lochner was born in Germany, coming to America in his boyhood 
witii three IjroUiers antl a sisler. For a time he was employed in driving 
mules along llie towpalh of ibe oki Waixish & Erie ("anal, but was wi>ely 
economical of his earnings, so that at length he was enabled to buy eighty 
acres of land in Jackson township, this county. It was raw and unim- 
proved land, but he clearea it and developed it into one of the best farms 
m this locality, the place being now owned by his son, P. P. Lochner. The 
father lived on this farm until late in life, when he went to live with a 
daughter. Airs. Beaty, in Auburn. He bad followed farming continuously 
from the time he first obtained possession of his laral. and added to his origi- 
nal tract until his farm comprised one hundred and twenty acres. His hobby 
was in kecfjing iiis place up tn the highest possible .standard of perfection, 
and in this lie was successful, for he would not rest while a weed grew in the 
fields, nor allow a needed nail to remain missing. He erected a good, sub- 
stantial l)rick residence, commodious l;ank barn, and e\er\- thing about the 
place was strictly up-to-date according to the ideas of his day. 

Jacob Lochner was twice married, first to Mary Wyatt. the daughter 
of Thomas Wyatt, and they became the parents of six children, three sons 
and three daughters, namely: Henry, of San Diego, California: P. P.. who 
is engaged in the operation of the home place; Etta, deceased, who was the 
wife of -S. S. Potter, grocer at .\ul)urn; :\nna E., the wife of J. E. Beaty, 
of .Auburn: Sarali, wife of C W. I'arlles. of Jackson townsliip, tliis county: 
John C. the immediate subiect of this sketch. The mother of these children 




JOHN C. LOCHNER 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 497 

(lied in 1S74 and a few years later .Mr. l.oehnef nianied Anna ( ierri.y. 
who died sunie years ai;e. withditt issue. 

jdlin C. l.ncliner was reared on the iionu- farm untd tlie a.i^e of tifteen 
years. He liad iKi ,L;real Hkint; fur farm wurk. hut after leavin.iL,' Imme was 
employed at farm work for tw.i years by a neighbor. lie was iIkii employ- 
ed for i\\(. vears in a saw-mill al .Xnlmrn, when he suddenly resohed to try 
his hand at the ])rintint;- trade. .Xmon;; his aeqiia.'nlanres was W. !'.. Canip- 
i)ell. owner of ihe Jiihiini lUshuU!'. and widi him he obtained a place. He 
was a lari^e, stroni;' boy. and he be.i;an his \'i>rk a- a "printer's devil" at the 
weekly wa.s^e of one dollar and fifty -cents, llis Ixjard eosi hirn two and a 
half ilollars. hut he ,eot credit t",or a part of that and was thus able to "el by. 
In the printing- office Mr. l.ochner was in his pro])er sphere and from that 
time to the ])|-esent he has ncer rei^retted the sU]) whicli started him in the 
business. In the nixpntch office lu' made rapid pro^•re-s and inside of a 
year, he was made foreman of the -ho]), h<ildin.- that position .about three 
years. He then l)on,i;ht a li;df iiilere^-t in tlie Ttni.s, a Popnlist i)apcr which 
had been started at .Xubnrn, Imt in le-s than a rear' he so'd his interest to his 
partner and joined the .lii:>i!rii (o/'r/Vr, which was then owned bv Janu's .\. 
I'.arnes, one of the veteran newsp.aper men of DeKalb coim'w On .March 4, 
i8(j(), Mr. Barnes started the Paily Cnuricr and i)laced Mr. Lochn-r in full 
diarize of it. 1'he paper espoused the Deniocratic cau.se and. as party feeling; 
ran hi.s^h that year, some e.xcitin.s,' experiences were ]iasscd throu<;h. After 
remaining with the Courier a few years, he went to Ar^us, Indiana, and 
bou.s,dit the Reflector, in M;irch, iK<)8, which he sold at the end of six months 
and returned to .\uburn. He now erected se\era! houses and for a time was 
en,i;ay;e(l in the real est.ate business. (.oIul;- then to Keitbsbur.ii-, Illinois. .Mr. 
l.ochner l>ont,dit the Tiines. which he ran .about six months and then sold it at 
a .^dod profit, which he at once inve-ted in more hoiis,-v in Auburn. He ihen 
went to Colon, .Michit,Mii, bought the Express and for nil.- months ])ul)hshed 
it, huildin.e; it \\\^ to a poiiU where he sold it at a haniNome i)rofit. Kc'.urnins; 
then to Auburn a,i,rain, he started a job printin.ti: office, which he m.ana.ijed with 
continuous success until 1007 when he was induced b\ a h;uidsome salary to 
join the sales force of the .\ubuin Automobile ("ompany and for two years 
was on the road for that concern. In the fall of kjio Mr. l.ochner a.i^^ain 
found himself eng'a.s^ed in news])a]ier work, havinsi' been eiuployed by W. H. 
.Mclntvre, then <jwner of the Ihtily and ll'eeklv Courier, to manas^e that 
])a])er He continued in thai capacity only a few months when Mr. Mclntyre 
f32) 



498 DEKAI.n COUNTY, INDTANA. 

transferred him from tin- niana.i;enKnt nt' the ])a])cr t<> the position of sales 
manager of his antonioliile factory. 

The pi-imint^ husiness had not lo>l any of its charms for .Mr. Lochner 
and in the fall of igt i he re-imrchased the joh ]iriiitin,i;- office, ami on January 
3, lijiJ. he >tarled the .Utlmni W'rcllx Ha', an indei)endent \veekd\- pajier. 
and probably the only paper in its cla-.s ^old at a snl)scription price of fifty 
cents a year. His natnral talent ami e\pri-Rnce enabled iiim to conduct this 
])aper alon^ >iich lines as secured him a lari.;e circnlatiou, which ha^ steadily 
increased since the first issue, until toda\ it is con>idere(l one ni [\k- hesl 
newspapers and advertising;- medium^ in 1 )eKalb count\. the eijuipment of 
his office iieiii.i; the licst to he found 111 the countv. iiicludin.u an Iniertype 
t\pesellin,u machine. .Mr. Lochiu-i |iosm.-sscs the genuine instinct for news 
-o essi'iuial to the successful newspaper man ami. wieldin.i; ;i forceful and 
trenchant pen, his columns are never dull or iuoik .b .uous. bm always spiey 

also iiUeresLed sduiewbat m niamifaclunm; concerns. lie has for a numher 
of years been an ,icti\ e member of the Commercial fiub. has served twd years 
as its secrelarx", and is now a member of the hoard of directors. 

On .\Ia\ w. 1SC14. .Mr. Lochner w.is united m marria-e with K. 1 )arley 
(lark, of \uhurii, the dau-lUer ol William and .Mary (Scott) (lark, and 
thev have luo children, 1 )o,i .M., horn Jum- 13, iScjC, and Clellab l'.. horn 
.\l)ril Js, ic)()(i. 

lM-ateniall\. Mr. LoeluK-r is an entbusiastK- member of the Kni,<;hls of 
rvtluas. Ill which he has passed thron-h ,dl the chairs ,.t the subordinale 
lod.'^e, and is now servin- his second term as depute .yrand chancelloi- of the 
firsl district of Indi.ana. In miliiar} affairs Mr. I .ochner has loni; 1 en 
deeplv inleresled. and he has been identified with the Indiana National ( iuard 
for eighteen vears. bLuhsting ;is ;i pru.ite at the same time Co'onel Kuhlman 
became identified with the guard. Mr. Lochner has gradually risen in the 
r.anks and was on the staft" of Colonel Knhlman when the latter was maior. 
He is now on the staff of Major (.roll, ;is l)atlalion adjutant, with the rank 
of first lieuteuanl, and hut very few officers in the slate are bis senior in the 
hneal list. 

I'eisonallv. .Mr. Lochner is .iffalile ;md. popular with his fellows and 
stands ready at all times to encom-age and aid. b\ mouth and pen, all laud- 
able measures for the general good. P.y a life consistent in motive and lie- 
ciuse of his man\ fine fpialities he has earned the sincere regard of all who 
know him and his success in his chosen field of endeavor has been honestly 
earned. 



(il'-OKC,!'. SH()Xi:i<. 

Amoni,^ tlif suci.-(,-s>rul, sclt-madc men ..| |)fK.Lll) rnuiit\, w Iiom- t-ftorls 
and inrtuence havt- cciilriljutt-d \<> lla- niaicrial uphiiildiii- and -fiKTal l)usiiies> 
acti\ily of tlieir re^peclix e cdinnimiitics. tlif ofiulcnian of whom ilie biug- 
i-a].)lier writes iii thi^ coniR-ciioii ornipics a ronspicuons plaia'. Ilcing ambi- 
tious from the tirsi, Imi ^.urroundt'd l)y iioiu- too favorable environment, his 
early youth was not especially promising, but he accepted the discouraging 
situation without a murmur, and, re^oluteh facing the future, gradually 
surmounted the diniculties m lii^ \\a\- and m due time r<jse to a prominent 
position in the busmen- cu-cles of hi'- commnmiw beside- unimng the couli- 
<lence and esteem of those with whom he was brought in contact, and todav 
he stands as one of DeKall) counlv's nio-t repre-entaliv e citi/.ens. 

(jeorge Shoner. than whom no citizen of Waterloo. Indiana, eiijoss a 
greater degree of conhdeiice and e-ieem on the pari (jI hi- fellow citizens, is 
a native of the i-'atlierlaiid. liaving been born m I'.axaria. •. .erniam. on Sep- 
tember 2T,. iS3,X. and 1- a -on of John Shoiu-r. W lien the subject was a lad 
of but thirteen \ears ni age he came with .a c(inipan\ of about a d 'zeii otbei- 
to America, locating first at Defiance. Oliio. l-'or a time he had an c'xceedingly 
hard time to get along. Ignorant of our way- of Language he w.is the \ictim 
of unscrupulou- men and beaten out of hi- wage- and at one tune e\ en had 
to pawn his clothes in order to exist. l-,,r -e\ eral \ear- Ik- wa> knocked 
about from pillar to po-i .and m.anv time- e\ en -uffeied hunger. When he 
<lid find emplovmeiit he was compelled to wurk from early niornint; to ten or 

golden opportunitic's for \dung men in the American republic wi-re well nigh 
shattered. Mowexer. he eventuall\ obt.ained emplovnieiit in -awing wcod for 
a man in Ohio who o\.ued a tanner\. Later he wa- given regular emplo\;- 
meiu i)v the tanner, .and iiiuler hi- ilireciion later learned the tanner"- trade. 
He worked nine ve,u> for this man. .inuving oulv what nionev he actuallv 
had to have and with the fear of what initiht haiipen lo him in case of sick- 
ness he saved ever\ cent po-sible. leaving the remainder of hi- -alary with 
his employer, for which he always took a note. At the end of the nine years' 
employment he found himself in the po-e--ion of the -uin ..f one tliousand 
dollars which had been made enlirelv through hi- own elforl-. .Mr. Sliouer 
then went to Striker. ( )hio. .about 1X63, and engaged in the tanning business 
for himself for twc \ear-. In iSbs he married and immediately afterwards 
-old his tannerx- and went into the i-eneral store business ;it Watervillc. Oliio. 



500 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Two years later, in 1868, he disposed of that business and, coming to W'ater- 
loo, Indiana, bought a tannery, in whicii hv continued Idr twenty years or 
until the spring of 1888, when, at the age of fifty years, he retired from 
active business. By dint of the most assiduous labor, persistent energy and 
sound business methods he has been prospered in everything he has under- 
taken and besides the tanning I)usiness acr|uirt'(l other \a]ual)le properties 
which enabled him to retire without worry as to the future. He owns a 
splendid residence property in Waterloo .-md several business houses and also 
owns six or eight valuable rental properties in Toledo, besides two farms, ag- 
gregating fully three hundred acres. Since retirin;.;- n-oni luisiness Mr. Shoner 
has traveled a great deal, having been to Europe, v> heie he visited the scenes 
of his childhood and other interesting places. He found the older members 
of his family all gone, but a few of hi> ^ehoolniates were left, with whom he 
had a pleasant visit. He has a brother and sister still living there who are 
engaged in business. He has ;dso been to California several times and has 
spent two or three winters in the South. Mr. Shoner has b?en active in local 
business affairs and was for a time director of the Sa\ ing.>. Loan ttnd Trust 
Company at (iarrett, and a director of the Saxiiii^^. L.i.an and Trust t ouipany 
at -Vuburn. being still a stockholder in the latter institution. 

Politically, Mr. Shoner has always been a Republican and earlier in his 
life he was active in political altair>. He wa> once noininaed by his party 
for county commissioner, bitt it was an oti' ye.ar for his party and he was de- 
feated with the balance of the ticket. He servetl several terms as town trustee 
of Waterloo, rendering efficient service in that capacity, l-'raternally, he is 
an appreciative member of the Free and Accepted Masons. 

In 1865 Mr. Shoner married Adeline Homer, who was born and reared 
on a farm near Delta, Ohio, the daughter of John and Emmeline (Ross) 
Harris. Her parents came from New ^'ork state and spent most of their 
lives in Ohio, their death occurring near W'auseon. To this union have l)een 
horn five children, namely: Delia, who died in Septeml)er, iSq^, at the age 
of nineteen vears ; Marv is the wife of I. Peter Kunz, of Toledo, (~)hio, who 
travels for a wholesale grocery house, and they have one child, joim Homer; 
Lillian M., who is the widow of Charles Covert, now lives with her parents, 
though she has formerly resided at Los .Angeles, California, and Seattle, 
Washington; Charles, born January 30, 1869. lives in (iarrett and is a rail- 
road engineer. He married Maude McBride and they have five boys, Fred- 
erick, Robert, \^'illiam, George and Donald ; Emma, a twin si.ster of Charles, 
is the wife of George Bell, of Coate's Grove, Michigan, where he is a suc- 
cessful farmer, and thev have two children. Charles and Ruby. 



DEKAl.l! (.OINTV. IXDIAXA. 5OI 

Mr. Shoner has shown what an honest, earnest, liard-workin^y man tan 
accuniphsh, ahhough he had U> hew his (jwn f<irtnne front the ol)slacles winch 
beset his way, for he started life with no aid from any one, hut he has heen 
industrious and economical so that todav he has a comfortable competencN 
and can look forward to his remaining; years with a guarantee of comfort and 
quiet. He is a friendly man and has a \ery larjie luiniber of admiring ac- 
quaintances. He is known to he a man of upright i)rinci])les and no man in 
his locality is better or more f;i\ omblv known than he, for he has alw.ivs 
taken a lively interest in local mo\ emeus for the ]ioli(ical, ednc.alioiial and 
moral welfare and can ;dwa) s be de])ended njjon for his support of all 
movements looking to the good of the comnumitv. 



WILLIAM A. THOM.XS. 



The subject oi this review eniovs distinctive pre.-tige among the enter- 
prising business men oi the thriving city of Auburn and as a neighbor and 
citizen is highlv esteemed bv all who know him. Me has earned the right to 
be called one of the ])rogressive men of DeKalli county, h;iv ing fought his 
way onward and upward to a prominent position in industrial circles and 
in every relation of life his voice and influence are on the side of right as he 
sees and understands the right. The gentleman whose name appears at the 
head of this sketcli is well known through his business activities, his partici- 
pation in importan.t political .affairs and his social connection with fraternal 
organizations, and is also widely known because of his interest in the Island 
Park Inn at Hamilton lake, which he and his partner. H. C. Henry, have 
recentlv established, and which is rapidly becoming one of the most popular 
summer resorts oi the country. 

William A. Thomas was liorn on the present site of darrett, Indiana, on 
November 14. 1868, and is a -on <d' David and Jemima (Link) Thomas. 
He is also a brother of Ralph L. Thomas, in whose sketch, found elsewhere 
in this work, are given the particulars (jf the Thomas family history. At 
about the age of three vears the subject of this sketch came to Auburn with 
his parents and has ever since been a resident of this city. He received his 
education in the iniblic schools and in his young manhood he learned the 
baker's trade. In 1890, in partnership with his brother, Ralph L., he en- 
gaged in the bakerv business, with which he has been identified practically all 
of the time since, in partnership with his brother up to the time the latter was 



502 DEKALB COINTY, INDIANA. 

elected sheriff in 1909, since which time he ha> continued alone nnder the 
name of the Thomas Baking Company. T\venty-fi\e years' e.Kix'iience has 
given him a thorough understanding of e\ery detail of h'\s liusiness and he 
now has a plant up to date in every respect and the largest in the eastern part 
of Indiana north of Fort Wayne. He not only supplies the local trade, hut 
also ships large quantities of bread to other towns in this section, his products 
being in large demand wherever a discriminating taste is consulted. In the 
fall of i()i2 l\Jr. Thomas and liairv ( '. Henrv bought an i-land ot fifteen 
acres at Hamilton lake, and there they have established a strictly modern 
summer re.sort which in an admirable location has already attracted the at- 
tention of those seeking a pleasant place in which to s])end the summer months. 
Messrs. Thomas and Henr-\- ha\e erected a tbirtv-rooni liotel known as tin- 
Island Inn and elegantly located at the most con>-picuous and favorable loca- 
tion on the island, furnished with furniture eipial to tlie most desirable lionie, 
has electric lights, running \\;iter, a large \ enmda. out-ot-doors sleejiing 
rooms, a spacious dining room, ice cream parlor, pavilion, experienced cooks, 
tennis grounds, boats, swing-, tables, .sanitary drinking fcnmtains and lava- 
tories and all other fealm-es which .are cbaracteristi'- of the most up-to-date 
resorts of this kind. Cottage- arc aKo being erected nvarb\ and l)road roads 
and a two-bundred-foot bridge ba- been ni.adc to connvcl willi the mainland, 
other features being added which h;i\e enhanced the natmal advantages sup- 
plied by nature. The bathing lieacli i- one of the fine-t in Indi.ana .and alto- 
gether Island I'.ark is destined to become one of ibt- notable pleasure resorts 
of northern Indiana. These gentlemen deserve great credit for the enter- 
])rise which tbev have exhibited in the vst,a1)bshnient ;ind completion of this 
ideal haven of rest. 

Mr. Thomas is a Democrat in his political \ lews and has for manv xe.irs 
been active in the local organ i /..a I ion of hi- part\. being an influential factor 
in its campaigns, b'raternally. he is a member of the lndei)endent Order oi 
Odd l-cllous, ilu' Knigbls ,,t i'vtbias. tbv Knights of the .Maccabees, the 
llenevolcnt .and I'n.tectne Order oi I'.lks and ..tlier organizations, m ,dl of 
which be b.as l.aken an intelligent interest. 

In March. 1SS7. Mr. Thomas w;is united in mairiage whb breiuhie 
.Stonebraker. a .Laughter of ( ieorge and .\larv (.\lvers) Stonebr.aker. lier 
birth having occurred at .\lcObna-. Ohio, where slu- was reared and where 
slu- lived until a ve.ar or two beforv her m.arriage. when -be came to .\uburn. 
.Shf lost her mother bv death e.arlx in life .and her fatlier married two years 
later Ros.aline ( ialmore. He ino\ ed to \nbnrn and tliere became a forem.an 



DKKAl.l! CorXTV. INDIANA. 5O3 

in the Church furniturt.- factory. Imi i> iiciw farming four miles east of Au- 
burn, where he owns a si)len(Hd tract of land. To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas has 
been born a son, Winfred, who first >aw the light of dav on September iz, 
1894. Mr. Thomas is a man of sterling (|ualities ;uid has made his success in 
business liy being honest, ^tricth s(|uare m all hi- dealings, his upright prin- 
ciples and genial disposition not oiil\ winning and retaining numerous cus- 
tomers, hut hosts of friends as well. 



JOHN VVIMER. 

To write the personal record of men who ha\e raisetl themselves from 
humble circumstances to positions of comparative affluence and responsibil- 
ity in a community is no ordinary pleasure. Self-made men. men who have 
achieved success by reason of their personal (|ualities and left the impress 
of their individualit v upon the Imsines-, and gr(JWtli of the locality of their 
residence and affect fur goi h1 -nch in-titulii m- ;i- are embraced wuiiin the 
s])here of their usefulness, unwittingly, ]ierli.ip-, build nionvnnents more en- 

tioned right to say l)elongs the gentk-m.in who-e name .appears .above .ind 
who is well known throughout DeKall) countx. 

[ohn Wimer was Ixirn Ai^ril 14. iS^S. six miles east of .\ulnn-n, In- 
diana, and is the son ^A j.icoli .and Ivliz.abeth (Holder) Wimer. l-dizabeth 
Dolder was a native of Switzerland, where she became the wife of Jacob 
Saltsman, with whom she came to the I'nited St.ati-s. locating in Tuscar.aw.as 
county, Ohio, then coming to DeK.alb CMmity. Indiana. The land there wa- 
densely covered with the primeval (crest growth and thew like manv <itbers 
of their neighbors, burned the timber and ll.auled the ashes to .\ubnrn, where 
they e-xcbanged them for groceries. These trips were made with a yoke of 
cows as moti\e power. The\- succi'eded in cle;iring the Land there and made 
it their home until the death of Mr. Sallsinan. Tbev ha<l become the p.ar- 
ents of tbre<- children, l-.li/.ibetb. .\larv and l.acob, Mrs. Saltsin.an after^ 
wards became the wile of jacMJ. Wnner. lie Nvas ,,f IVmisvlvania-l )Mtcb 
descent and it is believed be came fn.m Stark cninix. Obi... 1 U-, i,,,.. bad 
been married before and b.id Ina-d near llnnterii.wn in ilu- earlx lifties. 
before there were an\ r.ailroads in that localitx. .\fter his second marri.age 
Jacob Wimer k cated cast of \nburn. where the s„lncct cf this sketch was 
born. Snbsec|nentlv the family moved to the K'ndy Sowers place, si.x miles 



504 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

northeast of Auburn, and there Jacolj Winier died when his son John was 
about two and a half years did. The nmilu-r then moved her family to 
Waterloo, wdiere the subject of this sketch lived until he was nineteen years 
old. He was emi)loyed at various occupations, including tending mason and 
farming, and at the age mentioned he began farming for himself on the farm 
where he was born. Here he was married and farmed for two vears. He 
afterwards moved to Langlade county, Wisconsin, and took up a home- 
stead, but after spending one winter there lie sold the place and located near 
Hudson, St. Croix county. Wisconsin, where, with a partner, he became a 
fisherman. Howe\er, less than three months later a big raft of logs de- 
stroyed their nets and put them out of business. Owing partly to lack of 
experience, business training" and niftney, Mr. W'imer had not up to this time 
been able to accumulate anything in a material way. his only property being 
a small house and lot in Frogtown at Waterloo, Indiana, w-orth probably one 
hundred dollars, and after meeting with the reverses to Wisconsin he found 
himself without household goods, with but a few dollars in his pocket, and 
with ;i wife and three children, far from their old home. However, he was 
not made of the stuff that easily gives up and. ha\in^- showed himself willing 
to work, the countv recorder of deeds rented him a farm and "staked" him 
in its operation until he could get on his feet, b^or four years he farmed and 
teamed, and from his landlord learned lessons of business methods ami thrift 
which served him well in his later efforts. In March, 1888, Mr. W'imer re- 
turned to Waterloo, Indiana, bought a farm of eighty acres near Moore's 
Station, and also bought farm stock and tools, as well as a stock of seed pota- 
toes. The purchase price of the farm was two thousand five hundred dollars, 
of which he paid one hundred and thirty-five dollars down. His first effort 
was in the raising of potatoes, he being the first in this section to engage in 
that line extensivelv, but he was eminently successful from the beginning 
and really was the pioneer in this now important branch of farming here. 
He and George Noirot raised the first extensive onion crop here, and in this 
also they showed the wav to others, onions and potatoes now being two of 
the most " important of the DeKalb countv crops. The farm which Mr. 
Wimer bought had twenty-five acres cleared, and lie cleared fifty acres more 
of it, put in twenty thousand tile and had the place entirely paid for in ten 
vears. He has been successful to a notable degree in his operations, and in 
igo8, after living on their farm for twenty years, he moved to Auburn. In 
that vear he and his son-in-law, Herman Brown, began shipping potatoes and 
<jnions, and the following year they bought the \'andalia elevator, and have 



UEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 505 

since been engaged very rxtcnsiv(.-l\' in ilic slii])i.in,u nt oraiii, as well as pota- 
toes and onions. In uju tlK-\- sliippcd ninciy carl.i.uls ot potatoes and about 
fifty-five cars of onions, while they iiave shipiRtl as many as fifty-five thou- 
sand bushels of potatoes in a season. riir()U,i,di iiis business connections, Mr. 
Wimer has become very well known throughout DeKall) and Steuben coun- 
ties and everywhere he is lield in the highest esteem. 

On December 28, 1878, .Mr. Wimer was married to Alice Cuates, the 
daughter of Alanson (',. and Saraii (Smurr) Loates, she having been born 
and reared near Artie, Troy townshi[), this countv. For a wedding trip 
they took a sled ride to Waterloo behind a yoke of oxen, which was none the 
less enjoyed if it was slow. It was in sharp contrast to the automobile 
which Mr. Wimer now uses in going to and from his farm. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Wimer have been born six children, namely: Ray, who died May 6, 
1908. at the age of nineteen years: INlarguerite, who is the wife of 
Herman Brown, who is referred to elsewhere m this work: .\rthur 
LeRoy, who is enga.ged in the operation of an irrigated farm of eighty acres 
at Pingree, Idaho; he married Etha Stonebraker and they ha\e two daugh- 
ters, Geraldine and Alice; Bertha is the wife of J(}hn Souder, who operates 
a farm about six miles south of .\uburn. and they ha\e three children, 
Esther, Ruth and Willis: Carl, who lives at home, is employed at tiie Mcln- 
tyre Companv ; Hr)ward is a student in the .\tiburn lii^ii school. Religiou.sly. 
Mr, Wimer is a member of the Meth.oihst Ivpiscopal church, in the ])rosperity 
of which he is deeply interested. Though a very liusy man. he does not per- 
mit his private interests to interfere with his iierformance of his duties as a 
citizen and he gi\e'i his supjiort to every movement having for its object the 
advancement of the highest and l)est interests of the community. Because 
of his high character and ^ood business (|ualitics. he enjoys the confidence 
and rcirard of all who know him. 



s.\MrKr. I.. (iooDWix. 



The careers of such men as Samuel L. (ioodwin may not necessarily be 
such as to gain them a wide reputation or the admiring plaudits of men, but 
thev are nevertheless influential and deserving of a place in their locality's 
history, because they ha\e been true to whatever trusts have been reposed 
in them, and ha\e shown such attributes of character as entitled them to the 
regard of all and have been useful in their respective spheres of action. Mr. 



506 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Goodwin seems to have won and retained the universal esteem of all with 
whom he has come into contact as a result of his industrious and upright 
career, being well known throughout DeKalb county. 

Samuel L. Goodwin was horn in Waterloo, DeKalb county. Indiana, on 
August 6, [879, and is a son n\ Leander Goodwin, who is represented in a 
personal sketch elsewhere in tliis wurk. The subject was reared under the 
paternal roof, securing his ethication in the public schools of that locality 
and wlien about ninettxii years old he learned telegra])hy. He then became 
operator for tlie Lake Shore railroad jjetween Toledo and Detroit, remaining 
witii that company about tliree years. In ic)02 he and j. .V. Miller entered 
into a partnership in the coal ant! lumber business at Waterloo, remaining 
associated together al)out b\e year--. .Mr. ( ioodwin then went into the lum- 
ber business in partnership with liis brother at \\aterloo under the firm name 
of the Goodwin Lumber Compan} . which business was carried on about two 
years. Then for a short time Mr. (ioodwin engaged in the lirokerage lousi- 
ness at Fort Wayne, but hi'; partner left without notice, taking with him the 
firm's funds, and it. of c<an-se. iTi])iile<l Mr. (ioodwin fniancially. However, 
lie was not made of the metal tlial e.asih .yi\es vip ruid at once turned his at- 
tention to otiier pursuits. In Jtdw kmi'. Mr. Goodwin engageil in the poul- 
tr\' and produce bu-^ine^s at Waterloo and in thi> line be ba^ achieved a 
-^pk'udid success, l)eing now in good linanrial circumstances and numbered 
among the substantial. enter]>rising and progressi\e l>usines^ men of bis 
town. 

In Inly, I (JO,:;. .Mr. (ioodwin was married to .Margie C. Gampbell. who 
was born in Waterloo. Indiana, the daughter of j. D. and Ellen (Bachelor) 
Campbell, bdleii r.aclielor was liorn about nine miles northwest of Angola, 
;ind is tile daughter of .\iiiov .and Susanna H.acbelor. who came from Ohio to 
Steuben county and in i8h() mo\ed to Waterloo. .\fter living there six 
\ears thev moved back to .'^teiilieii coiintA'. j. D. Campbell was born three 
miles northwest of Waterloo, and is ,a ^,,11 ,.f .M.el and lane ( Tavlor ) (.'anip- 
bell, who came from Stark count \. Ohio, in 1841. and settled where Mr. 
Campbell was born. They there bought land for one dollar and a cpiarter per 
acre. Here were Indians freiiuentlv to be seen and in other wavs the land 



was in its xnrgin state 


of w-ildness. 


When J 


. D. Campl 


,ell wri 


IS sixteen years 


)ld he came to Water 


loo and a ye 


ar later 1 


legan work 


in a 


drug store and 


was emploved in the 1 


:lrug business 


in Watc 


•rloo until 


about 


i()03, a period 


r)f thirty-eight years. 


He wa^ in 


business 


for binisel 


f fron 


11 1876 on .and 


maintained his home a 


t Walerlo.,. 


He was.i 


I member 


f Ihe t 


own board two 



1)EKA1,B CDUNTY, INDIANA. 5O7 

terms ami was town trcasurL-r fciur mi- live ternis. '\'u Mr. ami Mrs. (IckhIwiii 
have been hum three children: Wayne, now nine years old; Marjorie June, 
two years old, and a son, Carroll, who died in iQio, aged alxnit two years, in 
1910 Mr. and Mrs. (ioodwin adojjted a hoy named Reginald, who was horn 
northwest of Milw.uikee and was found hy Mr. (i.ii.dwin thmugh an adver- 
tisement in the Prliiicatur, and they are giving to this Ixiy the same carefnl 
attention and loving kindness that they bestow upon their own children. 
Personally, Mr. Goodwin is a man whom everybody likes, genial, optimistic, 
honorable in all his dealings with his fellow men, and is always ready to do 
his part in the support of the interests of his locality. He has not had things 
entirely his own way since entering life's battle on his own account, but he 
has overcome all obstacles and is now on the highway to success. Because 
of his earnest character and honest effort he has earned and retains the con- 
fidence and good will of all who know him. 



HKRiM.XN L. Pd^(^\VN. 



The life history of him whose name heads this sketch is closely identi- 
fied with the history of DeKalh coiintw Indiana. Mis life has been one of 
imtiring acti\ it\-. and has been erowneil with a degree of success attained by 
those only who devote tlieiiisehes indefatigabl\ lo ilic work before them. 
He is a high tyjJC of business ni,-ui and none more th;m be deser\ es a fitting 
recognition among the men whose genius and abilities ba\i' aeliiex ed results 
that are most enviable and commendable. 

Herman I. ['.rown, one of the sucressfvil biisiiu-ss nun aii.l |iublic-spinled 
citizens of .\uburn, DeKalb roiiiit\. was born in ( onrord township, thi.s 
eouniw on lime \J. \Hj(\ .iiid is .i ,,,11 of Samuel, Jr.. and Sidney Jane 
'SerMs,,ii) I'.n.wu. Samuel. Jr.. was ;, s, ,u n\ Samuel ( . ,uid l-.xperienee 
i'.rown. wbil- bis wife was ,K-sreiided on llie malernal si.K- •,-,,ni the Jackson 
faniilx-. s,, po.mineiil in .Vnierieau bistorv, of w.bieli I 'r.'si,k-iil Andrew Jack- 
son was a member. 'I'he subject's parents were nati\es i<\ .Morrow coiint\, 
( )hio. where the famil\ was \ rr\ iiuiiUTous. ;md the v.aricus nienibers of 
which st,,o,l bii;b ill the civic. s,,eial .and business 1,|\. ,,f ihe communitv. 
In that county Samuel lirowu w.is re.ire<l to manhood, ,and at the inception of 
the Civil war he recruited a eompam of suldiers of which he was com 
missioned captain, but on his way to the front he was taken sick and, because 



508 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

of continued physical disability, he received an honorable discharge from the 
service. In 1865 he and his wife came to DeKalb county, Indiana, locating 
in Concord township, where they established their permanent home, and 
where Samuel Brown died on March i, 1879. He left three children: Calvin 
H., now auditor of Allen county, Indiana; Willis B.. who is in the wholesale 
bu.ii-,L;y business at Waterlnd, Iowa: and Herman L., the subject of tliis sketch, 
who was Ijut three years of aj.;e at the time of liis father's death. The 
mother of these children, who sul)se(|ueiitl\- l)ecame the wife of Samuel Cul- 
berlMiu, died on November 17, 191 i. 

The subject of this sketch was reared on the paternal farmstead until 
seventeen years of age, receiving his elementary education in the common 
schools and during the vacation periods assisting with the cultivation of the 
farm. He attended Adrian College, at Adrian, Michigan, which be left in 
i8t94 and began teaching school in DeKalb county. He followed this occu- 
pation a numlier of years, the last three of which were as prc^fessor of mathe- 
matics in the .Vuburn high school. He was naturallv well (fualified for the 
profession of teaching and was very successful in this line of work. In ign8 
at the close of the school year, he engaged in the farm produce l)U>.iness in 
partnership with his father-in-law, John \\ imer, at Auburn, in which they 
met with s[)lendi(l success and a year later they bought the \'andalia elevator, 
running the two concerns. They are eminently successful in these lines, 
their largest .success being attained in the sliipping of onions and potatoes, of 
which they have handled enormous f|uantities. Their field covers aljout eight 
coimties and their operations are constantly increasing in scojie and im- 
portance. 

Mr. Brown is a man of impressive personality, broad intelligence, and 
has the ciiaracterislics which lieget esteem, coniidence and friendship. Mis 
integrity is of the most insistent and uns\\er\ ing type ami no shadow rests 
uiion his career as an active business man and sterling citizen. 

In 1800 Herman L. Brown was married to Marguerite W'imer, daughter 
of b'hn W'imer and wife, who are represented elsewhere in this work. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Brown have been born three children: Bernard W., Donald 
B,, and Kathryne Lucile. Fraternally, Mr. Brown belongs to the Knights of 
Pythias and, with his wife, to the Pythian Sisters. They are also members 
of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which they take an earnest interest and 
to the support of which they contribute liberally. They move in the best 
social circles of the citv and are deservedly popular among their acquaintances. 



ill, can Ik.: 


isl of 


so many nT her 


ire native 


sons. 


for it indicates 


■^ iKi\--sar> 


,- to i 


nsuie success in 


VC Xlll--, 1 


uihkL 


■ sn nianv from 


;ai;e to rer 


iiain 


a: liome.' They 


ffercd the 


luisl), 


andmaii unusual 



DEKALB COl'NTY, INDIAN 

JOHN C. FEAGl'.HR. 

It is a good sign when a couiitx- lil 
enterprising farmers and Ijusiness mei 
that here are to he foiuid all ihe o[>])o 
the material affairs of life and that 1 
various sections, have found it tn tlu-ii 
have l)een wise in doing thi^. for n;itui 
advantages here and seldom fai's lo rex 
results, and when the tillers of the s( 
flourish. 

John C. Feagler was horn in k 
on the i6th of February, iS4(). and 
Feagler. Joshua Feagler w.i^ lo 
Maryland, and was the son of Joh 
parents, wlien their sou Joshua wa> 
Ohio, about twehe miles west of 
manhood. In 1834 jo.-lnia h'eagle 
in N'irginia in 181 _', being the da 
and his brother-in-law, Jacob W'yr 
pectiug to enter land in Wabash 
Wabash and Erie canal to b't. W; 
were induced by W^esley Parke to 
entered one hundred and sixty acres of land, .about three miles northwest of 
Auburn, and then returned to their ( )hio liomes. In the following ruitumn 
they moved their families liere, arriving here on the las! day of September. 
Mr. Wyrick had built a cabin, in which both families lived until Mr. I'eagler 
had built his home. Here Mr. Feagler resohitdv applied liimself to the im- 
provement of his financial condition, and luider the circumstances then exist- 
ing it ma\ lie certain that be found but little time for rela.xatiou or recreation. 
For a time he was compelled to work for others. Their nearest neighbor 
was two and a half miles south and the only roads were Indian trails, the 
dusky red men being frecpiently seen here for five or six years after the new 
settlers had established their homes here. There Joshua Feagler spent the 
rest of his days, dying at the age of sixty years. He was survived a number 
of years by his widow, who died on March 4. 1897, in the eighty-bftli year of 
her age. Until 1856 Mr. Feagler voted the Deniocnitic ticket, but from tiiat 
time on he was an ardent supjiorter of the Republican party. 



:icbl; 


:ni(l to 


wnshii 


.. DeKalb 


county. ludian.a. 


1 is; 


I son ( 


:.f Josl 


lua and V 


ranees (Clemer) 


■ in 1 


:>n March - 


'■?,■ 1814. 


at Hagerstown, 


in and Elizabeth 


(Cullers 


) Feagle. These 


s bui 


t four 


year> 


,.ld. settle 


d in the wilds of 


1 )aN 


ton. a 


:n.l th 


ere the la 


d was rcaretl to 


.■r ni 


arried 


l-rani 


,-es Cleme 


r. who was born 


ughter of 


John 


(/lemer. 


j<,shua l-eagler 


■ick. 


came 


west I 


in the spring of 1836. ex- 


COU 


nly. 1 


ndian; 


,. Thev 


came down the 


.a\ni 


■. whei 


re the; 


V Mopped 


over night. ;uh1 


com 


e to I 


)eKall 


1 count V. 


Here they each 



5IO DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

John C. Feaj^k-r remained on the home tarni until he was Iwenty-tvvo 
years of age, having received a good practical education in the puhlic schools 
of his home neighhorhood. He then learned the carpenter's trade and after 
his marriage, in 1869, he located at Feagler's Corners, where for two years 
he worketl at hi- trade. He then engaged in farming for a year .south of 
Auburn. l)ul auain returned i" the carpenter trade at Feagler's Corners. On 
Ma} (), 1S74. he iii()\e<l to .\uliurn and engaged in carpentering and con- 
tracting, which occupied his attention until i8()(), when he inherited one-sixtli 
of three hundred and tweiilv acres. Later lie hought. in addition, a third of 
the tract. thu> in.aking him posesxir of one hundred and ^ixtv acres, to which 
he later added tlurtv-iUe acres. .\pplvnig himself persisicnllN and inde- 
fatigahly to the operation of this farm, he met with well deserved success and 
as he was prospered from time to time he added other Land to his original 
tract, being at this time the owner of ti\e hundred and sixty-eight and a half 
acres of as good land as can lie found in this localitx. Mr. F'eagler is de- 
si'rvedly proud of the fact that, aside from what cime to him h\- inheritance, 
lie h;is gained all this hv his ,,wii elforts and sound man.ageiiient. When 
.isked how he accounted for Ilis success, he replied, "The wh,.:e f.amilv pulls 
together; uw ^\ite is a good heljier. and the two hoys, too." .Mr. Fe;i-gler 
follows general tanning, and. hy properl\ rotating his crops and the judicious 
use of (-ommercial fertilizer, he has s, , maintained the fertilitx of the s,,il as 

His land is well tiled and in the handliiig of u .Mr. heagler shows thai lie 
thoroughly understands his wnrk. k'or instance, lie refuses to plow the s,,il 
when it is wet. and 111 maii\ other wavs he sIl.ws that he has given ihonght- 
ful .and intelligent ailentioii to the del:iils of f.irming which often escape the 
attention of otherwise iiUelligeiU agriculturists. 

On Jaiinar\ J^v i8''x). lohn ('. I'eagler was married to .Mar\ .\mi Shull, 
who was 1,01-11 ill what was then Ihitler townshi].. now a ].art ..f Kevser 
townsliip. about four miles ,outli of Auburn She is the daughter ot lacoh 
,aiid Susanna (( o,.per) Sliull. nati\es of S'ark couniv. Ohio, lacoh Shull 
was a son id" lleiirv Shull. who was bom in i ;S_' in Schuvlkill countv, Penn- 
sylvania. The Latter w ,is the son of lohn I'eter Shull. who was born in the 
r.lack I'orest. 1 .erma.nv. on .\pril 7. 1 73S. lie came to .\nierica aliont 1750. 
settling in Schiulkill count\. where he followed the trade of ;i millwright 
Henrv Shull nn'sed lo Stark county. Ohio, in 1806 and there entered a sec- 
tion of land, and ,dso established and operated a saw mill. His family name 
was originally and up to that time spelled Scholl. but when he entered his land 



OEKALU COUNTY. INDIANA. :; 1 I 

the ckrk spelled tlu- iiaiiK' .Sluill, in wliicli tcirni it lias lu-fii used ever since. 
Mr, .Shull als(i ran a tavern there for many \ears. Hi> farm. Incated ei,s,dit 
miles east of Canton, is -^till in the family. Susanna ( n(,|)er. who ])ecanic 
the wife of Jacoh Shnll. was horn in Slark eounty. Ohio, on .Xpril lo. icSj^, 
her marriage to jaeol) Shull oeeurrin.-; in 1841. Immediately afterwards 
they came to DeKalh counts, Indiana, where .Mr. Shull had heeii in 1835 and 
enteied eight eighties of land for his father. The f. allowing vear he had 
heeii hen .and cleared some land near lliuler, the hnlk of the land entered 
heing southwest of .\ul)urn on the old I't. Wayne r.jad. When, in 1841, he 
hnniglit his wife here they located on ,i poriioii •>! this land, where .Mrs. 
I'eagler was liorn ;md reared. To .Mr. and Mr>. l-\'a,gler have heen horn 
li\e children, of wIkuii two are deceased, namel\-: An inf.ant son, who died 
on January 23. 1 8; 1 . when hut tw,. davs old. Wilson, horn July 13. 1872. 

panv K, Third Kegimcnt Indiana X.itional ( ,uard, .ind m i8(j8, during the 
Spanish-American war, he heloiiged to ( 'omp.inv K, One Hundred and Fiftv- 
seventh Regiment liuli.m.i \dlunteer Infaiiiry, under the command of Colonel 
Stiidehaker. In i<,n,, he and his hr,,ther l.esler iiia<le ,1 trip to P:urope, visit- 
ing P^ngland, Scotl.iiid, l-'rance. ( ierinany .and lloll.ind, and s|)ending some 
time at the world's fair .at Paris. On .\i)ril j, looi, ln' went to ( ahfornia, 
and then on to the Maw.aiian isl.uids. There he .at hrst worked on a sugar 
]ilaiit.atioii, lint is now a suh-iiispector in the Ciiiled Slates ci\il service, in- 
specting the (h-ed,-;iiig of IV-arl h.arhor ,ind later the erection of government 
huildings, l.illie .Mav, horn Au.gust ,30, 1875, died on 1 )eceiiil)rr 18, 1878. 
Lester, horn Fel)ruar\- 10, 1870, gradu.ated from the .\uliiu-n high school in 
i8(;5, and, as rel.ated ah.,ve, traveled with his hrolher 111 I'.urope. ( )ii Janu.arv 
;,, igoo, he enlisted 111 Conipanv K, Third Regimen! Indiana .X.itional ( mard. 
in which he was promoted from time lo time until, 011 .\laicli 18, lot"), he 
was commissioned c.apt.ain for three years. \i iIr- riid of tli.-ii period he .lid 
not ask for ;i re-coiiiniission. He is now eiig.aged in farming with his f.ather. 
Cl.ani, horn .M.arcli jo, 1886, graduated in 1004 from the .\uhuin high school, 
;ind on Xovemher 5, i<,o(,, hec.aiiie the wifcf I'r.ank M. I'-nindon. 

i'olitically, John C. heagler is a Uepulilican .and a man who fully ap- 
preciates his franchise jirix ilexes, hut he is too hus\ a man to take a \'ery active 
])art in public aff.airs. llo\ve\er, in exerything at'f(.-cting the welfare of the 
coniniunity he is interested and supports all movements for the material, edu- 
cational, social or moral advancement of his fellows. Personally, he is genial 
and unassuming ;ind h.as m.any warm friends in the coinmunit\- where lie 
has resided for so many years. 



512 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

ADAM STROH. 

Under a popular grnernnient like that of the L'nited States, where the 
deinocratic idea of ei]uality is a> fully developed as the present imperfect con- 
(lilinii of mankind will permit, we exp.'Ct as its les^ilimate result tlv triumph 
of individual worth and eneruv ovu" all the competition that wealth and class 
may array against them. Here the avenues of wealth and distinction are 
fullv opened to all, \\hich fact enhances rather than detracts from the merits- 
of those whose energy and integrity have triumphed over all obstacles in- 
tervening between an humble position and the attainment of these laudable 
ends. Obscurity and labor, at no time dishonorable, never assume more at- 
tractive features than when the former apjjcars as the nurse of those virtues 
which the latter, by years of honest and persevering effort, transplants to a 
higher and richer soil; hence, the biography of those men of sterling worth 
whose acti\e enterprise has won for tliem distinction, [jre-eminence and com- 
manding influence in the societ\' in which they mo\e must be replete with 
facts which should encourage and instruct the young. Such was the subject 
of this sketch, who held marked prestige an.iong the successful self-made men 
of his county and who b}- the e-xercise of those talents and (fiialities which 
were cultivated from his youth, reached an honorable position and earned the 
respect and high esteem of his fellow citizens. 

The Stroh family, of which the subject of this sketch was an honorable 
representati\e, originated in France near the border line between that coun- 
try and Germany. Tradition has it that there were three brothers who.se 
family name was spelled Strow . Of these, .\dam came to .Vmerica with the 
French army during the war of the Revolution. Henry went to Germany 
and later, after the clo.se of the war of (he Revolution, came to America and 
.settled in Pennsylvania. Henry, owing to his German associations, changed 
the spelling of the family name to its present form, Stroh. He married 
Catherine Ulricb, and the third son born to this union was William, who 
was born at :\lillcrsburg, Dauphin comity, Pennsylvania, on Januarv 22. 
1N15, and died on June 28, 1890. When he was but a child his parents 
mo\ed to Wayne county, Ohio, of which they were among the early settlers, 
and there he was reared and educated. In 1843 he came to DeKalb county, 
Indiana, and bought one hundred and si.xty acres of timlier land, but little of 
which had been cleared. In 1844 he brought his wife and two children, lo- 
cating- on the land which he had Iiought and where he resided during the re- 
mainder of his life. At that time the entire country was new and i)ractically 




ADAM STROH 



DEKAI.l! COUNTY. INDIANA. 5I3 

undeveloped, there l)cing' iki towns or urban facilities and the imlx transpor- 
tation heinsj ox teams whicli wended llien- \\a\ oxer erookcd and almost im 
pa.'^saJjle Indian trails. His f.-itlu'r died in 1X41) ,-ind In- mother in January. 
1874, aged eig-hty-six years. TIumv familx consisted of eight cliil'h-en. Wilh 
iam Stroll came to DeKalli rouni \ ;i ]io.ir mm, hut hy ])erseveranee and in- 
dustrx he heeame \er\ well lo-do. At oni tnnc he had Init three cents in 
mone>-. hut soon afterwards collected one hundieil dollars from a man in 
Ohio who owed hinr. and that was the hcginning of in^ pros|)frit\ . He was a 
snccessfr.l farmer and stock raiser and became a man of |irominence in his 
comnninity. hoUling [jositions of trust and rcsponsil;ility such as sn]KM'\isor 
and school irr.stee. In Ohio William .<!r^:li married .Sarah llusselman. lo 
which nnion were born nine children. Mi>-. Sir.ih died m iSOo. and in iSf.S 
.\lr. .Stroh married .Mary A. Raber. widow of Daniel Raber. and to this 
union were iiorii four children. William Slroh wa> a member of the bAan- 
gelieal Lutheran church for o\er lifty-lwo years, and for many years was su- 
i:erintendenl of the .Sunday -chool ami an ofiicer in the chnrch. He was a 
good neighbor and honest man and an boiioi- to his commnnit). 

.\.dam Stroh, the immuliale vnbju 1 of this sketch, who was born lo 
his father's first union, with Saiah llusselm.an, first saw the liglit of day in 
Su.gar Creek lowiiship. Wa\ ne cminlv. ( )liio, 011 b'ebruarx' 1. 1S12. and Ins 
death occurred at liis home in WAlerIn,,. Indiana. < .n .Vjiril u. kji.^. at the 
age of seventy-one \ear-. I le w;is rerired amid pioneer surroundings and was 
early inured to hard w(n-k and ])ri\ation and from his \'oulh was an indus- 
trious, hard-working man. His education was such as could be obtained in 
the .schools of that early period, anrl was lil)erally sni)]5leinented during his 
later years by much reading and close obser\ation. In vfinng manhood he 
bought a tract of land in Michigan, which he afterwards -old and bought 
eighty acres of land in j;ickson lownshii). DeKalli connly. ( )ii ibis be erected 
a log house and then rented the l;uid. After his marri.ige In- went to house- 
kee|)ing on Ins father's farm of one bundled and si\l\ acres in the soutiiern 
part of (irant townsliip. ibis county, but about leu \ears Later he liMnghl 

ject taking the largest share of work off his father's bands during later years, 
and they under-drained the land and made of it ;in excelleiil farm in everv 
resiiect. .\fter his fatlier's deatii Mr. Sirob boughl the interests of the other 
heirs and thus became sole owner of the homestead. There be followed 
farming until about ujno. when, feeling the weight of adxaucing xcais and 
ba\ing accumuhited a competency, he moved to Waterloo, leaving his son. 
Marvin Stroh. in charge of the farm. After mo\in.^ to Waterloo. Mv Stroh 



514 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

l)ei.-aine quite active in Incal affairs and was elected councilman from the 
third ward, in which capacity he served four years, durint;" which time he 
showed a progressive spirit in everything pertaining to the advancement of 
Waterloo, being found on the right side of ever_\- ciuestion iuN'olving business, 
social, educational or moral advancement. Politically, he was a Republican, 
while in his religious belief he was affiliated with the Evangelical church, 
standing stanchly for the Christian verities. He was liberal in his support of 
the church, l;eing a class leader and Sunday ^thonl superintendent for a nuni- 
lier of years, and in every phase of life in which he appeared he stood fore- 
most among his fellows. He enjoyed a large acquaintance throughout this 
p.irt of the county, and among those who knew him best he was considered 
a man of unusual character, one who impressed his personality upon the lo- 
cality which he had honored with his citizenship. 

On Xovember 25. 1874, .\dam Stroh was united in marriage witli l'"l- 
len W. llempstreet, who was born in Smithfield townshi]). I^eKal!) county, 
Indiana, the daugh.ter of Jeremiah and Marion (Smith) Hempstreet. who 
are referred to s|iecificall\- elsewhere in this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Stroh 
was born a son. Marvin, wh.osc l>irth occurred rm Xovember 13. 1875. The 
latter married Leona .Mbright on neceml;er 23, 1900, and since his marriage 
he has operated his fatlier's farm exce|)t two years when he rented the 
Rarth farm in Smithfield township. He has one son. Russell J. Stroh. Thus 
in this brief outline it niav be seen that the Stroh family record in DeKalb 
countx' has jjecn an honorable one and one that has not only been crcdit.able 
to the famih', but of direct ach'antage to the community, for the\' ha\e 1 ecu 
instrumental in the development and impro\ement of the county ant! in the 
upbuilding of the best interests of the people in e\ery respect. Mrs. Stroh 
is a woman of many fine qualities of head and heart, and in the circle of 
friends in which ^he moves she enjovs unlinnted confidence and iuii\ersal 



lect. 



JAMES E. ROSE. 



The car 


eer 1 


if the 


well remen 


ihei-ed 


gen'len 


lan whose n 


amc 


forms t 


he 


ption of th 


is bi( 


:,grapl 


lical memoir 


w;is ; 


I s'rcnuo 


us ;uid \arie 


■d 01 


le. entitlii 


Hi;" 


m to bono: 


ralilc 


' ment 


ion among t 


he rv 


|)rcsentat 


i\'e citizens 


of 1 


lis day :ii 


ml 



on in the countx' with which his life was so closely identified. \\- 
his life record has been brought to a close by the inevitable fate th;it 
ill mankmd. his influence still pervades the lives of a wide circle of 



DEKALH COUNTY, INDIANA. 515 

friends and acquaintances who revere his memory. As a lawyer, jurist or 
private citizen, he was .always true to himself ;ind his fellow men, and the 
tongue of calumny never touched him. 

Judge James l-".. Rose, now deceased, who was not only a pioneer m 
DeKalh coiint\, Imliana, hut who hecame one of the well known jurists of 
the stale, was hoiu ,,i, I )ecemher _'J, iX^j. m Mecca, Trumlndl cc.nnly, Ohio, 
and ilietl at his home on South .Main street, Anlmrn, Indiana, on .Vpril 20, 
icjocj, at the age of si.\ ent\ -si.\ years. He w.as a s(rii of }u\\n and Sarah 
(Coats) Rose, the fo'-uier ;i native of Maryland .and the latter of .New York. 
The snhject was descended from sterling old h'nglish ancestry on his mother's 
side and Scotch on his father's side. On Septemher _', 1836, the finialy 
left their coniforl.able home in Ohio and braving the hardships and priva- 
tions incident to frontier life. the\- emharked ou their wear\- journey to the 
new home in the west, arriving at what is now Stafford lownshi]), DeKalh 
county, Indiana, on October t,{\, having spent thirlv-one da\s on a journey 
that now requires onl\- six hours b\- railroad. That they were here in the 
actual pioneer period of the county is evidenced by the fact that at that time 
there were not twenty .acres of improved l.-nul in the county. .\mid such 
conditious James 1'",. Rose spent his boyhood days, his p'ay,t;rounds being a 
labvrin.h of s.atelv trees and tanyltd vines, llis first edncalionai training" 
was received before the fireplace in his father's cabin, his de\oted mother 
being his teacher. Il w.as several years before the coiintrv was sufficiently 
settled to establish a school, bm by the ,a-v of si.xleen vears .Mr. K'osc had 
acquired sufficient kuowled.ge to enable him to teach a conunon school. He 
was thus engaged during the winter months, spending the summer vacations 
in working on his father's farm until he reached his twentieth year, when de- 
siring a better education he entered (he i)reparatorv department of the Mich- 
igan Weslevan I'niversity at i.eoiii, Michigan, where by great diligence he 
I)repared himself within a year for the regular university course. He took 
the scientifiiC course and, excepting a few terms ^\wn[ in teaching in order to 
raise funds for his collegiate expenses, he coutinued in the university tmtil 
Mav, 1858, the close of his junior year. Tpon leaving th.at institution he 
married Marv 1. .Moss, of Leoni, Michig.an, then returning to the old home 
in DeKalh countv. he resumed work on the home f.arm until Octol)er. 1862. 
when he moved to Aubuin atid became principal of the city schools. .\t the 
close of the first wintt'r term he entered the law office of James l'>. Morris, in 
as a student and rem.ained there until Oecemher, 1863. He b.id .1 natural 
aptitude for law and m.ade rapid progress in his studies, so that about fourteen 



5l6 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

luijiillis attcr fiUeiint,'- tlu- (itfice A!r- Kdsc forniwl a ]mrtnorshi|i with Hon. 
!•;. W. i'dMlick, and they oneiu'd an office at T-ntler for the practice of law. 
Durin.L', the tirst \ear ' <y two .\lr. Rm^^' \\a^ not dverhnniened witli hu-^ines>, 
l)ul tliis lime wa'- well occupied in assidnon^ ^•tudy. thereliy de\ elopin.i;- his 
legal knowled.i^e and hettei- pi-eparin^; hini-elf fur the hiisiness that was to 
come to him hater on. It was not many year.s before Mr. Rose became a husy 
man in his |)rofession. his partnership with Mr. l-'oMlick continuing until after 

tion was dissolved. .Mr. Kose c<.nlinned in the active praciice at lUnler until 
Octoher, \Hjj. when he moved to .\nhnrn and remained alone in the practice 
until julv. 1S73, when he formed a ]Kirinership with Tlon. Iv H. llartman. 
This lirm. under the name of Rose i.K: llartman. continued until July. dSSi, 
when the partnership was disso!vi-d and .\lr. Rose continue<l in the praciice 
alone until |XS_' when his son. lames 11., hec.ame lus partner. This Hrm grew 
in strength ;ind husiness niuil lhe\ enjoved the largest legal p.atrouage of any 
fn-m ni northeastern Indiana. In a.ddition lo iheir onln.arv local pnactice 
thev were atlorneys tor the Baltimore \- Ohio railroad, the Wahasli railroad 
and the I'oled.. ;v l.hicago interurhan railroad. It was characteristic of 
Judge Rose th;it. husv ;is lie \v as, he never relini|uished his close and zealous 
studv ot' law .111(1 he thus liecamc well infonu.-d on the ])rinci])les as well as 
the ]irecedents to sucli an extent that he was frequently called upon h\ other 
niemhers id' ihe har for advice and rounsd. 1-or nearlv halt a century Judge 
Rose was idrnlilied with praciicallv .all of the important Htig;ition tried in 
the local coiirl and was emjiloved in many cases in adjoiniiu'- counties, while 
during this period the firm ( d" J. !•:. and J. H. l-iosc was regarded as the lead- 
ing law firm of DeKalh count\. As ,a trial law\er ludge Ro.se was vigorous, 
aggressive .and thorough, whi'e as a counsellor he was conservative ;md safe. 
For a score of vears the other memliers of the DeK.alh oumtv har regarded 
Judge Rose as the dean (d' the har and it was the custom to conuuemorate his 

hretlii-en with reminiseenres of the earlv lawvers and iudgcs. for ne.arlv half 
a cenim-v Judge Rose was an .active memlier , d' the Masonic order in which 
he took -re.al pride. In ].oliti(s he was a.lwavs a Re]>ul)lican ,and was .active 
in the r.nik-. not for person.al reward 1ml fr.iin a sense of pu!)lic dutv. He 
w.as present ,it the lustonc g.athering under the r>aks at Jackson. Michigan. 

earnest advocates. In 1 Njti he was noinin.ated for iudge >.f the circuit conn 
of neK.ill). Xohle and .^teuhen counties. \hout three \-ears nri.ir \n his 



DF.KAI.li lOl'NTI'. INDIANA. 3I7 

<lealh Judge Rcise was ch()>fn liy the H;iUiniore .S: ( )liiu Railn.ad ( niiipanx- 
as a rt'prfsciualive- frmn Imliana on llicir hoard dt' ilircctni-s. Idlin,i^ this |iiisi- 
tion uiilil his dcalii. Ol an iutciisrly ( .ptiniisltr dispi >siti( m, \w\iiv Knsc 
rcsdlutclv l....lsed on ihr hri-hi sidr ..t hiv. casiin- -l,».ni aside and hrcanse 
of his -niial and ha|.|n chs|,os,i,on \w uas a uclo-nu- visitor in anv .^atiirnn.u. 
and was h..noia-d and la-spcctol for his nohlc traits of character, his ujin-ht- 
ness. Ins conra.^e and his sicrlin- (|uahtii,-s. lie was tfiiipcrati.- in all affairs 
of life, a lover of home and li\ed an aeti\a' and eiu'igetic life of nsefulness. 

Judge Rose was married llna^e limes, his (irsi \.ife , lying on I'ehruarx 
5, 187J. leaving two sons. I'lank E. and James M.. and a daughter, hdla J. 
P""rank H. is now a railwa\ superintendent at Triniilad. ( olorado. while 
James M. IS engaged m .a hieraln e law practice at I'ort ^\'aylK■. hdhi J. 
died on Xoxemlier i !,. igio. In the fall of 1872 Judge Rose married hdleii 
D. Aldrich. ^'i lintler. who .at her death left one child, wh,. die<l so, ,n .ifler 
the motlier. On Sepleniher 7. 1873. Judge ivose marrieil \lar\- l' . .Ximnions. 
of I'.ntler. the danghlero! I'. !'.. and \laiv A. 1 llriiik ) .\imni..]is. Three 
chil.lreii were horn to this uivon: M.irx l'... Ines R. ,an<l Laura A. Marv |-.. 
is the wife of h'.. \\ . \tkiiisoP, a \\ ell known lawver at \ul)urn, and they 
have two children. N'irginia Rose an<] Joseph h'.dward. ; lues is the wife ni 
Cieorge K. I'.eiignot. who is a meniher of the firm ..! Scliaah I'.nuhers I )rv 
(ioods ( ompaiix at \uliurn. and they ha\e two children, Charles .and .Marv; 
Laura make-, her home m .\ir.nrn with her mother. .Mrs. Rose has long 
l)een prominent in the ^oci.al life of Xiihnrn .and w .a . one ..' the charter mem- 
hers of the L.ailies Literar\- Socie'.x' of tins cilw She v a- horn and reared al 
R.utler. her ],arents having origmallv come to this conntv from New >'ork. 
Her father w.as h,,rii at I "henan-o I'orks. Xew >ork. and was of .^cotcli- 
Irish ancestr\-. while her mother, who was horn at AeM.pu^. .\e\v \<<vk. was of 
Holland ancestrv. descended from ihe fan.ilv of .\imeka Jans, who ov, ued 
si.xty-fne acres where Trinitv I'.piscoi.al church now sla.nd- in Xew ^ ork city. 
.Mrs. Rose's parents were m.arned m Richland cuntN. Ohio, in 1X43. and 
came to DeKalh county, l.-catiii;; three and oni'-ii.alf miles somhwest of 
Butler, where the father h.mght lan.l tli;:t his hroiher JaiiK- had entere.l from 
the government. This iK-c.ame the faniil\ home and tiiere the\ live.l for 
many vears. \\ hen they estahlished theiiisehc- there onl\- a small jiarl of 
the land had heen cleared and pioneer conditions pre\ail<-d. Tin- father was 
accustomed to go to Defiance. Fort W a\iie or e\ en to ( ,osheu to gel grain 
ground and get flour, il reipiiring from two to three flavs to go to Defiance, 
througii the trip could he made in less time on horsehack when the matter was 



5l8 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

ure^ent. He was a life-long fanner hut some time prior to his death relin- 
quished his agricultural lahors and moved to Butler. Mrs. Rose's mother 
died in i860, leaving five children: La.ura, Sarah Catherine. Mary Frances. 
Emblem Bevier and Alice K. Mr. Nimnions afterwards married Marv F. 
(Westfall) Nimmons, the widnw of his decea.sed brother, Robert Nimmons. 
One .son was hurn ti 1 them, who n<i\\ lives near Butler. Mrs. Nimmons had 
one sun, (ieorge R., hv her first ma'-ri;i<ri^, he living \V)\\ in Minneapolis. Min- 
nesota. Plnlip l!e\ier Xinininns was tile trustee of Wilmington township 
for mail}' years, and lie and liis tamiK were prominent memliers of the Pres- 
liyterian clitireli. [Politically, he was a Repiililiean and \\;is artivel\- interested 
in the success of that party His de;ith occurred on .\pril 14. 1S98. His 
widow now lives in Piutler. 



SOI.OMOX FISHER. 



Though several years have passtd suice the suliject of this sketch was 
transferred from the life militant to the life triumphant, he is still favoralily 
remembered by many of the older ' -sideiits of DeKalh county, where for 
many years he was regarded as one ot the leading husiness men of the county. 
Becau.se of his many excellent personal qualities and the splendid and definite 
influence which his life shed over the entire locality in whicli he lived so long 
and which he labored so earnestly to upbuild in any way within his power, it 
is particularlv consonant that specific mention should he made of him in a 
work containing mention of the representative citizens of the comnuuiity in 
a |)ast generation. .\ man of high moral character. unim])eachal)le integrity, 
persistent industry and excellent business judgment, he stood '"four square to 
every wind that blew," and throughout the locality \ 
an enviable position among his fcllownien. ;imong 
esteemed. 

Solomon P'isher was horn l-'ehruary iS. 1S3. 
and was a sou of jacol) and Sophia ( Ishler) l-'ishei 
a native of Pennsylvania, was of German descent, and at the age of ten years 
he was bound out and went to Harrisburg. where he learned the tailor's 
trade. Sophia Ishlev. who also was a native of the Ke\stoue state, was of 
sterling old '•Pennsylvania Dutch" stock, and slie and Jacob Fisher were mar- 
ried in their native state. Eventually they mo\ed to Stark county, becoming 
one of the early setders of that locality. There Solomon, their .son, the snh- 
iect of this sketch, was reared to the age of about twenty years, having 



here he 


lixed he occupied 


rliom h( 


;' was universalis- 


in Sta 


rk count) . ( )hio. 


Jacob 


l-isher. who was 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 5I9 

secured his education in the common schools, and when old enough he learned 
to be a tailors cutter, at which he worked about two years, and then engaged 
in the clothing business at Canton. Ohio. In 1861 !\Ir. Fisher moved to 
DeKalb county, Indiana, locating in Waterloo, where he engaged in the 
clothing business, and there for many years he and his brother, Peter Fisher, 
were in successful partnership. They were prospered in their business affairs, 
and the subject became the owner of two farms in Steuben county, .\bout 
1883. Mr. I'isher retired from the clothing business ,ui(l spent a \ear on llie 
farm, at the end of which time lie moved back to Waterloo, where he made 
his home to the time of his death, which occurred in Oclolier. IQ03. His 
widow now lives in Waterloo. .\lr. h'i'^her was a mcmlier of the Knights of 
Honor, and was highly respected in the community where he ha<l lived. 

In 1855, at Canton. Ohio. Solomon b'isher was united in marriage with 
Harriett Rodabaugh. who was born in Summit county, Ohio, alxnit six miles 
from Akron, where she spent her early childhood. Then lier parents moved 
to Lewisville, Ohio, and about 1833 to Canton, that state. Her parents were 
.\dam and Mary (Heath) Rodaliaugh. Mary Heath, who was itorn in .\"ew 
York, was the slaughter of \'ankee and Scotch-Irish p.arents. her mother hav- 
ing been a native of Connecticut ruid her father having the sturd}- qualities of 
the combined Scotch and Irish blood, which has been such a ])rominent element 
in our national life. Adam Rodabaugh was descended from a family oi nolile 
blood and was one of a company of young men who fled from Europe at a 
time when Holland and France were in rebellion against their government. At 
that time he was but eighteen years old. To Solomon P'isher and wife eleven 
children were born, namely: \\'illiam H., of Seattle, Washington; John D., 
of Fort Wavne. Indiana: Solomon, of Waterloo; Cora, the wife of Colonel 
S. .\. Bowman, of Waterloo; Jennie, the wife of b'rank Cionser. of Ashley; 
Emma B., wife of John McFerron. of Louisville. Kentucky; Elizabeth, the 
wife of George Ulph. of Detroit. ^Michigan ; Blanche, the wife of William 
Wilkins, of Kalamazoo. Michigan; Ella, the widow of Dr. bairfield Snyder. 
who was a pioneer ph3'sician in Corunna. this county. The other two chil- 
dren, Frank R. and Harry, are deceased. Frank, who lived in Fort Wayne, 
died in the fall of 1912. and llarr\. who was married and li\ ing in Waterloo. 
died about 1886. 

Solomon Fisher was a man of line person.ality. possessing to ;i marked 
degree those characteristics which won friend'- and commanded the respect 
of all who knew him. and hi< de.ath was generally considered a distinct loss 
to the comniunit\ wliicli he had honored by his cilizenshi)). 



520 



DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. 



RUSSELL L. HULL. 



Holding prestige among the successful business men of today, the sub- 
ject of this review has had much to do in advancing the material interests of 
Waterluu. DeKalb county, and making it one of the important commercial 
centers of this section of the state. The studx of sucli a lift cannot fail of 
interest and incentive, as he is distinctively re]>resent;itive of his sphere ol 
activity and has contributed in no small measure to the pr(is])erit\ of the city 
which is his home ami fitld of o])eration. at the same time establishing ;i last- 
ing reputation for honor and integrity. 

Russell L. Hull was born on Se]iU-mber _'. iSyj, at .Sechlerville. \\"i,s- 
consin, and is a son of (ieorge .M . ;md llann.ah I',. Hull. (George M. Hull 

his country in her hour of need, and now lixes in W'.-isliuigton, j ). C ,, where 
for sixteen years be iias been in the government civil service, (hie of his 
daughters, I'.fhe, is also in the government s.-rvicr. being em|iloved m the 
postal departmenl at W asliinglon. .\ -on. .\!erlm, is prominent in tlv.- public 
and political life of Wisconsin, ;md during the sessions of m,ij-i;, be wa-^ 
speaker ol the lower house in the state Legislature. When Kussfll L. Hull- 
was but a child the family moved t(i 1 Slack River I'alls. Wisconsin, where 
he received bis education, graduating from the high school; then for a year 
be faithfully sU'died law with the inlunion of making that his life work, and 
at the age of twenty years started east, bis intention being to enter judge 
Skillett's office at P.ryan, Ohio, and llieie ]ierlect liis legal studies. How- 
ever, he was ]iersuaded liv a relalive to st,,|, at Waterloo and take charge 
temporaiilv of the butter, eg.i; and poultry liiisiness owned here bv ikwer 
I'.rolbers ( ompanv . \l that time il w:is a small affair, having just been 
started and em]iloying 1 ut two wagons in the buying ui) of produce in and 
alout Waterloo. Meyer I'.rotbers ],ad other well established houses tbrougb 

the time Mr. Hull took hold .,f it was phenomenal. He showed a remarkable 
aptitude for tlie business, being (|uick and decisive and energetic, and so emi- 
nently salisfactorv liave bis sltv ices been to the I'.ever I'.rotbers Compau}' 
that be has been retained at the head of the Waterloo business ever since. 
The business has grown to sucli an extent that n rc(|uired the election of a 
large brick building, and both teams and automobiles are used in the gather- 
ing of prc.duce, eggs and poultry for the market. The stuff is shi])ped to X'ew 
York. I'rovidence, .Mbany and other eastern jxinits, the annual shipments 



DKKAI.Ii COUNTY. INDIANA. ;_' I 

Mniimiitiiii;- ti) about seven luiiulrcil and fifty tlxmsaiid ])i)iin(ls of ponlin , and 
from liftecn ti> twoiity tlDiisand cases of es^-s, thirty do/ni i,, a case. .Mr 
Hull has full char<;fe of the busines.s m everv detail and to his watchful at- 
tention of the market is largely due the success which has attended his efforts, 
for there is h.-u'dly a line of niarketalile produce which is more liable to ductua- 
tious than that of ihe poiiltrx and e.i(g market. l'._\ liis strict attent'ou to busi- 
iiess. his _L;enial disposiii, ,11 and liis slerliiio- inte.tiritx Mr. Hull has .learned a 
t'avorable reputation tlirouL;boin |)td\alb conntv, ;uul .aniini.c; bis lariL;e cirHe 
of acquaintances lie numbers many warm ])ersonal friends. 

11;. j-J, was a meml)er of the st.nte Le.i^islature as representatne from Dekalb 
county. He was a member of the Waterloo town board i)rior to this. In 
everything affecting the welfare of Wa.terloo .and \icinit\- .Mi. Hull lias taken 
a commendable interest. gi\'ing his support to tin- moral, material and edii- 
lional upb.nlding of the to\', n. 

On June _|, i,S<,(i. .Mr. Hull married Nettie I-:. ( 'li;imberlain, the daugbler 
of Dr. J. W. fbanil:erlani. who is represented elsrwhere in ihis work. .Mr. 
Hull is a member of the Indepen.len- ( )rder of Odd b\llo- s and, ,,: the I-ree 
.and \ccepted Masons, and in bi^ daily life be end.avor. to exemiilifv the 
sublime precej.ts of these honored orders. Ilecau.se of Ins -ph-ndid record 
since locatin.i: in Waterloo, and bis -eniiine o.'orth. be is eiiiineiuh entitl.d to 
represenlatinii in this wdrk. 



ib:i<b:.\ii.\ii Hi-:.Mi'srRb:KT. 

the commumlies m which tbev lived, was he whose name appears at the head 
of Ibis paragraph. .Mr. llempstreet w.is lioni m Half .Moon. Saratoga 
count\. New ^■ork, in iSo^. and was reared in Herkimer aiul Lewis counties. 
New ^■ork. .\fter attaining mature vears be m.arried Sabrina .Merchant, bv 
whom he had four children, his wife and three of the children dying in the 
Kmj.ire slate. Later .Mr, llemp-treet m,.ved to Huron cuiUv. Ohio, where, 
on Januarv 1, 1 S.v'^. be married .M.ariam .M. .Smith, who was born in New 
York st.ale on l-\-bruary i<), 1814. To this second marriage were born 
seven children: Cornelius, Sa!)ine, .Miiert, Mehina, Mary S. and Ella. Mary 
S. was married in iS;.' to Orlando Seerev. a farmer of Smithficld township. 



522 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

who was born in 1847 and died September 21, 1912. He was a Republican in 
politics and lield membership in the I'nited Brethren church. At the time of 
his death he was the owner of eighty acres of land, which is rented. In 1842 
Mr. Hempstreet loaded all his household effects upon a wagon and came to 
UeKalb county, wliere he entered a tract of wild land in section 22, in Smith- 
held town-^liip. i'lii^ l;md at tliat time was practically untouched by white 
men's hands, and to its clearing;, improvement and cultivation Air. Hempstreet 
devoted himself indefatigably and succeeded in breaking and fencing over 
one hundred acres of land. Despite the privations and hardships of pioneer 
life he remained actively engaged in work for many years and was hale and 
hearty until past eighty-two years of age, his death occurring on June 2, 
1886. In the local afifairs of the community he took an interested part 
and served one term as count\- commissioner and fourteen years efficiently 
as justice of tlie peace. He was a Democrat in his ]ioIitical \ iews and a man 
of c<.:ns(:ientious l';ai)iis and well thought of by his neighlxjrs and acquaint- 
ances. Mr. Hempstreet was survived a number of years b\' his widow, who 
died on March 24, 1897, at the age of eighty-three years. She had been 
converted in religion in 1841 and united witli the i\e.<;iilar I'aptist churcli, to 
which slie was faithful uiUii her dea.h. :i period of iifly-six vears. Her hus- 
band, toi), wa> a mcmlier of tlie same cliurch and lhe\' were liljL-ral con- 
tributors to the building and support of the cliurch at .Vubiun. .Mrs. Heni])- 
s'reet was an affectionate mother, a kind and ciieerful ncii^libor and made 
friends wherever she became acquainted. This worthy couple long occupied 
a respected jiosuion in the communitv where they li\ed. their deaths were 
considered distinct lusses to the communit\-. Ik'Cause of their upright lives, 
business success and the slerlin.t; worth of character which they evidenced, 
thev are eminentlv entitled to representation among the honored citizens of 
DeKalb count\-. 



FRED I. XEBELUNG. 



In the respect that is accorded to men who have fought their own way 
to sv.ccess through unfavoral)le environment we find ;m unconscious recog- 
nition of the intrinsic worth of a character which not only can endure so 
rough a test, l)ut gain new strength through the discipline. The gentleman 
to whom tlie biographer now calls the reader's attention was not favored liv 
inherited wealth, or the assistance of influential friends, but in spite of this. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 



523 



by perseverance, industry and a wise- (.•con.miy. he has attained a oinit(.rtal)le 
station in life. 

Fred J. Nebehing. a successful merchant and rei)resentative citizen of 
Auburn, Indiana, was born at Bryan, Williams county, Ohio, on the 1 jtli of 
September, 1867, and is the son of Charles and Frances ( Peffer) Xelielung. 
both of whom were natives of Germany, tlie father comins;- from Saxon\- 
and the mother from Alsace. They came to tliis country se])arateiy and were 
married in Tnied... Olii,,. frnm uIk-ucc they removed to I'.rxan. where Mr. 
Xeheluns,^ followed the vocation of a harl,er. He >]K-n\ tl'e rest ol his davs 
there, dvin" in iSSc;, and is sur\i\ed l.y his wid.iw. who still resides in 
that city. 

Fred Xebelung was reared under the paternal roof and secured his edu- 
cation in the common and high schools at Bryan. From the age of sixteen 
years until about twenty-two years of age, he was employed as clerk in a 
clothing store, after which tor two years he was a traveling salesman for 
Taylor's trimmings and furnishings, with head(|uarter.s at Cleveland. Ohio. 
Subsequently he went to Lima. Ohio, where I'or about tliree \ ear> he was 
employed in a clothing; store, and. in \^<-)j,. rel'jrued to ilrxan and entered 
into business on his own account as a merchant tailor and dealer in gents" 
furnishings. In March. i8g8. he disposed of his business at 15ryan. and. 
coming to .Auburn, bought the Racket store on Main street, three doors south 
of Eighth street, where he remained about a month, then moving to his pres- 
ent location at the northwest corner of Eighth and Main streets. His l.usiness 
constantly increased from the time that he took hokl of it and gradually he 
changed his stock to dry goods, shoes and ladies' read\-to-\\ ear clothing, in 
addition to which he also carried a line of groceries. The growth of the 
business was gratifying and continued to such an extent that in igi^ Mr. 
Xebelung was compelled to enlarge his space and took possession of the store 
room adjoining him on the north. He now devotes the old store room to the 
shoe business, and has dry goods and ready-to-wear clothing in the new 
store room, while a carpet and rug dejiartment is maintained on the second 
floor. Strict attention to business, courtesy to customers and a large and 
comjilete line of gdods in all departments are the elements that ha\e con- 
tributed to the success of Mr. .Xebehmg, who is now coir-idered one of the 
leading merchants of Auburn. 

Fraternally Mr. Xebelung is affiliated with a numi)er of local lodges, 
and is also a member and director of the Commercial t'lub. His religious 
membership is with the Catholic church, to which he is ;i liberal contributor. 
He gives a heartv support to eveiy movement which is calculated to advance 



,-i2a DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

the best interests <if tlie cuinnninity, and. because of his t,'enial manner, sterling 
integrity and ,L;ennine wdrtli. he enjoys the cnnlidenee and re,s])ecl of the 
entire coniniunit\ . 

In iS()5 I'Ved Xel)einng was married to Mrs. h'rederica Harding, of St. 
.Mary\ ( )hio. who has proxen ti.i her hushand a helpmate in the truest sense 
of the word. lly a former marriage Mrs. Xel-.elung is the mother of a 
daughter. Xell. 







C HAkL 


KS KLM 


Am. 


mg tl 


K- men of slui 


-d\- integr 


C( >n 


li-ihul 


ed their i|noi:i 


lo the ad 



MKi-^ l''RI<"|)KK!( K. 



d reliaMe traits of character who 
nent of the uphmlding of DeKalh 
county, mention may niovi i, .usistently l)e made of him whose name appears 
.ujove. \vho ranks auK^iL; the lc:i(hug pulilic-^niriled litizuis of .\uhurn. where 

Charles I-', I'red.erick ua^ horn on I'el.ruary 25. t^jo. al Hudson. In- 
diana, and IS a .on of jo.cph A. and .\ddie 1 Chilson 1 I'rcdcric!.. Joseph .\. 
i-'rederick wasaK-.a n;iti\e of Hudson. Stenhen counfc. Indiana, and was a 
son of David and Mary (!''isher ) Frederick. They came from Chio ni the 
early day- and settled in the unrhartcd W(,ods. Addie ChiN.m, wiio was 
also horn on .a t.arm near lIudH.n, i- :, d;,nghter -f I'.eujamiu and Nlargaret 
t Hagerman ) ( hilsoii. w ho came from i V'nn-\1\ .ania to Indiana. 

riKirles !■;. I'redenck was reared on the home farm near Hudson, at- 
tending the inihhc schools and the high schools ,it Hudson .and .\shlev. When 
al>oUL inneteen \e.ars old Mr. k rederick went int.. a har.lw.are store at Hud- 
-..n. where he was eni])l.i\ed as a clerk for foiu' \ears. Then during the 
foil.. wing eight \ears he was a traveling salesman for the \an lamp H.ar.h 
ware and Iron Company, ..f Indiana]).. lis. and p.iion -exeriui; his cnnection 

ing the last three years. Of g. .. .d husiness ahilitv. atfahle dis]>..sili..n and 
sterling integrity. Mr. k'rederick ha-- w..u friends w iierex er he has g..ne .and 
has been eminentlx' successful a- a salesm.in f. .r the companies he has repre- 
senteik He has g.ained friends wherexer he has gone and is n..\\ one of the 
m..st ])..pular lasidents ..f this communilw 

(An Hecemljer J.S. i.,i)4, Mr. k'redenck married I'.ertha Ketcham. ..f 
Hudv.n. In.li.iua. the .kaughter ..f Joseph ,anil lAauces ((irieves) Ketcham. 
She was l)..ri. at lluds..n and received her Mlucali.m there, residiny; with her 



DKKAI.B COLNTV, INDIANA. 325 

]i;ircnls until her iiiarria,i;v. In SciitrnilK'r, Kioj. Mr. I'rt'dt-ric-k nrnvcd 1m 
-Auhurn. wlu-rc Ik- now resi.k-. Mr an.l lii-- wife arc nK-nihcrs ..f the .Metlm- 
dist Episcopal I'lnn-ch at .Xnhurn, and Mr. iMTck-rirk has hecn >upi.-rinlt'n(K-nt 
of the Siindav school there tor the last tliree year>,. To Mr. and .Mrs. I'red- 
erick have been born two children, namely: C ortland K., born .May (>. igoj. 
and F"rances Louise, ])orn h\'brnar\- j6. kiij. 

Frances ((".riexe-i Keicliani \\a- born in Huron connt\. Ohio, in 184S, 
the dau.y^hter of Thomas and Jane ( Insco ) ( .rieves. When >lie was four 
years old the family came to Indiana, locating aboiu loui' .md (jnedialf mik> 
north of HudsoTi in 1^52. and there she was reared and remained niuil her 
marriage to Mr. Ketcham. The latter eni^as^vd in teachin.L; -chod both before 
and after marria.ue, thoufih he wa> a ^h(K-niaker by \r,eation at .a time when 
shoes were all made to order, he ha\ ini; conducted a -ucco^fnl shoe store and 
was also postmaster of Hudson durint; President Clexeland's administration. 
His death occurred in 188(1, his wife dvim; in .XusiU-^t, !(ki(). SIk- \\;is a mem 
her of the Methodi-t chmch. ,and. he was secrelarv of the Simdav -chool con- 
nectetl with th.it ^ocielN. lo'-eph Ketch.am w;is the -^on of Andrew Im^crsol 
Ketcluun and .Mar\ .\1. ( ( iuernsex' » Ketcluim. Mr-, bredirick i- one of four 
children b(irn to her parents, of whom two brother-, \lbert and one not 
named, died in infancx. Her -i-ter, .\(la C. is now the wife of I'rank 
Strock. of Hnd-on. Slenbm coimtv, this -ta.te. Mr. and Mrs. I'rederick move 
in the be-t soci.al circle- of their conimnnitv ;ind enjov well de-erved popu- 

worth and have at .all times stood for the best interests of the community in 
e\'ery w;iy possible. 



KM I". ("OCIIR.W. 



It is with marked s.ali-faction that the biot;rapher adverts to the life of 
one who h;i> attained -ucce— in anv voeation reonirin.L;- debnitene-- of |)ur- 
pose and determined action. Such life, whether it he one of calm, consec- 
;\e endeavor or of sudden meteoric accomijlishments, must abound in both 
lesson .and, incentive .and prove a L;an(le to youn^ men whose fortunes and 
desMuies .are -till m.itter- for the future to determine. The -nbject of this 
sketch is distincti\ el\ one of the representative men of .Auburn. I'or a mun- 
ber of vears he dnx-ctcd his efforts tow.ard the .ucal of -ucces- and b\ na'ieul 
conlinu.ance in well dointi' succeeded at last in overc(.minii; the many obstacles 
b\ which his patbw.ax- was beset. 



520 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Eli T. Cochran, one of the best known business men and enterprising 
citizens of Auburn, Indiana, was born May 13, 1H59, on his father's farm 
two miles west nf this city. He is the ninth in order of birth of thirteen chil- 
(hen Imrn tn Thoiiui.s and .Nnianda (Saine) Cochran. Thomas Cochran was 
a son (if j(ilin and .^hlry auhisnn) Codn-an. the former of whom came from 
the nortli of Irelimd, l)ein,t;- of Scotch desceni. Thomas Cochran was horn in 
iVrry count}, ( )liio, Au.uust 24. 1S13, his father l)eing an early settler of that 
community. Thom.is was reared in his nati\e county, and made llic okl 
hi;meste;id his residence for (j\er forty years. After attaining' his majority 
he bought the interests of the other heirs of his father's estate, and look care 
of his parents until their death. In September, 1858, he moved to Indiana, 
purchasing land in what was then known as Richland, now Kevser town- 
ship, this county, two miles west of -\uhurn, where he made his permanent 
home. He was an industrious man and successful financially as well as 
otherwise. He married Amanda Saine on March 17, 1844. she having been 
born januar\" 18, 1826, a daughter of Henry and Catherine Saine. nati\es of 
Maryland. To 'Idionia- f'ochran and wife thirteen chi'dren were born as 
follows: Hannah, wlio became the wile of 1). K. Houghton, of Lewistown. 
Illinois: Edward, born July 0, 184(1. died Julv 17. [H.so; Mary .\.. wife of 
Ohio: k:mily iM.. wife of .Mien Wysong. of 
of l)eKali) county: Joseph P).. who li\es on a 
;est of .\uburn; David S., of Tucs.m. .\rizona: 
if (iarrett. Indiana: Fdi T.. of Aubm-n : ik-nja- 
b.irn December 25, 1802, iU.-d Mav X, 1 N04 ; 
Ilia: and Cli:irles K., of .Auburn Junction, iliis 
IS characterized b\ ,s.,reat ph\ sical energ\-, and 
even in old age was a rapid walker, 
ter li\ ing to the :ige of ninet\- ye.ars. 
which occurred in the fall of |8()2, a 
l"ebniar\- 26. i8c)i). Roth weie niei 
cbaiacter, whose lives were a benefit 

bdi T. Cochran spent his b<i\-bood days on his father's farm, securing 
his education in the common schools ot the neigiil)orhood. .\t the .age of 
fifteen \ears he was stricken with tviihoid fever, from the effects of which 
his health became so impaired that he hatl to forego further schooling. He 
remained on the home farm until his marriage in 1886, when he was twenty- 
seven years old. Immediately thereafter he went to California, where he re- 
mained two years, and then returned to DeKalb county, taking up his resi- 



Charles 


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His 


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ted. 





INDIANA. 




527 


;iT \\(jrk, a 


trade at wli 


icii Ik- liad 


>n at wliici 


1 all till' inal. 


• nienil)rr.s 


\\i) ycar-i 1, 


atrr he hej^ai 


1 cniit Tact- 


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i()i)6, whet) 


ile b.ni-ln 



DEKALB COUNTY, 

dence in Auburn, \^•llerc■ he resumed carpel 
already had some experience, and a vocation 
of his family showed an aptitude. .Mxait two \i 
ing and building, and continued as a 
out the Goodwin coal yard in Auburn, and has since operated thai busines.s. 
Marked enterprise and progress have characterized him in his efforts and he 
has attained to a success fully commensurate with the efforts put forth by 
him. Mr. Cochran takes an intelligent interest in public affairs, and in poli- 
tics has l)eeu acti\ e in the ranks of the Democratic partv. lie served two 
terms in the city council of Auburn and was an influential member of that 
body when Auburn instituted her sysleiu of line paved streets. Mis home is 
in a substantial and attractive brick residence at No. 421 \\'est Seventh street, 
Auburn, anil is finished handsomely in hard wood, pcrsonallv selected b\- Mr. 
Cochran. The home is modern in e\er\- rcsjx-cl, and has all the conven- 
iences re(|uire(l in modern, up-to-date homes. 

In March, 1886, Mr. Cochran was united in marriage with Nora P>elle 
Shook, daughter of Jesse and Virilla (Fleming) Shook. Mrs. Cochran, who 
is a lady of many social graces and estimable (|ualities of head and heart, was 
born on her father's farm in k'airfield township, this countw ribout two miles 
southwest of I'airfield Center. Her f.ather. Jesse Shook, was the fourth of 
ten children horn to John Shook- and wife. Mrs. Cochran's grandfather was 
a native of Pennsylvania, from which place he moved to Ohio, living suc- 
cessively in Columbiana, Trumbull and Seneca counties, before coming to 
DeKalb county, Indiana. In 18;] 4 he located in k^airfield townshij). this 
county, w^hen Jesse Shook was a boy of .ibout fifteen years of age. John M. 
Shook', a brother of Jesse, and who now ni,-ike- his home with Mr. and Mrs. 
Cochran, was in the cav.-ilarv branch of the ainiv duriu;^ the Civil vv,-u-. .\f er 
the w.-ir he entered the emplovnient >'i the M is'-< .nri. Kansas & Texas railway 
at I 'arsons. Kansas, and was in the em|)loy of that ro;ul for forty years. He 
is a thirtv-second degree .Mason and a member of the Mystic .Shrine. 

To John Shook and wife- were horn the following children: Jonath.-m. 
Elias, Rebecca. Jesse, Henrv, John M., Elizabeth, Samuel, William and Rose 
Ami. lesse Shook married N'irilla I'leining, daughter of .\aron k'leming and 
Nancv (Irwin) Fleming, a lady of Scotch parentage. He followed the voca- 
tion 'f fanning for some years after his marriage, and when Mrs. Cochran 
was a little girl the familv moved to Corunna. .\bout i8<)3 Mr. and Mrs. 
Shook moved into Auburn, where he died in 180Q. his wife surviving until 
1906. 



52« DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Eli Cochran has been born one daughter, La Vaun, 
who is now attending the pubhc schools in Auburn. iVIr. Cochran is an 
active menilier of the Knights of Pythias, the American Yoenian and the 
Auburn Commercial Club, in all of which he takes an active part and intelli- 
gent interest. Religiously, he and his wife are active members of the Metho- 
dist Episcopal church, of whicli they are regular attendants and to which 
they contribute lii)er:dly of their means. Mr. Cochran has by his indomitable 
enterprise and i)rogressi\e methods contributed in a material way to the ad- 
vancement of his locality, and during the course of an honorable career he 
has met witli a fair measure of success, having been governed by honesty and 
sinceritv of ))urpose so that he now enjoys to an eminent degree the confi- 
ilence and regard of the entire communitv. 



.XOUM.W T]-:.\L J.\CK.M.\\. 

The history of a coiuily or state, as well a- thai of a n;ilion, i^ cliietlv liie 
chronicle of t!ie li\es;uid deed> of tJiose who li:i\e conferred iionor and dignity 
ui>on -ocietv. The world jnd'.;e- tb.e character or a commniiit\- hv tho^e of 
its represeinarixe citizen^; and yields its irilnite of .-ulminilic ;n and respect to 
those whose works ;ind ;ictioiis const inue the record of a st;ite's prosperity 
and pride, .\mong the prominent citizens of lleKidb countv. who are well 
known because of their success in pri\;ite l)usiness affairs .and the ])art lhe\- 
ha\e taken in public life, is he whose name appears ;il the head of this article, 
the present postmaster of Waterloo. 

Xorman T. Jackman was born in I"ranHin lounship, DeKalb county, 
Indian.i, on the i)tli day of -\pril, 1S55. and is a son of Isaac and Maria 
(.•^liineri |;icknian. Isaac |;ickm,an was born in ("arroll covmty, Ohio, on 
October JO. 1S1-. an<l was the s,,n of i-Mward and Elizabeth (Miller) jack- 
man. EdwartI jackman IkuI come to DeKalb countv m iS.^. entering a 
inicl iif |;ind, and then returned to ( )bio. In 1X40 he mo\ ed bis family to 
their new home. arri\ing here on the jStb of ,\la\. The long .-Did tiresome 
joiu-nev was made in the prevalent manner of those da vs. b\- wagon, over the 
jirairii-s. ihidugh the roadless forests and .across unbridged sM'eams. their 
stoi)])ing |)lace at night being b\- the \\a\side wherever tbe\ happened to be. 
Their tn-st work was to clear .1 small area and erect .a loo e.abin. Mere Ed- 
ward and I'dizabetb jackm.an s|)ent the rest of their days, having given the 
best of their ve.ars to the creatini;- of a home and the re.arinu of their children 



DEKALB COUNTV. INDIANA. 529 

to lidiioralile inanliiK.d and wnniaiiliiKid. .\l their d(.-atli> tluMr re-iiiains were 
buried on tlie lionie farm. !)iit e\entually were removed to the eenietery at 
Hamilton. They were the |)arent-^ of ten chilchx-n. of whom the eldest mar- 
ried in Ohio and later in the tall came here. Uaac wa^ the next oldest and 
was abont twenty-three \ears old when the familx joeated here. His father 
was about sixlv vears old. so Isaac was vu-tuallv resiHiUsible for the welfare 
and comfort of the family. lo.i- ei^ht \ears he remained at home, or until 
the other children were old euou.t^b to take his place. In Sei)tember. i(S48, he 
married Maria Stoner, who was born in \\a\ne conntv. ( )hio. the daughter 
of John and Agnes (Critesi St<.ner. wlio had removed from l'enns\h ania to 
the Buckeye state. She came to DeKalb county. Indiana, m June. :S4(). with 
her parents, who located temp<prarib. on a farm noinli of Waterloo. .\ \eai- 
later tliey bou.ubt a tarm .aboiu li\ e miles south of .\ulinrn. near .S-.. Johns. 
where she li\ed until her m.ai'ria.ii'e. .\fter their iuairi;i,!L;e. Isaac Jackmaii and 
wife took U]) their .abode on a farm in h'ranklin lownship which had been 
entered from the go\ t-rnnieiit b\ liis father. Here vlnw i-ni;a,iicd in farmin.sj- 
and reared their faniil\-. consisting of three children, namely: ()li\e. the 
wife of Frank Williams, of Congress. Avi/.on;i. .md ihev have a s,,n. Isaac J. 
John S. Jackman. who w;is reared at home, married Olive (,'. Waterman, after 
which he farme.l for awhile, also ],nving and selling live stock. lie engaged 
in the fmaiiture business in W'.aterloo ,and Later was in the boot and shoe 
business until the hre of |S()7. which desiroye<l his store, after wbicii he re- 
tired from active business. He died in mid;. 1ea\ ing twc daughters. P>lanche 
-Vl. and Mad.ge S. Tdanche married J..hn 1-. Sbnnian and resides in Florida, 
while .Madge is a teacher, havnu; lans^bt in the sebo,,N ,,f Si. Paul until the 
winter of 1012-13. She and her mother now reside in California. The 
third child of Isaic .and .M.ana Jackman ^^ ,as X.aanan Teak the innre la'e 
subject of this review. Is.iac Jackman died in 1872 and bis wife in iS()4. 
She was an earnest member of the .Metho.lisi l^piscpal church. Isaac Jack- 
man was a nemocnit in iiolilics and to(.k ,an ,acti\ e ]);irl in local public .affairs. 
especially during .and immeiliatetv after the Civil w.ar. In iSCo he voted for 
Abraham Lincoln and the Cuion and thereafter remainol aligned with the 
Republican partv. He was inteiiselv public spirited, but never .aspired to 
public office. 

Norman T. Jackm.an spent his boyhood d.avs on the home f.arni in l-'rank- 
lin township, and secured .a practical education in the common schools, sup- 
plementing this bv attendance for ;i sliort time ;it the \',al])araiso .X'ormal I'ni- 
(34) 



53*^ DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

versity. He then returned to the home farm and remained with his muther 
until his marriage, in 1882, though he still continued the operation of the 
home farm for a number of years, or until i8qo, when he bought a farm in 
Smithfield township, wiiere he lived until 1902. In tlie latter year he muved 
to Auburn, where he hail an interest in the excelsior faclorv. In the fall of 
1906 he disposeti of that interest and bought [iroperty in Waterloo, where he 
has since resided. He is tb.e owner of one hundred and forty acres of good 
land, lying in two tracts in Smithheld township, one bordering on the old home 
farm and the other, an eighty-acre tract, lying a short distance north of 
Waterloo. i-"or about live years, while still engaged in farming, Mr. lack- 
man dealt in agricultural inlpk•llK•^t^ at Waterloo. ( )n b'ebruarv K). igii, 
Mr. Jackman was appointed poj-lmaster of Waterloo and i.s .still the incumbent 
of that position. He has given to the discharge of his official duties the 
same careful attention to tletails that he gave to his own business affairs and 
has therefore earned the commendation and ap]iro\al of both the department 
and the patrons of the ofrice. lie ba> all through his mature life taken a 
deep interest in all local atfairs .and lias held the confidence of the popple to 
a notaljle degree. Whib- he was ;i resident of .\uburn he was appointeil re- 
ceiver to wind up the affairs of the I'armers P.ank, which had failed, and he 
settled the affairs in sucli a nianiuT as to satisfy all concerned, as far as was 
possible for any one to ha\ e ^\<mv. He has also ser\ ed in other positions of 
public trust, always with abilitv and faithfulness. 

Politically, Mr. Jackman is an earnest Republican and has long been an 
active worker in the interests of that organizatitm. For five years, from 1895 
to iQOO. he ser\ed as trustee of Smithfield township. In iSf_)8 he was elected 
cli.airnian of the Uepubliean connt\ committee, serving with abilitv and success 
for six )-ears. In the camp.aign of 1010 he scrAcd on the state central com- 
mittee as a member of the ad\ isory board. b>atern;dly. he is a member of 
Waterloo Lodge Xo. 307. Free and Accepted Masons, and Waterloo Ltxlge 
No. 22], Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has been active in these 
bodies, having passed all the chairs in both lodges, and being twice a repre- 
sentative to the Masonic grand lodge. He and his wife also belong to the 
Order of the Eastern Star. 

Mr. Jackman's domestic life began in 1882. when he was married to 
Laura .A. Kennedy, who was born in Smithfield township, this county, the 
daughter of William and Olixe (Holmes) Kennedy. Her father was a 
native of Wayne count}-, Ohio, and came to this county in an early day, 
while her mother came here in 1842 with her parents, Ik-njamin and Nancy 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 53 1 

(Knapp) Holmes, who became early settlers in Smithfield township. Here 
William Kennedy and Olive Holmes were married in 1856 and made their 
home there until late in life. Mrs. Kennedy died in 1898 and he now lives in 
Michigan. Mrs. Jackman attended the schools of her home community and 
was also a student in the normal school at X'alparaiso, this state. From 1875 
to the time of her marriage she was a successful and popular teacher in the 
schools of DeKalb county. She is a member of the Order of the Eastern 
Star and while a resident of Auburn belonged to the Ladies Literary Society. 
She is especially active in the cause of temperance and is president of the 
Woman's Christian Temperance Union at Waterloo. She has represented 
this body, as well as the Taine Club of Waterloo, at district and state meet- 
ings at Indianapolis, Elkhart, Terre Haute, Muncie and Ft. Wayne. She 
has also been a representati\e to the grand chapter of the Order of the l^last- 
ern Star. Mr. and Mrs. Jackman move in the best social circles at Waterloo 
and, because of their genuine worth and splendid personal (|ualities, they are 
universally held in liigh esteem. 

Mrs. Jackman lia> a brother. W. A. Kennedy, who is telegraph operator 
and station agent at Corunna for the Lake Shore railroad. He married 
Philena Kratzer, a native of Steuben count\', this state, and tliey iiave three 
daughters, Oliva, Bessie and Lulu. ()li\a became the wife of Sherman 
Kimmel, foreman of the l^lshilch printing olTice at .\uburn. I'>essie is the 
wife of Roy Stephenson, operator for the Lake Shore Railroad at W auseon, 
Ohio. Lulu li\es at luMiie with her parents. 



I. k. SKILLIX(: 



Among the citizens of DeKall) count\, Indiana, who today enjoy the 
imlimited respect and confidence of their fellow citi/ens. none has ri.sen to a 
higher degree in the esteem of those wlio know him tiian j. K. Skilling, of 
Garrett. Mr. Skilling was born on .\ugust k), 1840. in Richland county, 
Ohio, and in November, 1846, when but a little past six years old, he was 
brought bv his parents to DeKalb county, locating in Richland town- 
ship. At that earlv day but few settlers had located in tliat section of the 
county, and but little of the land had been cleared. In the winter of 1847 .Mr. 
Skilling attended school in the first --chool bouse erected in Richland town- 
ship at Green's Corners, lialf a mile south of tlie present town of Sedan. 
This was a log building, heated by a big fireplace, which was constructed of 



532 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

log ore, a (k-pn-it nt irdii. wliicli \va~ iMcatc! in tlic >\vam|)> dt this localily, it 
being prior to tiie introduction of stoves in HcKall) county. \t that time the 
quah'fic.ation re(|uire(l of a schocj] teacher w.as to lie -.up])Ue(l witli two pocket 
knives, a l.ar^e jack knife, with wlncli to en", whips in thi- wonds to i-nforce 
discipHne among the hirger hoys, .md a |>en knife, v. ith which to make goose 
quill pens for those who were learin'ng penniausiii]!. Mr. Skilling'.s family 
resided in DeKalb county from 1S4O until .Marcli. 1834, when they moved to 
.\(.hk- comitw where the\- resi(k-d until March. 18(14. ^^''i"" they returned to 
DeKalh count v. locating in. Snuthlield lowu-hip. In 1862 the suhject of this 
sketch went t" I'hiladelpliia. r..-nnvyl\ ania. and entered upon government 
work in the W illiain Cramp tV Son's diiii yard-, the largest concern in that 
line in the coiuUrw In June. 1864., he returned to DeKalh count\-, hut two 
years later he again Avent to l'lnladel]>liia. where he resided until September, 
1875. He then came to DeKalli count)", locating in the new town of (Barrett, 
which had just been f..undcd on the Halliniore vK- Obi- railnad line, and in 
Januar\-, 1876, Mr. Skilling was appoiuted marshal of the new towu. In 
November of the same year he entered the service .if the l^.altiniore & Ohio 
railroad compan_\-. with which he >er\ed in \arious positions, cbietly in the 
bridge and building deparlnunt until Aiav 0, i()ij. when he received a serious 
injury, from the effects of which he has been conlined to his home continu- 
ously since. Though surtenug an.l compar.atn elv helpless. Mr. Skilling re- 
mains cheerful and takes a deep iuteresl in e\ er\lhing about him. He has for 
many years been a close student of local historv and is well informed (.n cur- 
rent events relating to DeK.alb county, being .an authority in this line. P>e~ 
cause of his splendid career, which was during his years of gooil health char- 
acterized by steady and persistent industr\', he earned the regard of all with 
whom he associ;>.ted, .as well a- (lie confidence of the com])any by which he was 
eniplo\ed, anil today no citizen of his coniniunit\- stands higher in the ]iuMic 
esteem. 

October 10, 1873. the suhjeci was marrii-d to Marx .\. Kane, daughter 
of Bernard and .\nn 1 rani]il)ein Kane I'.ernard Kane lived m Phikideli>hia 
and was employed as an engineer on the (.'hicago. Wilmington iK; Delaw.are 
railroad. He died while his wife was yet \-oung. 

To the subject and wife have been born eight children: John K. is an 
inspector of accounts for the Baltimore \- Ohio railroad system; J.aines f 
lives in joplin, Missouri, and is eni])loyed b\' the Missouri Pacific railroad: 
Rose is deceased; Alice lives in Chicago; Joseph is an employe of the clerical 
department of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad; .\nn is at home; Mary lives 
in Fort Wavne ; I'.ernadette is also at home. 



DEKALB COUNTY, 



SAMTKL C. II WI'.RS-I-OCK. 



-^33 



The life liisiMiy .,f him uhn<c iKiiiie \k-mU lhi> sketch i> closely identihed 
with the histnry of DeKalh coiiniy, Indiana. Ills life ha, heen one ..f untir- 
iiii^- activity and has heen crowned with a de.L;Tee of success attained by those 
only who devnte themselves indefatigal)ly to the work before them. He is 
of a hioh tyjic of luisiness man and none more than he deserves a fitting recotj- 
nition among the men whose genius and abilitv have achieved results that 
are most envialJe and commendable. 

Samuel (;. I laver^tock was liorn near I'.utler, Indiana, on l'"el)ruavy 15, 
r858. and is a son of Jonathan and Anna ((iardner) I laxerstock. Jonathan 
Haverstock was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, on Aj/ril 17. 1843, and 
when about fourteen years old was brought to DeKalb county. Indiana, by 
his parents, Samuel and PhoeJje Haverstock. Samuel Haverstock liouglit a 
farm north of Butler and there estaldislied the family home and spent the 
lemainder of his life. He started here in a \ery moderate wa\-. ha\ing bought 
farm land for which he went into debt. but. 1;\- persistent effort and rigirl 
economy he was prospered, and at length was enabled to liny more land from 
time to time luilil at one time he owned twelve or thirteen hundred acres of 
land, and to each of his se\ en children he g;i\e two lumdred acres to start 
them in life. He lu)ught and sold a great deal of land and was numbered 
among the substantial and enterprising citizens of the community. Polit- 
ically, he was a staunch i^epuhlican. Init not an office seeker, while religiously 
he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Jonathan 
Haverstock was reared near I'utler and followed agricultural |)iusuits 
throughout his active life. He married Anna (iardner. wiin died two days 
after the birth of their first child, Samuel (I., the immediate suliject of this 
sketch. .Anna (Iardner was a native of Williams county, Ohio, and her mar- 
riage to -Mr. Haverstock occurred on December 6, 1866. Some time after 
her death Mr. Haverstock married Eleanor Cole, of DeKalb county, and 
to this nnion were born six children, of whom four are living — Leone, 
fharles H.. Burl and Belle. Mr. Haverstock continued farming near I'.utler 
during the remainder of his life and was successful in his efforts. He was 
a Republican in his ])olitical views, an Odd Fellow and a member of the 
Methodist Episcoiwl church. He was a good neighbor, always ready to lend 
a helping hand to tho.sc in need of assistance, and look an especially active 
part in Sunday school work. His death occurred on July lO. k^ii. When 
Mrs. .Anna Haverstock died, she gave her two days' old baby to the subject's 
grandparents, Samuel and Phoebe Haverstock. by whom he wa< reared, he 



534 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

being about nineteen years old when they died. The boy grew up on the 
farm and attended college at Angola, .-uul. w Ikii he was twenty-one years old, 
he took charge of his grandfather's farm, continuing its operation until 
about 1905. .About that time Mr. llaver.-^tock left the farm and moved to 
I'utler. where for alxiut four years he was em[)loyetl in the live stock liusi- 
ness, in which he was \ery successful. He was then elected to the office of 
county recorder, assuming the duties of that office on January i, 1909, and in 
the following month he moved to .\uburn, where he now resides, having 
recently sold his farm, ffe performed his official duties to the entire satis- 
faction of his fellow citizens and retired from the office with the commenda- 
tion of all who had been familiar with his work tliere. 

In 1890 .Mr. Haverstock was united in marriage with .Maude Walter, 
who was born in Defiance county, Ohio, the daughter ui James R. and Eliza 
(Stiffler) Walter. Mrs. Haverstock's parents had come from Tuscarawas 
county, Ohio, to Defiance county, that state, and subsequently moved to 
DeKalb county, locating near llutler. where .Mr. Walter followed farming 
and where b.is death occurred in 1904. His widow now lix'LS with a daughter 
at Defiance, Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Haverstock ha\e been born two chil- 
dren, Hazel .\. and J. Harold. Fraternall}-, Mr. Haverstock belongs to the 
Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and 
is highly esteemed among his fraternal hrelhreu. He is a man of splendid 
cjualities of character, honest and upright in all his dealings with his fellow 
men, and, because of his earnest efforts and successful career, he has earned 
and retains the warm regard of all who know him. 



AUGrsTUs c. (;ri-hlke. 

The life of .\ugu^tu> C. (iruhlke. a highly respected citizen of Waterloo, 
Indiana, has been one of consecutive endeaxor along lines that seldom fail 
to bring satisfactory results, and now, in the evening of his life, he finds 
himself very comfortably situated as a result of his former years of acti\ity. 
Augustus C. Gruhlke, of Waterloo, was born in Prussia, Germany, on March 
6, 1850, and is the son of Daniel and Wilhelmina (Tietz) Gruhlke. \\ hen 
he was about nine years old his parents came to America, locating in Pulaski 
county, Indiana, on a farm. When he was about seventeen years old, 
Augustus Gruhlke started out in life on Ids own account, working at various 
employments, such as farming, and then railroading. In 187.2 he came to 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 535 

Waterloo, Indiana, in the employ of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern 
Railroad, having charge of the tower at the railroad crossing. Ahout three 
years later, when the Lake Shore <le])Ot was bnilt. he ])ut up a restaurant 
across the street from the depot, and for eighteen years this restaurant was 
operated by Mrs. Gruhlke. while Mr. (irnhlke attended to his duties at the 
tower. In 1897 Mr. Gruhlke sold the restaurant and in 1899 quit the employ 
of the railroad. Tn 181)5 'i*^' 'i'>'' invented the first jjractical electric cigar 
lighter and went into ].arl!ierslii]) with .Mr. William Kcssler, of Auhiirn. to 
manufacture them. \ 1 ler the business was well started Mr. ( iruhlke >oid 
out his interest to Mr. Kes^ler. in 1899 he began giving his entire time and 
attention to manufacturing and inventing, and made improvements on tlie 
old cigar ligiuer, and at the same time organized the Star Electric Company 
to manufacture cigar lighters. He also organized the Waterloo Cigar Com- 
pany. The lighter business was continued about six years, when Mr. Gruhlke 
sold his interest in it. and in 1908 he sold the cigar business. He has been 
very successful in original patents and has taken out fi\e different patents on 
electric cigar lighters, each one an entirely different one from the other. He 
lias also ])atenled otiier in\entions, including a formaldehyde generator for 
disinfecting jnirposes; a comhinatitm handle and castor, intended primarilv 
to be used on rough boxes, so they could be either rolled Mr carried, but the 
holder can be used on any kind of a box. He also has applications filed for 
a patent on a cigar l)unch making machine. Mr. (Iruhlke has ])robal)ly the 
largest collection of old firearms in the state of Indiana, and is an inveterate 
collector of curios, having at one time a collection of about twenty thousand 
pieces of Indian relics, but these he dis|5oscd of. He has a large and valuable 
collection of .Vmerican and foreign coins, probabi\ rom])rising two thousand 
specimens, fie also has many minerals, fossils, shells and other natural curi- 
osities, all of which would make an interestin.g nniseum collection. He lias 
generously offered to loan these collections to a public museum at Waterloo 
if the citizens will pro\ide a safe place for their care and protection. Mr. 
Gruhlke has a shop where he carries on his work as an inventor and designer 
and is an interesting man to talk to. for he has an intelligent com]>rehension 
of mechanics in all the details and is well posted on the current events of 
the day. 

In 1879 Mr. Gruhlke married .Mmira Wheeler, who was liorn and reared 
in New York, a daughter of Seth and Mary Wlieeler, and she was lixing at 
Xorwood, New York, when she and Mr. Gruhlke were married. 

Mr. Gruhlke has taken a deep interest in local public affairs and ser\ ed 
three years as a member of the Waterloo school board, being treasurer of the 



53^ DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 

board the first year and president during the last year. Fraternally he belongs 
to the P>ee and Accepted Masons and he and his wife are memb'^rs uf the 
Order of the Eastern Star. In [803 Mr. Gruhlke .started the publi.ation of 
a monthly magazine called the .Inicricaii Archcologist, which attained a wide 
circulation among the scientists and ai cheologists. However, after he went 
into tile manufacturing business bis interests demanded his time to such an 
extent that be was comiielletl to gi\e up the publication of the magazine, 
which be sold to Professor Warren K. Moorbead. uf .Andover College, the 
man who bad cliarge of the go\ernment exhibit at the Columbian World's 
b'air at Chicago, and one of the best posted men in his line in the country. 
The magazine was afterwards merged with Popular Science, published in 
Xew York city. Mr. Gruhlke possesses business ability of a high order, as is 
em])basized by his business enterprises, and among his associates his advice 
and judgment are valued highly. Personally he is a man of fine (|ualities of 
character, genial and unassuming, ami he has won a host of warm personal 
friends in this communitw wliere he lias spent so man\' of bis acti\e vtars. 
In 19 1 3 be reorganized the Waterloo Cigar Com])an\-. taking in his 
former f(5rcman. hrank A. Stevens, as a jjartner, and they are now engaged 
in the manufacture of cigars and cigar bunch making machines. 



ROBKRT \\\ CROOKS. 

The recwrd of Mr. Crooks i- that of a man who liy bi> own unaided, ef- 
forts worked bis wav from a modest beginning to a iiosition of com])ara.i\e 
afHuence and influence in the business world. Hi> life has l)een one of un- 
ceasing industrv and. perseverance and. the iKiUorablc methods which hi- fol- 
lowed while actively engaged in bu.siness won for him the unbounded confi- 
dence of bis fellow citizens of Waterloo. 

Robert W. Crooks wa^ born on Dec-mber (i, 1X30. in Trumbull county, 
Ohio, and is the .son of William and jane ( Xorris ) Crooks. William CVooks 
was born iirobablv in Scotland and bis parents lived in Glasgow. He came to 
this countrv in cbildboud and was reared to manhood probably in CumbL-rland 
county, Pennsvlvaiiia, where b</ married jane Norris. Her fatlur. James 
Norris, was a native of Ireland. Willi.am aii<l jane Crooks moved to Trum- 
bidl county. Ohio, iieing the first family to locate in what afterwards became 
the county seat. To tliem were l)orn ele\ en children, of whom five became 
residents of DeKalb county, Indiana, two of them, William and Matthew, 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. ^T,J 

coming here in April. iH^f), and l<ieatin.i;- tm llie Si. Joe river, three miles be- 
low Newville. They had e( .me hy way n\ Defiance, ( )ln(i, with a limlher-in- 
law, Mr. Hull and several other families, and for about fourteen luilcs of the 
distance they had to literally eut their \va\ tbroui^h the woods. They entered 
land first three miU's below Xexwille. In Se|.tenil)er. uS^fi. their mother eaine 
here with two other sons. Kobert M. and Thomas. The latter was married 
to Eliza Davis. .\ vear and ,a h.alf later the widow and her two s,„is lUst 
named returned to Ohio, loe.atint;- .ibonl ten miles west of C'le\ eland. Robert 
M.. at the e.arly as.;e of nine \ears. went on tlu' lake and for about ihirleen 
years he traveled about a i^reat deal. laJ)orin.L; in \;irious capacities on the lake 
and canal, and ihen in iS5() carne to DeKalb counl\- and made his iierm.anent 
home here. He bous^ht a farm on t'etlar creek, one ;uid one-half miles south 
of Waterloo, where he lived until about 1806, when he moved into the town 
of Waterloo, where he has since made his home, lie owned at one time one 
hundred and si.\iy .acres of laiul. Init -old forty acres of tliat. which has since 
been bought by bis son. In the fall of 1 Sc;4 Mr. ("rook.s and John Lightuer 
enga.ired in the furniture business in Waterloo. .About a year later Mr. Light- 
ner sold his interest to Mr. ( 'rooks ;uul went to California. Mr. Crtioks con- 
tinuing the bus'tiess jilone until \i)()o. when bis grandson, D. F,. Newcomer, 
came into the Inisiness a- .a partner. In March. i()03, the store was burned, 
but a new building was ininieiliately erected and business resumed. In 1()oq 
Mr. Crooks sold bis rem.-iimng interest in the business to bis son-in-law. 
Christian Newcomer, and linallv retired from business, residing now at his 
comfortable home at .Vuburn. wiierc be enjovs 'he (luiit and rest which his 
strenuous years of aclivitv so riclily entitle him to. 

In 1852 Robert M. (rooks m.arried ,Marv .\. Ilurdick, who was born in 
Onondaga county. New ^drk. the daughter of .^.unucl and Nancy (S])encer) 
Rurdick. They moved to Cuvaho-.i Ci>mitv. Ohio, al:out 1833, where Mary 
A. Burdick lived imtil her marriage. Her mother died at Waterloo and was 
taken back by Mr. Crooks and buried at her former Ohio home. Thirteen 
children were horn to Mr. and .Mrs. Crooks, namely: Martha, the wife of 
Christian Newcomer, of Waterloo; .Mamie, the wile of h^ranklin 15. I-'velz. 
well known citizen of .\.ul)urn. but iinally moved to Rochester, where she (bed; 
Hattie is the wife of (ieorge Crowell. of Wilmington townshi]), this county; 
Mary Rebecca is the wife of Philip Seiherts, of .\itbum: Lucy is the wife of 
John Carper, who lives a half mile east of Waterloo; luidora is the wife of 
Isaac McDaniel and lives in Wilmington township, this comity ; l.;mra P.elle is 
the wife of Henry C.ingericlv, of Waterloo: Robert \\ilson, who is engaged 



^^8 DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 

in the restaurant business at Akron, Ohio, married Annie Houshalter; Fred- 
erick, who lives on a farm about three miles south of Garrett, this county, 
married Dora Stafford, and they have three children, two boys and a girl; 
Victor, who lives on a part of his father's farm and owns forty acres on the 
south edge of Grant township, married Henrietta Haynes and they have four 
children, two boys and two girls: Delbcrt. who is on a part of his father's 
farm south of \\'aterlo(), married Mamie Soules and thev liave two sons; 
James Burdick is a railroad man and lives in Waterloo ; lie married Blanche 
Morgan and they have two sons; Clyde tlied at the age of thirteen years. 
The mother of these children died in 1S64, and in 1866 Mr. Crooks married 
Mrs. Queen C. (Atkinson) Crooks, the widow of the subject's deceased 
brother, William Crooks. She died in September, 1900, and on June 8, 
1902, Mr. Crooks married Mrs. Ellen (Hammond) Denison, who was born 
in Ohio, and came here in infancy with her parents, Daniel and Sophia 
(Wolfe) Hammond. The\- came from Columbiana county. Ohio, settling in 
Franklin township, this county. Init later moved to Kosciusko county, Indiana, 
where they lived until tiie father's death, and the mother spent her last years 
with her daughter, Mrs. Crooks. .Mrs. Crooks was but a cliild of six vears 
when her father died and the mother being left with a large family of small 
children, she was rearetl by strangers in Kosciusko count}-. In 1867 she 
became the wife of George Washington Frick. of Grant township, this county, 
who was born in Stark county, Ohio, on April 25. 1837, the son of George 
and Elizabeth (Harold) Frick. When he was about eight years old the 
family settled about two miles east of Waterloo, this county, where the father 
had entered a tract of government land and there they made their permanent 
home. George Washington Frick was one of seven children and lived on the 
home place until his marriage in [8*^7. At that time he owned forty acres of 
land, which he traded in on an eighty-acre tract. gi\ing h\e hundred dollars 
cash to balance the trade and later bought t^ve^ty-two and one-half acres 
more. Mr. and Mrs. Frick were the parents of five children, namely: Rosa 
Jane, born on .April iq, 1868. is the wife of Riley Moore and li\-es on a farm 
in Franklin township, this county; Charles Herbert, born September 24. 
i86q, lives on the home place two miles southeast of Waterloo; Lucy Bell be- 
came the wife of Joseph Morr, of Garrett, this county; .Adella May. born 
Julv 6, 1875, '^ the wife of William Powell, and lives in Wilmington town- 
ship, near Butler; Earl W. li\es nn the home place, tieorge Washington 
Frick died on .\pril 12. i8()i. in the fiftv-fourth year of his age. He was an 
industrious man of regular and steady habits and enioyed to a notable de- 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 



539= 



gree the respect of all wiio knew him. He and his wife lioth belon.ijcd tr. tlie 
Methodist Episcopal church. .Xftt-r her husband's death Mrs. h>ick lived on 
the farm until her marriat^^e td Mr. Crooks, whose farm was separated from 
hers by a roadway and they had hmv: been ac<(uainted prii.r to tiieir marriat,'e. 
Mr. Crooks has for many years been actively interested in the success of 
the community in which he lives and has been a potential factor in its advance- 
ment and improvement. He was township trustee of Union township for 
fourteen years and as ditch viewer he and the surveyor laid out over two 
thousand miles of ditch, mostly in DeKalb countv, which contributed ^reatlv 
to the improvement of the county, not onlv materiallv. but in the advance- 
ment of health conditions and the ;ibolisbment of malaria. Fralernallv. Mr. 
Crooks is a member of the Free and Accepted IMasons and the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows, being the only surviving- charter nienil)er of the subor- 
dinate lodge of the latter order at ^^'aterloo. He was also an active member 
of the Grange when it was in existence here. Mr. Crooks' high personal 
qualities have gained for him a wide ac(|uaintance throughout the county, 
among which are many and loyal friends. Quiet and unassuming in his dis- 
position, he is at the same time genial and companionable and is a welcome 
member of anv circle which he chooses to enter. 



S(^L().\i()X l^\R^■K^■ 



One of the influential citizens of St. joe. DeKalb county, Indiana, iv 
tbe gentleman to whose career the attention of the reader is now directed, 
who is ranked with the city's leading merchants and citizens. .\ man ot' 
exce'lent endowments and upright character, he has been a \alued factor in 
local affairs and lias e\er commanded une(|ui\-ocal contidence and esteem, 
1 eing lov.al to tlie upbuilding nf his eoninirnity and ever vigilant in his 
efforts to furtlier the interests .if hi- city along material, moral and ei\ic 
lines. 

Solomon r.ai'ne\ was Ixirn at Spencerville, Concord township, DeKalb 
countv, Indiana, on September 22, 1844, and is the son of George \\". and 
Jane (Bratton) Barney, natives respectively of New N'ork and Pennsylvania. 
George W. Barney was born October i.^ 1813. at W'ellsboro. h:sseN comity, 
Xew ^'ork, and later accomjianied his father on his removal to .Ashtabula 
county, Ohio, where he built and operated an iron foundry. When George 
Barnev was a lad of fifteen years his father died and he soon afterward went 



j4t^ DEKALB COl.'NTV, INDIANA. 

tu Canada, where he made h\> liunie with an alder brother until 1838. in 
tlie latter year he came t<j DeKalh county and assisted in building the dam 
and mdl at Oran.^exille. In 1840 he moved to Spencerville and entered the 
eni])liiy ijf R. j. l.)aws(.)n as manager ut the latter"s mill, store and farm. In 
i8rj| Mr. Harney was elected treasurer of DeKalh county, ser\ing accepiahly 
foi- four years, and then engaged in the mercantile Imsiness at Spencerville, 
wheie he remained until 1871), when he retired from acti\'e business life, his 
death occurring du .\ugusl (). 1897. He was a man of inlluence and prom- 
inence in his community and served a> justice of the peace for twenty years, 
to the entire satisfaction of his fellow citizens. On May 28, 1840, he married 
jane Bratton, and to them were born seven children, namely: Lucius, John. 
Solomon, Benjamin I'ranklin, Alary, Marquis and George, all deceased 
excepting the subject of this sketch :md Benjamin I-'ranklin. 

The subject of this sketch recei\ed his educatii m .in the common schools 
of his native township, completing his studies in the Auburn high school, 
and then took a course of training in the Eastman Business College at Pough- 
keepsie, New N'ork. In i8fi() he engaged in the mercantile business in 
S]jencerville, wliere he remained until 1878. and in 1882 he located in St. 
Joe, where he lias since engaged in the mercantile business, in which he has 
met witii niii.-,t pronounced succe;>s. He owns the ])roperty in which his store 
is located and alsn a \er\ desira])Ie residence jiroijerty in St. Joe, and in 
everything with vvliich he has been connected he has met with well deserxed 
success. Beginning in a small wa\-, his business graduallv grew until todav he 
is one of the most enterprising anil ])r('minent business men of his section of 
the county, his success being in a large ])art due to his close attention to busi- 
ness, his courteous H'eatment of hi^ customer.-^ .and his high |)ersonal character. 

( )n March 13, 1870. Air Bainey wa.^ united in m;irriage with Cordelia 
(iibl'crd. whose (kath occurred on December _;, 1 . i()';i. To them were born 
two cliildien: fleorge Al.. b.orn January ly. 1871, who was married on Octo- 
ber 11, i8ij7. to Dell Turrittin, and the\- ha\e <>ue child, Pauline; X'iolet .\1.. 
born Februar_\- _>8, 1877, married a Mr. Johnson, of Tiffin, ( )hio, and to them 
have been born three children: Josephine, Ethel Lielle and Rob.ert N'. 

Politically, Air. Parney has been a lifelong Democrat and h;is taken an 
active and intelligent part in political affairs es])ecial!y pertaining to local 
election-. Religiously, he is a member of the Aletliodist Protestant church, 
while fraternally he belongs to the Knight- nf Pythias aiul Independent 
Order of Odd {'"ellows. In the last named order he has been especially 
prominent and for lifteen years has rendered efficient service as district 
deputy grand master. The subject's career has been an honorable one. his 



DEKAI.K COrXTV, INDIAN. 



54 > 



relations willi Ins lVll,,u men hm in- ever l:een above reprnaeli anil Ins s„o(l 
name beyond critieiMir As alreadv imliealed. he wears the prond American 
title of self-made man and, being in the moM liberal -en-e d" the term the 
architect of his own fi.rtiinev. he may well feel a ^env;- ,,f pride m hi> achieve- 
ments and tile honnrable posilii.n In w !n'ch he has attained amon.L; the enter- 
prising- and snccosfnl citi/ens n\ ilu' county in winch his entire life has 
been passed. 



ROM A I. \ C. r.\.\ll'l'.b;i.l. 



The record i<\ the subject n( tin- sketch is that of a man who. by his 
own unaided efforts, has worked his way from a modest l)es.;ininnii to a 
position of influence and standint; in his .■omiiuinit v. His life has been one 
of unceasinc( industi\ and ])erse\ eraiu e. and the -\siematic and honorable 
methods he has followed ha\e won him the unbounded contidence of his 
fellow citizens of UeKalb count\ . wlio-c interest^ he ha^ ever had at heart 
and which he has always labored to promote. 

Romain C. Campbell was born in DeKalb countv. Indiana, on October 
12. 1872. and is a son of John A. and Adelaide 1 J.idwin 1 C amiibell. both of 
whom were nati\'es of the state of ( lliio. The) were the ])arcnts of six chil- 
dren, namely: Irene M., Mervale 1".. OHa 1.. Romain t'.. lunlin W and 
Charles W. \ fter the death of the mother of these children the father mar- 
ried again, and by the second union there was one child 1 .nn. Morence 1".. 
John A. Camiil ell was an instn-ance man during practically all of his active 
life and came to DeKalb county in 1840. settling first at X'orrist. .w n. later 
called Jar\ is and finally named I'.utler. 

The subject of this sketch received his education in the iniblic schools 
at Butler, after which he attended the Tri-.Stale .Vormal .School at Angola. 
Indiana. During the foil.. wing ten . .r twelve years he was associated with 
his father in the insurance business, and after the hitter's death he was for 
two years in this line of business on his own account. lie then became 
assistant cashier ..f the 1-irst .Xalion.al I'.aiik. where he remained for sixty 
days, after which for two and one-half \ears he was eiiii.loyed in a like 
capacity in Knisely I'.rothcrs cSi Company State I'.ank. lie then resigned tins 
position and took uj) the real estate and insurance business under the linn 
name of Campbell \- Creager. This firm was very successful in the handling 
of real estate deals, being interested in farm lands and city i)roperty. and 
some of the largest transactions of the kind in this localitv were handled 



542 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

through their agency. This firm i.s now dissolved and Mr. Campbell is 
handling real estate and insurance. 

In 1898 Mr. Campbell married Mattie Hamilton, the daughter 0+ W'ill- 
iam and Emma (Clark) Hamilton, and to this union was born one child. 
Vera G. In 1909 Mr. Campbell married Maude Craum, the daughter of 
James and Jane (Casbeer) Craum, and to this union was born a son, John .A. 

Politically Mr. Campbell was formerly a Republican, but is now aligned 
with the Progressive party. He served several years as city treasurer and 
also as city clerk, giving entire satisfaction in these positions and increasing 
his prestige among his fellow citizens. Fraternally he is a member and trus- 
tee of Lodge No. 158, Knights of Pythias, while religiousl\ he is a member 
of the Methodist Episcopal church. A public-spirited citizen, his influence is 
always felt in local elections and he is looked upon as a man thoroughly in 
sympathy with any movement looking to the betterment or advancement in 
any way of his community, where he has always ben regarded a^ a man uf 
sterling honesty and worth and worthy of the utmost confidence and respect, 
which his fellow citizens are free to accord, owing to his upriglit and indus- 
trious life. 



JOHN HEBEL. 

In the laborious struggle for an honcjrable competence and a solid career 
on the part of a business or professional man there is little to attract the 
casual reader in search of a sensational cha])ter: but to a mind thoroughly 
awake to the realitv and meaning of human existence there are nol)le ;in<l 
imperishable lessons in the career of ;in individual who without other means 
than a clear head, strong arm and true heart, directed an<J controlled b\ cor- 
rect principles and unerring judgnient. con(|uers ad\ersit\- and finally wins, 
not onl\- ])ecuniary independence, but. what is far greater and higher, the de- 
served respect and confidence of those with whom his active years have been 
spent. 

John Hebel was born at Tarentuni. Pennsyhania. on October i. 1862. 
and is descended from rugged old (lerman stock, his parents, John and Mary 
E. (Meiser) Hebel, having been natives of Hessen-Cassel, Germany. The 
family came to Auburn, Indiana, in 1864, the father dying here a few years 
later. The subject of this sketch received his education in. the common 
schools and at the age of seventeen years he and his brother. Michael, engaged 
in business on a small scale, selling confectionery and cigars in a store room at 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 543 

the corner of Seventh and Main streets. Two years later they were enabled to 
erect a business block at the corner of Seventh and Main strets, part of which 
they rented and in the other part inst;ilk-d a stock of groceries. Through the 
exercise of business judgment and sound business principles and methods the 
business grew rapidly ant! tiie hnilhcrs rnlarged their stock, adding other lines 
of merchandise, and three years later found it necessary to enlarge their store 
room. They have built up a large and remunerative trade throughout the 
surrounding country and their present store occupies a space of forty-four by 
sixty-six feet with basement under all, besides ware rooms on the second 
floor. They carry a full line of stai)le groceries, a good variety of queens- 
ware, and a completely stocked meat market, and the store is numbered among 
the leading concerns of the kind in Auburn. 

John Hebel has for many years taken a prominent and active part in the 
public affairs of Auburn, having served as treasurer of tlie city during the 
later nineties, and also rendered efficient service for sexeial terms as a mem- 
ber of the city school board. During the past dozen or more years, he has 
served as treasurer of the l-'arniers Mutual Insurance Company, in the tall 
of 1912 Mr. Hebel was elected clerk of the circuit court, assuming the duties 
of this office on December first following, and his administration of the 
duties of this responsible position have been marked by promptness, efficiency 
and courtesy to all who have had dealings with the office. 

Politicallv, Mr. Hebel is a Democrat, standing prominently in the coun- 
sels of his i)arty, while his fraternal nienihership i- with the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows, in the local lodge of m incli he ha> jia-ed the rlian-. 

In February, 1886, John Hebel was married to W imfrede ( ). Richmond, 
a native of StafTord township, this count\ . and tlie daugluer of William ano 
Maria D. (Allen) Richmond. Mr. Kichmon.i \v;is for m.inv vears prominent 
in the civil life of DeKalb e.mntv. .uid at one time -erve.l on the luiard of 
county commissioners. Through her mother ^lr'-. Heliel i- descended from 
the Allen family, of which Fthan .\lleii was :; noted nieniher. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Hebel have been born two children, j. William, horn in .\pril. 1891, and 
Irene Elizabeth. J. William graduated from the State I'niversitv at Bloom- 
ington, Indiana, in iqii, to which institution he later returned for post- 
graduate work, taking the Master's degree, majoring in English. He is now 
a student at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, and received the fellow- 
ship in 1913, a much coveted honor. He is pursuing the course witii the ex- 
pectation of following the profession of teaching in college. In i()i 1 he went 
to Europe with Professor Fred Smith, of PdrKimington, tiavelint; extensively 



544 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

over Scotland, Germany, France and Italy, and attending C(ille,t(e at lena, in 
Germany. Irene Elizabeth is a studtnl in the puljiic schools at Auburn, lie- 
sides these children, Mr. and .Mrs. Hebel have lost a little (lau.^luer, Hi]<la. 
who died of diphtlieria, when two and one-half years old. 

Mr. Heliel is regarded as a g<iod business man and an e.scellent manager, 
possessing sound judgment, keen f(ire>igiit ;md wlio believes in pressing for- 
ward, keeping the wlieels of the car of civilization ever nio\ ing up the steeps. 
He enjoys the respect and esteem of those who kno\\ him for his friendlv 
manner, business ability, his interest in public affairs ancl upright living, and 
is regarded b}- all a- one of the substantial and worthv citizens of DeKalb 
county. 



SHELDON CROOKS. 



.Among the citizens of (jrant township. l)eKalb county, Indiana, wlio 
ha\e built u]) comfortalile homes and surrounded thenisehes with a fair 
amount of landed and personal property, few ha\'e attained a higher degree 
of >uccess than the subject of this rexiew. With few op|)orlunities except 
what his own etforts were cai)al)le of mastering and with some obstacles to 
oxercome, he has m;ide a success of life, ami in his declining years has the 
gratification of knowing that the communit\^ in which he has resided has lieen 
benehted by his residence therein. 

Sheldon Crooks, ;i highly esteemed citizen of Waterloo. Indiana, was 
])orn one ami one-halt miles southeast of W ;Uerloo , .11 June 7, 1^4^. and is a 
son of .M.atihew .and .\ancy ( i'.r\an ) (rooks, the former of wIkuu was born 
April 10, iH\(i, and died ( Vtober 31, i(>)o, at the age of nearly eighty-five 
years, and the latter born in l-'airbel<l county, Ohio, on April 3, i8_m, and 
died .\pril _>(i, 1SS4. Mattliew Crooks, with a brother, came to neisalb 
countv in 1833 at the age of sexenteen years ,and was here seized with ague so 
that he was compelled to return home for a period. In 1836 he again came 
here, this time being favored with good health and he grew to be a strong, 
heartv man. Their first work here was clearing the land of the dense timber 
which covered it, and ,at that time wolves and other wild .anim.als as well as 
the no less savage wikl men were numerous. k'or a part of the time dur- 
ing these first years Mr. Crooks was employed in railroad work. His mar- 
riage to Nancy Bryan occurred in 1844. she being a daughter of William 
Bryan and had come here with her parents, who located between the present 
towns of Waterlo,, and l>utler on the Morningstar farm. Mr. (/rooks farmed 




SHELDON CROOKS 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 545 

for some time, being compelled u> do wilhoul many ot ihc [jrcsciu cuii- 
veniences, using ox teams and rudt- iiiipicmcnis ni t.-arly limes, all oi which 
entailed an immense amount ol hard labor. In 1847 he bought eighty acres 
of land of Wesley Park, of .Vuburn, iIk- farm being located a half mile west 
of the place where he was then wtirking in what is now (irant township. 
There he built a cabin and a doulilc log barn in the wilderness and persisted 
in his farming operations until at length success crowned his efforts. He 
became the father of twelve cliildnn, three of whom died in infancy: 
Lucinda died in 1865, aged nine years; Harriett died in 1871 at the age of 
eleven years; Mrs. Amanda Reed died October 19, 1893, being the widow of 
Stephen Reed, who died March 14, 1893, and she left a soUrCarl Reed, then 
about three years old; Alice died in 1904, and was the wife of Thomas Cool, 
of South Eend ; Marinda is the wife of Theodore McCush, of Litchfield, 
.Xebraska; Sheiilou. the suljject of this .sketiii, is next in order of birtli ; Rob- 
ert A. lives in Auburn and is a retired farmer; Harliara is the wife of John 
Hefty, who lives south of Butler in Wilmington township; George W. is an 
atttorney at Waterloo, this county. 

Sheldon Crooks lived on his father's farm until he was about twenty- 
two years old and then worked a year for his uncle, Robert N. Crooks. In 
1872 he obtained railroad employment, in which he was engaged for eight 
years. In 1877 he bought forty acres of land in section 14, ( ir;mt 
township, to which he gave his attention when, three years later, he (pht 
railroad work. This land was only partly cleared, but was of good quality 
and he bought it for only twenty-five dollars per acre, making of it a fine 
farm on which he raised excellent crops. In November, 1904, he bought 
forty acres adjoining, also paying twenty-five dollars per acre for this, and 
he transformed an unsightly cranberry marsh into another fine tract of land. 
To the cultivation of this farm he devoted his attention with splendid success, 
so that in 19 10 he was enalfled to retire from acti\ i- labor and now resides 
in a pleasant and attractive home at Waterloo. 

In May, 1874, Mr. Crooks married Samantha Baughman, who was born 
in section 23, Union township, this county, the daughter of John and Nancy 
(Slentz) Baughman. These parents came from Pennsylvania in 1844 and 
located on the farm where Mrs. Crooks was l)orn. and here reared the follow- 
ing children: Addison, of .\uburn; Eliza, the wife of David Miser, is de- 
ceased; Nancy, who also is deceased, was the wife of Charles Oiler; Isaiah, 
deceased; Washington, deceased; Samantha. the wife of Mr. Crooks; Ermina, 
(35) 



546 DEKAI^B COUNTV, INDIANA. 

deceased, who was the wife of Henry Smith; Matilda, the widow of James 
Sibert, now deceased, hves in Auburn. The mother of these children died 
while Mrs. Crooks was a little 5,nrl, and the father afterwards married Eliza- 
beth Weeks, by which union there were Ijurn four children, namely: John 
Franklin, of .Auburn; Idola is the wife of John Fleming, who lives in the 
north part of L'nion township; Ida, the wife of Judson Miller, of .\ul)urn. and 
Carrie, the wife of Delbert McBride, of Wilmington township, this county. 
The father of these children died on October 3, 1884. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Crooks were born six children, namely: Cora is the wife of John Oiler, of 
Wilmington township. They adopted Agatha Luce, the daughter of Mrs. 
Oiler's deceased sister, Mrs. Alta May (Crooks) Luce; Alta was the wife 
of Edward Luce, and her death occurred on February 10, 1912, leaving 
four children, Howard, Xida .Mlene, .\gatha Lucile and Lester Slieldon ; 
Howard lives with his father in Waterloo ; \"ida lives with the grandfather, 
Mr. Crooks ; Agatha was adopted by Mrs. Cora Oiler and Sheldon was adop- 
ted by Charles Platter and wife, of Auburn; Minnie Crooks became the wife 
of Jay Raub, of Auburn; Olive is the wife of Elmer Pontius, a railway mail 
clerk who lives in Waterloo, and they have two children, Mabel and Clayton ; 
Ora A. lives on the father's farm in Grant township, and married Dora Leaky, 
by whom he has two children, Margaret and Patrick ; \'era Irene, who gradu- 
ated from the Waterloo high school in 1913, married J. Lautzenheiser, and 
lives in Union township. 

Mr. Crooks is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and 
has passed through all the chairs of the subordinate lodge, while in 1903 he 
was a member of the grand lodge of the state. He takes a deep interest in 
the workings of the order and is held in high esteem among his fellow mem- 
bers. He is a man of ability, sturdy integrity and usefulness and as a citizen 
representative of the utmost loyalty, he merits the respect of his fellow men 
and his life record is deserving of a place in this publication. 



REUBEN LOCKWOOD. 

I'ew men of UeKalli county were as widely and favora1ii\ known as 
the late Reuben Lockwt)od, of Auburn, Indiana. He was one of the strong 
and influential citizens whose lives have become an essential part of the his- 
tory of this section of the state, and for years his name was synonymous 

with all that constituted honorable and upright manhood. Tireless energy. 



DEKAI.l! COUNTY. INDIANA. 



547 



(,•(1 with c 


\ery(la\- cnniniDU 


while adv 


ancin.s^ individual 


(1 materia 


1 welfare .if his 


a> an b.i 


i.ired resident of 


liis county 


, (in January JO. 


V). K)"-'- 


He was a son of 



keen perceiition and honesty of iiuri)o>e. conihii 
sense, were anioni^ hi> chief characteristics and. 
success, he also largely jironioted the moral ai 
community. 

Reuben Lockwood. who for nian\- \ear^ v 
DeKalb county, was born in Jackson township. 
1841, and died at liis home at Auburn on March 
Alonzo and Rosamond (Phelps) Lockwood, who were numlx^red among the 
sturdy pioneers of this section of the countrw Alonzo Lockwood. who was 
a pioneer in the southern part of UeKalb count)-, was born in 1814 in Ver- 
mont, the son of Levi Lockwood and wife. In young manhood he left his 
native state and located in Licking count). Ohio, where he married Rosa- 
mond Phelps, a nati\e of Gramille. thai count)-. In iH_^4 he removed to 
Allen county, Indiana, and two years later came to DeKalh county, where 
Mr. Lockwood entered one lumdred and si.xty acres of land four miles south- 
west of Auburn, and there established their permanent home. He was a 
poor man when he came to this county, the trip being made up the St. Joe 
river and Cedar creek in a canoe which bore all their worldly effects. How- 
ever, he was a hard wdrker. and was determined and ambitious to succeed 
in his new home. 11) dint of the most insistent labor and ri,gid economy, and 
by the exclusion of every expensive habit, he was enabled to Imy out other 
settlers who were discouraged and desired to move elsewhere, in this way 
lie was enabled to accumulate thirty-six hundred acres of land in different 
places, twelve hundred acres being in one tract adjoining his first farm. 
About twelve hundred acres were located near Paulding. Defiance county. 
Ohio, and some in Michigan, but the greater i)art of his holdings were in 
DeKalb county. He engaged very extensively in the buying and selling of 
live stock, much of which he also raised on his own farms, which he sold at 
considerable profit, most of his transactions being in horses and cattle. He 
was eminently successful in every transaction in which he engaged, his deals 
being characterized by shrew-dness and sagacit) of a high order, and in 1866 
he was enabled to retire from business pursuits and removed to .\uburn. 
where he spent the remainder of his days. His death occurred on July 4. 
1886. at the age of seventy-two years, while in Defiance county. Ohio, his 
death being immediately due to a fall from a cart. He was survived a 
number of years by his widow, who died in .\uhurn in i8c>8. They were 
the parents of seven children, namely: Cyrus, who died in 1854. at the age 
■of nineteen years; Reuben: Celia. who died about iSjfi. at New I'^lm. Min- 
nesota, w-as the wife of C.eorge Coleman; lr\in. who snent his entire life 



548 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

in Richland township, this county, died in 1891 ; Lyman was a farmer and 
resided at Auburn, this county: Philo J., now deceased, Hved in Washing- 
ton, D. C. He was a noted pension attorney; Eunice is the widow of Ben- 
jamin Zigler and hves in Auburn ; CorneHa, the widow of Davis E. Caruth, 
also lives in Auburn. 

Reul>en Lockwood was reared on his father's farm, in the oi>eration of 
v\hich he took an active part, and in the meantime secured his education in 
the common schools of the neighborhood. On Novemlaer 22, 1861, he 
enlisted as a private in Company K, Forty-fourth Regiment, Indiana Volun- 
teer Infantry, with which he went to the front, but the ensuing winter was 
an unfortunate one for the entire command, as all but three (jr four of the 
regiment were either very ill or in poor health, especially at the time of the 
i)attle of Shiloh, but in which nearly all took an active part despite their 
pocjr condition. Air. Lockwood's health became so precarious that he was 
mustered out soon afterwards because of physical disability. Upon his return 
to peaceable pursuits, Mr. Lockwood became a salesman, which vocation he 
followed in various lines for many years, traveling over a large portion of the 
country. In 1887 he helped to organize the Monitor Manufacturing Com- 
pany, of which he was chosen \ice-president. They erected a factory north- 
east of .Auburn Junction, this county, where they engaged extensively in the 
manufacture of wind mills, potato crates, Fargo harrows, and also ran a 
planing mill. The business was continued until 1897, when it was discon- 
tinued. Besides the business interests mentioned, Mr. Lockwood owned about 
six hundred acres of farm land, located in Ohio, Michigan and this county, 
to which he gave his attention and in the operation of which he was very 
successful. In the business affairs !>f the cumnnmity he was a prominent 
figure and contributed much to the pro^iierity and upbuilding of the commun- 
ity in which he lived. He was a man of broad sympathies and good-hearted 
in his attitude toward others, being well liked personally by all who came in 
contact with him. 

On December 22, 1892, Mr. Lockwood was married to Mrs. Sarah 
Clarke Carr, of Detroit, whom he met in that city while exhibiting the prod- 
ucts of his factory. Mrs. Carr was born four miles south of Dexter, in 
Washtenaw county, Michigan, and is a daughter of Dr. Henry and Mary 
( Pritchard) Clarke, both of whom were natives of London, England. Dr. 
Henry Clarke was a man of splendid education, possessing several diplomas, 
and spoke fluently seven dififerent languages. He and his wife were mar- 
ried in London, and they afterwards came to W^ashtenaw county, Michigan, 
where the Doctor was engaged in the practice of his ]>rofession until seventy- 



DEKALB COUNTY. INIHANA. 549 

eight years old. He had very early in hfe taken an interest in the science of 
anatomy, having begun dissecting at the early age ot fifteen years. He be- 
came a surgeon of note and had a large practice all over Washtenaw county, 
where he was commonly kinnvn as the "old English doctor." Aristocratic 
in his manner of life, he was nevertheless very kind to the poor and never 
charged for his medical services when tlie recipient was not able to pay. 
Their daughter, Sarah A., was married in 1878 to George Washington Carr, 
of Bellville, Wayne county, Michigan, and two or three years later they 
moved to Detroit, where Mr. Carr was employed as a railroad fireman. Mr. 
Carr, who was horn February 18. 1853. at I'incknev, Michigan, was a son of 
Malcolm and Xancy ( Richmond) Carr, and his death occurred on March 17. 
1888. To Mr. and Mrs. Carr were born two children: Lizzie G., who died in 
infancy, and George Freeman, who was born September 20, 1886. Mr. and 
Mrs. Lockwood moved to Auburn in September, 1893, and Mr. Lockwood 
formally adopted hi> wife's son, George, who dropped his middle name of 
Freeman, being known now as George Carr Lockwood. On April 23, lyio. 
he married Hulda Gessner, of Monroe, Michigan, daughter of Joseph and 
Elizabeth (Weisbeck) Gessner. To them was born a son, Reuben G.. on 
January 21, i(;ii. ("ieorge C. Lockwood is a tester at the Anliurn automo- 
bile factory. 

Reuben Lockwuod was for man\- years an honored and ai)i)reciative 
member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, taking an active interest 
in the workings of the order. He was a member of that pioneer band which 
accomplished so much in the early development of this section of the state, 
and as a defender oi his country in the hour of her trial he proved himself a 
jiatriot. and because of these clu'racteristics he is entitled to s])ecilic mention 
in tiie annals of DeKalb countv. 



SAMUEL G. STONE. 



The well known dru.ggist whose name forms the caption of this brief 
review is too well known to the reatlers of this hi.story to need extensive com- 
ment, since his has long been one of the leading business houses in Butler. It 
numbers its patrons by the hundreds throughout this locality, the store being a 
gathering place for visitors from the rural districts, but from whatever quar- 
ter customers come they are accorded uniform courtesy and the kindest con- 
sideration, ahvavs finding here a well-kept, neat, attractive and well-managed 



DEKALB COUNTY. 



Store, Stocked with a complete and carefully selected line of goods, second to 
none, the prices of which arc reijarded by its many patrons of long standing 
as being remarkably low considering the excellent quality of goods offered. 

Samuel (i. Stone, a leading business man of Butler, was born at I"'ort 
Henry, New cork, on July 12, 1854, the son of Grandville and Lucy (Butler) 
Stone, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Connecticut. Grand- 
ville Stone was a wagon maker by trade, which pursuit he followed many 
years, hut later in life took u\t farming, in which he was successful. 

The subject of this sketch recei\ed his education in the common schools 
of New York and Ohio, having moved to the latter state and upon attaining 
mature years engaged in the drug business at Striker, Ohio, in which he con- 
tinued with gratifying success until 1876. He then came to Butler, Indiana, 
and in 1877 engaged in the drug business here, in which he has continued 
ever since, and in which he has met with well de.serxed patronage. He has 
a large and well selected line of druggists' sundries, while in the filling of pre- 
scriptions he handles none but pure and fresh drugs. He is well qualified by 
training and experience for the business to which he devotes himself and be- 
cause of the high quality of his goods, his prompt and courteous treatment of 
his customers and his own high character he has long enjoyed an enviable 
standing in his community. 

In September, 1876, Mr. Stone married Elva C. Stoner, the daughter 
of A. B. and J. .\. Stoner, of U'est Unity, Ohio. There Mrs, Sterne's father 
followed the dual occupations of grocer and druggist for many years and 
was successful in his affairs, flventually he located at Metz, Indiana, and 
finally came to Butler, wliere he remained for se^•eral years and then located at 
Garrett, this county, where his death occurred. To Mr. and Mrs. Stone have 
been born four children, Gertrude Elnora. Gladys Elmira, Bessie Emily and 
Milliard Samuel. 

The Democratic partv has always claimed Mr. Stone's support, anil he 
has been active in the ranks of that p.irty during political campaigns. He 
has been honored bv his fellow citizens by election to a number ni public 
offices, in all of which he discharged his iluties to the entire satisfaction of ;ill 
concerned. He was trustee of the town of Butler under the old law for two 
years, and in 1902 was elected a member of the board of school trustees, in 
which he has served four terms and is still an honored member of that body. 
He was elected the first mayor of Butler when it was incorporated as a city 
in 1903, .serving a short term, his admini.stration, which expired in 1905, 
being characterized by marked ability and effort to advance the interests of 



DEKAI.B COUNTY. INDIANA. 35 I 

the community. He alsd sir\ cd a> citv trfasunr lUr thrci' \ears with emi- 
nent sati.sfaction. Reliji^iousK . .\ir. Slnne is an canusi nu-iiihcr (if Uk- .Mcllm- 
dist church, while fraternally he is a member (if tlu' i'ree and Accepted .Ma- 
sons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. 
Personally, Mr. Stone is a man whom it is a pleasure to know, being gen- 
erou.s-hearted, kind, hospitable, Imnest in all his dealings with his fellow 
men, and eminently worthy of the trust and respect they repose in him and 
have for him, and he is today regarded as (ine (if DeKalli lounty's re])resenta- 
tive and most valued citizens. 



|()H\ 11. W. KROX'i'Z. 



Examples that impress force of character nn all whd study them are 
worthy of record. P>v a few general ()hser\-ati(iu> nia\' he C(iii\eyL-d xmie 
idea of the high standing of John H. W. Krontz in tlie comniiniity where 
so many of iiis active years have been spent. L'nited in his composition are 
so many elements of a solid and practical nature which during a series of 
vears have brought him into prominent notice and earned for him a conspicu- 
ous place among the enterprising men of DeKall) county, that it is but just 
recognition of his worth to .speak at some length of his life and achievements. 

lohn H. W. Krontz was born in \\'ilmington townshi]). DeKalh conntw 
Indiana, on April 7. iSro. and is the son of Michael !•.. and Mary .\nn Krontz. 
lioth of whom were natives of the ^tate of Ohio, the father horn in ilolnies 
county. They came to Indiana and the father was one of the early settlers 
of this localitv, having arrived October S, 1X4;,. He was a t'armer by voca- 
tion, which pursuit he followed all his life and altanied to a gratifying degree 
of success. They are both now deceased. The> were the parents of three 
chilflren— Laura K.. William and John 11. W.. the last named being the only 
survivor. 

lohn H. W. Kront/ attended the common m-IiooK ,,1 IK-Kalh conntv. 
comiileting bis elementary stiulies in the high school at lUitler and m the 
I'ori Wayne College. He then took up pedagogical work and f-.r scNcral 
years followed teaching in this county, meeting witii marked success in tins 
exacting vocation. Mr. Krontz had pursuetl his technical studies along the 
line of civil engineering, in which his ability was widely recognized, and in 
i,S()0 lie was elected surveyor of DeKalb county, serving efliciently and satis- 
factorily in this position until 1000. Upon retiring from the office of sur- 



552 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

veyor he took ii]i the work of ci\il engineering, in which he is still engaged. 
Thoroughly competent by training and experience for this important line of 
work, Mr. Krontz is widely recognized as one of the leading surveyors of 
this section of the state and is constantly employed in this line. Politically 
Mr. Krontz is an ardent supporter of the Democratic party, fraternally he is 
a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while his religious mem- 
bership is with the Christian church. Mr. Krontz's career presents a series 
of successes, while his unswerving rectitude has made his life count for good 
in all its relations, as is attested by the unreserved esteem of the ])eopIe of the 
communit\- in which he has lived so many years, and in which he has Jiad due 
regard for the hi.i^her \erities of life, giving his support to that which tends 
to the betterment of the people. 



WILLIAM HENRY LEAS. 

DeKall) cnuntv, Indian.i, has l)een especially iionored in the ch;iracier 
and career of her public and professional men. Here, as in every ccjuuuunity, 
there are foimd, rising above their fellows, individuals born to leadership in 
the various professions, men who have dominated not alone by superior in- 
telligence and natural endowment, but by natural force of character. It is 
alwavs profital)le to studv the lives of such lueii, weigh their luotives and 
hold up their achievements as incentives to greater activity and higher excel- 
lence on the ])art of others. .\ lawyer of widely recognized ability and a man 
of undoubted integrity and hon(}r, W'illi.im H. Leas has made a definite im- 
pression on the history of his locality. DcKalb county has been dignified by 
his noble life and splendid achievements, and he stands as a wortln and con- 
spicuous member of a striking group of public men whose influence in the 
political and civic life, as well as in i)rofessional circles, has been of a most 
beneficent order, and it is but a matter of justice to here enter a l)rief trilnite 
to his career. 

William Henrv Leas was born in ."^alem township, Steuben county. Indi- 
ana, on the i6th day of September, 1S4C), and is the son of John and Susan 
(Schimpff) Leas. More specific reference is made to his ancestral history 
in the sketch of his father, which appears el.sewhere in this work. He came 
with his parents to Smithfield township, this county, in 1868, and from that 
time on has been continuously and closely identified with the history of this 
localitv. He secured his elementarv education in the common schools, after 




MRS. EMMA LEAS 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 553 

which he engaged in pedagogical work, teaching fiist in the district schools 
and afterwards in the graded schools of Waterloo. Later he assisted Willard, 
Kingman and McConahey in surveying and the making of county maps in 
Ohio and Indiana, in which work he gained much valuable experience and 
knowledge. Having long entertained an ambition to enter the legal pro- 
fession, in 1873 Mr. Leas began the study of law at Angola and in the fall 
of that year he entered the law department of the University of Michigan, at 
Ann Arbor, where he was graduated in March, 1875, with the degree of 
Bachelor of Law. He iiad been admitted to the bar in .Angola in 1S74. and 
on June i. 1875, he located at Waterloo and opened a law office. He was 
first in partnership with C. M. Phillips until October, 1875, from which time 
he was alone until November, 1876, during which period he succeeded in 
building up a good practice. In the month last mentioned he became a mem- 
ber of the law firm of McBride, Morlan & Leas, his partners being Judge R. 
W. McBride and Joseph L. Morlan. In August, 1878-, Mr. Morlan died and 
the firm was dissolved, since which time Mr. L 
In point of length of continuous jiractice Mr. L 
fession in DeKalb county. 

Mr. Leas' success in his profession lia-^ l)een 
careful in the preparation of his cases and a dee] 
faculty of statin.g a case clearly and succinctly, w 
honor have made him <leser\-C(Ily popular anioi 
with whom lie lias had dealings. He possesses 
of the law and a familiarity with precedents, wliicli have made him a strong 
pleader and an opponent to be feared. Personally, his clean character, 
fidelity of purpose and affability of manner have won him a large circle of 
warm friends and commended him to the .good opinion of all wlio know him. 

Politicallv. Mr. Leas has always been an anUni supjiorter of the Demo- 
cratic party and was twice elected a member n|' tlie hoard of school trustees 
of Waterloo, where he ])erfornied effective and a]>i)reciale(l work in (lie inter- 
est of educational affairs in the community. IVom i()()2 to kjij Mr. Leas 
served as attorney for the town of Waterloo, .and is at the iiresent time at- 
torney for the town of Corunna. 

On August 20, 1878, Mr. Leas was united in marriage to h^lninia J. 
Danks, the youngest daughter of Oris and Stella CRooge) Danks. She was 
born and reared in Waterloo, and suffered the loss of her mother when but 
an infant, in 1863. Afterwards her father married Sarah A. Jones. Orris 
Danks was born in Onondaga county. New York, on July 16. 1813, a son of 



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354 DKKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 

Benoni and Phoebe (Earlej Danks, who also were natives of the Empire 
state. His grandfather, Robert Earle, was a soldier in the war of the Revo- 
lution. In 1836 Orris Danks came to DeKalb county and bought land in 
Smithfield township, returning to iiis native state two years later and tiiere. 
in 1840, he married Euseba Brown. In the following year they returned to 
DeKalb county and made their home on his land, to tlie improvement and 
cultivation of which he devoted himself until i8b2 wlie.n tlie family re- 
moved to Waterloo, where Mr. Danks engaged in the hardware business, 
afterwards engaging successively in the grocery and boot and shoe business. 
His first wife died in 1851 and in 1852 he married Estella Booge. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Leas have been born two children, namely: Stella B., 
born July 4, 1880, is the wife of R. Earl Peters, whose permanent home is in 
Ft. WaxTie, Indiana, but who is now in Washington, D. C, as secretary to 
Congressman Cyrus Cline of the twelfth district. Mr. and Mrs. Peters have 
a daughter, Leah Velletta, born March 20. 1907. Earl D. Leas, liorn 
February 15, 1882, lives in Waterloo, where he enjoys a large business as a 
buyer and shipper of corn, baled hay and straw. On January 20, 1Q04, he 
married Emma Gfeller, of Waterloo, the daughter of Samuel (Ifeller. 



GEORGE SCHULTHESS. 

Tliere could be no more com[)rehensi\e histor)- written of a city or a 
community, or e\en of a state ami its [leople. than that which deals with the 
life work of those, who, by their own endeavor and indomitable energy, have 
placed themselves where the\ well deserve tiie title of "prominent and pro- 
gressive," and in this sketch will Ije found the record of one wdio has out- 
stripped the less active and less able plodders on the highway of life and who 
has attained to an enviable position in the business, jjolitical and social life 
of the community where he has resided for many years. 

George Schulthess. lousiness man. citizen and pul)lic official, who is lujn- 
oring the city of ( .arrett. Indiana. l)y his residence. w,a> horn on May 5. 1873, 
at Millersburg, Ohio, and is the son of Matthias and Elizabeth (Schaffii') 
Schulthess. 'I'liese parents, who were natives of Switzerland, trace their 
ancestry back through tlie centuries to about tiie year 1400. T!ie suliject [)os- 
sesses a genealogical work in the German language which traces the paternal 
anc.estral Hne in unl)roken ascent to the founder oi the family in 1400 in the 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. ::;:^^ 

State of Zurich, Switzeiiaiul. Tlirt-L- iiumths hcinrc iW- Milijert cf tlii^ skilch 
was bom his mother hec;inie a widow ihroush tiu' deatli of ht-r IiusIkukI and 
she herself died when the sul)j\-ci was hut twelvi' years old. Hiese parents 
had been married in their nali\c land and .Matthias .Scliultlie>s was a cooper 
by trade and an energ:etic and industrious workman. M the time of the 
mother's death she left a family of three sons and two daughters, of whom 
two sons and a daughter are still living: Fred, a resident of Garrett. .Mrs. 
Emma Geib, living on a farm near Garrett, and the subject of this sketch. 
The latter came to Garrett at the time of his mother's death and made his 
home with his brother, Fred. He received his education in the public schools 
of that city, and his leisure hours, instead of being spent in ))lay and recrea- 
tion, were etnployed in assisting in fartu work. Later he and his brother lo- 
cated in Garrett and engaged in the furniture antl undertaking business in 
partnership with Professor Moore, wdiich they conducted a few years, and 
then engaged in the milling and grain business. Thex were successful in 
these enterprises, but after a few years they sold out and engaged in the coal 
business for three years, at the end of which period they disposed of those 
interests and since that time the subject has been engaged in supervising his 
farm of one hundred acres located one-half mile from ( iarrett in Keyser 
township. Though starting life under discouraging conditions Mr. Schul- 
thess, by most indomitable perseverance, sturd\- industry and wise manage- 
ment, has prospered and is now numbered among the -uccessfrl and up-to- 
date citizens of his community. \\'itli modern and i)rogressive ideas regard- 
ing business affairs he has maintained his farm at the highest standard of 
excellence and has found it a profitable enterprise. Fliough his business af- 
fairs have made heavy demands uixm his time Mr. Schulthess has neverthe- 
less found it possible to take an active part in local jniblic affairs, in which he 
has been deei)ly interested. In icjon he was elected trustee of his township 
and served four years to the credit of himself and to the satisfaction of his 
fellow citizens and also served a year as city councilman bx appointment In 
the fall of 1908 he w^as elected to the council. -er\ in,- uiHil October of the 
following year, when, owing to a vacancy, he was api)ointe(l mayor ol Gar- 
rett and has now been serving four years in thi> p<isition. That he has 
acquitted himself with honor and credit .goes without saving among those 
who are familiar with his efforts. The city is now erecting a new city hall 
and under the administration of Mayor Schulthess a new Ixiulevard li.ghting 
system has been installed, the public utility plant been overhauled, including- 
the installation of new engines and generators and a substantial addition to 



556 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

the main building. In all these things Mr. Schulthess has been guided by the 
same sound business ideas and methods that he has exercised in the conduct 
of his own affairs, this being the .secret of the successful administration which 
he has given to his office. In politics he gives his earnest support to the 
Democratic party. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows, belonging to both subordinate lodge and encampment, and 
also belonging to the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America, 
the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Benevolent and Protective Order of 
F.lks Religiously, Mrs. .Sclnilthess is a memlier of the German Methodi.st 
church. 

In 1897 Mr. Schulthess was married to Elizabeth Lehmback, of Gar- 
rett, and to them have been born three children, .\line, Howard and Lero-v-. 
Mr. Schulthess's life history exhibits a career of unswerving integrity, inde- 
fatigable private industry and wholesome home and social relations, a most 
commendable career crowned with success. It is the record of a well lial- 
anced mental and moral constitution, strongly marked by those traits of char- 
acter which are of special value in ^uch a state of societv as exists in this 
country. Possessing a strong social nature and exercising a genial and 
friendly attitude toward those witli w liom he comes into contact, it is not 
strange that he has gained .'i large ;in(l 1mv;i1 fnllowjng among his acquaint- 
ances in this locality. 



■\< \.\K HOGUE. 



It is alwaxs pleasant and pr()htal)le to cnnteni])late the career of a man 
who has made a success of life ant! won the JKinoi- and respect of his fellow 
citizens. .Such is the record of the well-known gentleman whose name 
appears at the iiead <<\ this iiaragrajih, than whom a nmre whole-souled or 
popular man it wniild le hard to find in the city where he ha^ re-^ided during 
tie major portiim of h]> lift\ .Stead) ])ersistence. >tern integrity ;in(l excel- 
Unt judgment lia\e been the elements which ha\e ei mtriluUed to his success, 
and 1 ecause nf this success and his high ])ersonal character he is deserving 
-if the high jxisition which he hulds in the esteem of all who know him. 

I'rank Ilogne. who for a number of years has been the efhcieiU lumber 
buver for Hoffman P.rothers Company, of h'ort Wayne, is a native son of 
DeKalb county, having first seen the light of day in Butler tcnvnship on 
June II, 1852. He is the son of Henry and Effie (King) Hogue, the former 
of whom died on .August 5, 1872. Henry Hogue was the son of (ieorge 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 337 

and Lydia (Wilder) Wn-^w. and wa> horn in Canandais,nia. Xew >"(,rk. on 
March 3, 1818. When al.oul twenty years old he came to DeKalb county. 
Indiana, his mother ha\ ins died a short time before that, and here he was 
employed in sawmills, work to which he had been accustomed in his native 
state. He bought a farm in I'.utler township ;ind there made his permanent 
home, his father also spendin.<,- his last years there. Carryin-,^ on the dual 
occupation.s of farming and lumljering, Henry Hogue was a very busy man. 
and he enjoyed the respect and confidence of all who knew him. He was a 
Republican in politics, though with no aspirations for public office. He 
married Effie King, who was born in Pennsylvania on November 26. 1828. 
and who is still, at the advanced age of eightv-eight years, a well-preserved 
woman, retaining her mental and physical faculties to a remarkable degree. 
She is the daughter of (leorge and Mary jane (Phillips) King, and she was 
brought to DeKalb county on October 4. 1833. Her father was killed when 
she was but three days old. and she was reared by her mother until seven years 
old, after which time slie was reared in the family of George DeLong, with 
whom slie came to Indiana, the family locating in Butler township, DeKalb 
county. Their long and tiresome journey was made in a wagon, drawn by 
two voke of oxen, who pulled them from Da\ton, Ohio. The\ liatl come 
from Pennsylvania down the (~)hio river to Cincimiati, and thence by canal 
to Dayton. It took them six weeks to make the trip from Dayton, camping 
out at night and letting the oxen graze. They came by way of Fort Wayne, 
thence through Huntertown, which then consisted of but three or four 
houses. But few roads had l>eeii constructed, and those few very poorly 
made, while most of the streams had to be forded. On ai)])roaching their 
land in I'utler township, none of which had been cleared, they were compelled 
to rut the dense undergrowth and many trees in order to get their wagon 
through to the site of their future home. The |)ros])ect was not a very invit- 
ing one. but. with a \ i>ion of the future. Mr. DeLong went energetically to 
work to clear a spot for a home. The\- first lived in a tent made of carpet, 
but soon a log cabin was erected, in which the t'amily were comfortably 
boused. Here Mr. DeLong accpiired ownership of three hundred and fifty 
acres of land. .\ few years later he sold cnit and moved to .\llen county. 
Mr. and Mrs. Hogue had been married just prior to that event and they 
remained on the farm, Mr. Hogue being employed to run the saw-mill for 
the new owner. They then moved to the farm adjoining on the north, which 
Mr. Hogue had bought, and there he -;pent the remainder of his life. To 
him and his wife were born ten children, namely: George Henry. Lydia .\.. 
Frank. I'TVie, Theron. bVederick. Perry. James. Florence and Mary, the 



558 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

latter dying at the age of three months. Of these cliiUhen, only three are 
now Hving. namely: Frank, the immediate suliject uf this sketch; Lydia, ^)i 
.\uhurn ; Florence, the wife of William Hoff, of Selma, California. The 
mother of these ciiildren now makes her home with her son l-'rank. 

Frank Hogue was reared on the home farm in Bntler township and 
secured his education in the common schools. In 1873 he went \\'est. where 
he remained three years, and then, in 1876, he returned to the home farm, to 
the operation of which he gave his attention for a tune. He then accepted 
a position with Hofifman Brothers, of Fort Wayne, extensive lumher dealers 
and saw-mill men, and he has heen connected with tiiat comi)any e\er since, 
h'or thirty-five years he has i)een the timher i>uyer for this well-known firm, 
his duties rec|uiring him to tra\el over practical!}' the entire country. He 
has earned the reputation as one of the hest judges of timher in the country 
and his services are held in high value by the firm with wliich he is connected. 
Mr. Hogue has continued to reside in Auburn, and has a beautiful home at 
the corner of Fifth and Main streets, which he built in 1909. 

In 1884 Mr. Hogue married Allie Rainsburg, of Pleasant Lake, Indiana, 
the daughter of l-'rederick Rainsburg, of Hudson, Indiana. Mrs. Hogue died 
in 1891, and in 1898 Mr. Hogue married ("arrie Caswell, of I*"reniont. this 
state, to which union was born a daughter, h'rances. They are well known 
throughout this community, antl their friends are in number as their 
accjuaintances. 



JONAS E. DILGARD. 

Among the honored and influential citizens of Waterloo, Indiana, is 
Jonas E. Dilgard, who has shown what an earnest and energetic hard-work- 
ing man can accomplish, although forced to hew his own fortune from ob- 
stacles that beset his way. He started life without financial aid from any- 
body; has been industrious, and has adhered to those principles and ideals 
that always insure success, so that his later years are being passed in the midst 
of plenty and serenity. 

Jonas E. Dilgard, who is now retired from active labor and is residing 
in the attractive little town of Waterloo, is a native of Wayne county, Ohio, 
where he was born on bebruary 14, 1853. He is a son of John and Mary 
(Hoy) Dilgard. John Dilgard was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsyl- 
vania, and in early childhood was brought to Wayne county, Ohio, by his 
parents, Jacob and h'li/.ahcth Dilgard. Marv Hov, who was a native of 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 559 

Waynt- county, Oliin, utuI tin- clau,i,'hter oi Jonas Hoy, was reared in her 
native county and li\ed there until her marriage. In 1865 John Dilgard and 
his wife moved to DeKalb county, Indiana, locating four miles west of Water- 
loo, where they had acc|uired eighty acres of good farming land and there 
they made their permanent iKmie. Julin Dilgard was an acti\e .and imlustrious 
man, being both a farmer and a carpenter, whicli dual dccupations he fol- 
lowed during all his ;icti\e years. His death occurred in i8c)() ant! his wife 
died in 1880. They were the parents of six cliildren: Jonas, iVlina, lunilv. 
Daniel, Martha and John. 

Jonas E. Dilgard was reared on the [)aternai farm and in the schools of 
Waterloo he secured his education. In 1870, at the age of seventeen years, he 
began a successful pedagogical career, and during the following ten years 
was numbered among the leading teachers of DeKalb county, having taught 
successfully at various places where a high standard of education was in de- 
mand. During this period his summer seasons were spent in agricultural 
employment. In 1876 Mr. Dilgard was married to Marv (ioodwin. the 
daughter of David and Sarah ( Wiltrout ) (ioodwin. she being a native of 
Waterloo. David Goodwin was born in Ashland county, Ohio, on November 
5, 1826, and his death occurred at Waterloo, Indiana, on March o, i8<;q, in 
the seventy-third year of his age. '.About 1854 he moved from Ashland county 
and purchased a tract of land at the edge of Waterloo, which he cleared and 
developed, making of it eventually one of the best farms in this vicinity. He 
was survived a number of years by his widow, who died in October, 1912. 
After Mr. Dilgard married he rented a farm for about a year and then 
bought a farm located between .\ubnrn and Waterkio in Grant township, 
where he now owns one himdred acres. In 1880 he gave up teaching school 
and moving on to the farm south of Waterloo, he lived there until iqo6. 
when he retired from actixe farm l;d)or and moved to Waterloo, where he 
now resides. He still owns the farm and in a general way supervises its 
management. In 1885. while still residing on his farm, Mr. Dilgard engaged 
in the agricultural implement business at Waterloo, but a year or two later 
he sold that business and during the following two years he was a traveling 
salesman for tlie .Mtman-Taylor Company and about a year for the Piano 
Binder Company; also for about two years after leaving the farm he was 
engaged in the restaurant business at Auburn, having bought the same from 
his son, Carl. He was successfid in this enterprise, but e\ entually sold it and 
returned to his home in Waterloo. He is a man of good business ability and 
sound judgment, and because of his excellent rjualifications he has succeeded 
in everything to which he has turned his hand. 



560 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Fraternally. Mr. Dilgard belongs to the Knights of Pythias and takes a 
deep interest in the workings of the order. He has taken an intelligent in- 
terest in public afifairs and served four years as trustee of Grant township, 
and is nuw president of the bdard of trustees of the town of Waterloo, dis- 
charging his oflkial duties to the entire satisfaction of his fellow citizens. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Dilgard have been born seven children, namely: 
Claude, Roy, Carl, Gladys, Glen, Ralph and Howard, all deceased except 
Carl and Howard. Carl was born September 16, 1884, married Dora Dan- 
iels, the daughter of Harrison Daniels, and they have a daughter, Bernadine. 
He lives in Waterloo and follows the trade of a carpenter. Howard Dilgard. 
born July 10, 1898, is a student in the public schools of Waterloo. 

Mr. Dilgard is an able, educated, well read and progressive gentleman, a 
fine type of a self-made man who has confidence in the people and is ready at 
all times to do his full part in the advancement of the public welfare. He is 
not lacking in the (|u;dities of sf)ciability and those traits of character which 
win friends for a man, and in the community where he has spent so many of 
his active years, he enjoys a notable measure of |)opularitv. 



JAMES PURVIS McCAGUE. 

Fealty to facts in the analyzation of a citizen of the type of James Purvis 
McCague is all that that is required to make a good biographical sketch inter- 
esting to those who have at heart the good name of the community, because 
it is the honorable reputation of the man of standing, more than any other 
consideration, that gives character anil stability to the body politic and makes 
the true worth of a county or state revered and respected. In the broad light 
which things of good report ever invite, the name and character of the gen- 
tleman whose name introduces this sketch stand revealed and secure, though 
with modest demeanor, with no amliition to distinguish himself in public 
position or as a leader of men, his career has been signally honorable and it 
may be studied with profit by the youth entering upon life's work, for it 
shows that the man who persists along right lines of endeavor will eventually 
accomplish what he sets out to do despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles. 

James P. McCague was born in Holmes county, Ohio, on July 12, 1846, 
and is a son of Samuel Cochran McCague and Eliza Jane (Barfoot) Mc- 
Cague. Samuel C. McCague was a son of James and Elizabeth McCague, 
the former of whom was a native of the north of Ireland, thougli of Scotch- 




MR. AND MRS. J. P. McCAGUE 



DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. 5OI 

Irish descent, his ancestors having locatwl in the KniL-rakl Isle on accmuit oi 
the rehgious hberty which they enjoyed there and whicli \va^ denied them 
in their native land. His w ife. Iiliza jane liarfoot, was a dangluer of .\ndre\\ 
Barfoot, who with his wile came troni Scothuul, lier eldest brother having 
been born on the ocean en route to .America. In 1(848 Samuel I. McCague 
brought his wife and child to DeKalb county, Indiana, locating on the I. N. 
Cox farm one and one-half miles south and a little west of .\siiley. .After 
living there two years he sold this place and bought eight) acres of land one 
mile west of Sedan, where his death occurred in 1S52, at which time the sub- 
ject of this sketch was but six years old, anil the onl\- cliild. The subject's 
mother than engaged in teaching school, whicii she followed untd 1S35. when 
she became the wife of Aaron B. Smith, to which union was born a son, 
Sanford S., who died May 24, ic)i_^. The mother's married life continueil 
until 1868 when, at the death of her husb.md, she came to Waterloo and made 
that her home for some time. 

The subject of this sketch secured his education in the district schools, 
but in 1861, at the outbreak of the war of the Rebellion, his pati iotic fer\-or 
was aroused and though but fifteen years old he tried to enlist to tight for the 
Union, but was rejected on account of his youth. He then went lo b>\\a and 
obtained employment on farms in Winnesheik coimtv. While m that state he 
attended school at Decorah, and there became ac(|uainted witii two daughters 
of John Brown, the famous ;mti-sla\ery agitator of ( )sa\v;aomie. .\t the 
time of the New I'lm massacre by the Indians in iSfu, be joined an indepen- 
dent military company and went to the assistance of the settlers and was 
present at the capture of six lumdred Sioux Indians, who were sent to Daven- 
port. While on a skirmish Mr. McCaguc was cajUuied and was carried to a 
gorge, but while the guard was sleeping he loosened himself. In so doing he 
disturbed a dog which he killed with the guard's knife and be tiien made hi-s 
escape. In 1863 Mr. McCague tried to enlist as a recruit in tin- Twelfth 
Iowa Regiment \"olunteer Infatury. l)ut was attain rejected because of his 
boyish appearance. He then returned to Winneslu-jk county and attended 
school until the spring of 1804 wiien lie enlisted in Com|)any V. Forty-sixth 
Regiment Iowa X'oluiiteer Infantry. ,1 one-liiindreibd.ay regiment, with which 
he served his term. ])articipating in the battles of Tupella and (iuntowii and 
being mustered out in August, i8f)4. After recei\ing his discharge from 
the army Mr. McCague returned to his old home near Ashley, DeKalb 
county, Indiana, and during the first winter here be attended school and then 
^36) 



50*i DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

again applied himself to farm work, later coming to Waterloo and here be- 
ginning his association with machinery, which has characterized the greater 
part of his life since. In the spring of 1865 he went to Kendallville and 
attempted to enlist in the army, but having gone first to tell his mother of 
his intentions he was a day too late, the orders having been issued to enlist 
no more men. At W^aterloo Mr. McCague obtained employment in a planing 
mill where he finally became engineer and afterwards ran engines at various 
mills. He was married in 1871 and immediately afterwards bought a saw 
mill and stave factory where he manufactured staves for oil barrels. When 
timber got scarce he sold his stave machinery, but continued to operate the 
saw mill, which, however, was burned in 1890. He then became a practical 
machrnist, bought tools and started a machine shop in Waterloo, north of 
where the town hall is now located, conducting this shop until 1901. In igoo 
he was so unfortunate as to lose an eye by its being pierced with a piece of 
steel, while he was working on a bf)iler. In 190 1 Mr. McCague invested 
eight hundred dollars in stock in a new concern which was organized to 
manufacture corn buskers and he then turned his shop and machinery over 
to the new concern and became machine shop foreman for two years. In 
1903. his abilit}' as a machinist and engineer having become widclx- known, 
Mr. McCague was called upon to take charge nf the machinery in the electric 
light and water plant of Waterlo(j, and in 1004 he was given full cliarge of 
the plant as superintendent and lias lield llial ixi^ition until the present time. 
Fully qualified by training and exi)erience for this important position Mr. 
McCague has discharged his duties witli promjjtness and with painstaking 
care and eniovs the confidence and regard of all who are familiar with 
his work. In 1881 he was gone for a short time to Des Moines. Iowa, as 
foreman of a band saw mill, and also for a short time ran a steamboat on the 
Des Moines river. He afterward spent a vear at Fvansville. keeping saws in 
a saw mill in good shape, as he was an expert in that jiarticular line of work 
and received a good salary for his labors. 

In 1871 Mr. McCague married Nancy .\. Pxiwnian, tlie dangliter of 
James ruid Jane (P>ort) Bowman, who are represented elsewhere in this work, 
and to this union have been horn seven children, namely: Charles A., an 
engineer on the Lake Shore railroad, and who lives at Elkhart, married 
Lillian Phillips, and they have one son. James P. : Nellie A. died at the age of 
sixteen years; Edward Purvis married Rilla Newcomer, to which union was 
born a daughter, Irene, and he died at the age of twenty-five years: Blanche 
C. is tlie wife of Enimett ¥.. Cox. of \\'aterloo; F.ston B.. who lives two miles 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 563 

■west of Butler on a farm, is a machinist by trade, and he married Clara 
Hanes; Eugene J., wiio married Dessie Greenwood, died in 1907 at the age 
of twenty-seven years; Minnie 1. died at the asje oi twelve vears. 

Fraternally, Mr. McCague is a member (if the Free and Accepted 
Masons, having passed through all the chairs and serving as worshipful 
master of his lodge. He also lielongs to tlie (Irand .\rmy of the l\epul)hc 
and here enjoys the association with other veterans of the late war. He has 
taken a deep interest in local affairs and has served four terms as a meml)er 
■of the town board. In 1872 Mr. McCague built a fine home in the northeast 
part of Waterloo, where, on a large lot. which has been beautified in every 
respect with large beds of flowers and fancy shrubbery, he has erected a beau- 
tiful home heated liy furnace, lighted by electricity and with water through- 
out the house, his home as regards beauty and convenience comparing favor- 
ably with any liome in Waterloo. Mrs. McCague is passionately fond of 
flowers and spends nuicli of her time in the care of them, in which she has 
met with much success. Mr. McCague is probably as versatile in his mechan- 
ical ability as any man in this locality, being not only an expert electrician, 
but a good all-around machinist, an e.Kpert plumber and an experienced saw 
man, besides which lie learned tlie trade of steam engineer. He is a close 
student of practical mechanics and is a dee]) reader on a wide variety of sub- 
jects, being able to converse intelligently on man}- themes which ordinarily 
do not interest the a\erage man. He has passed through a varied and 
strenuous career in many respects, being able to recite some very interesting 
experiences and narrow escapes, but is entirely modest and unassuming, caring 
nothing for praise or jniblic applause, and he possesses to an eminent degree 
those qualities of character wiiich beget friendship, and in this locality where 
he has resided for many years lie has earned the high regard of all who 
know him. 



W. !.. HL.\IR. 



It is with ;i great degree of satisfaction that we advert to the life of 
one who has made a success in any vocation recpiiring definiteness of purpose 
and determined action. Such a life, whether it l)e one of prosaic endeavor or 
radical accomplishment, abounds in valual^le lesson and incentive to those 
who ha\e become discouraged in the fight for recognition or to the youth 
whose future is undetermined. During a long, strenuous and honorable 
career W. f.. P.lair. one of t!ie substantial and representative citizens of 



564 DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 

DeKalb county, has directed his energies and talents toward the goal of 
success in this localit}- and In- patient continuance lias won. anfl is now num- 
bered among the worthy and substantial farmers of Wilmington township. 
The subject 1 ears the distinction of being the oldest resident of DeKalb 
county, he having resided here continuously for se\enty-eight years, and 
being the only survivor among a family of thirty-five relatives. 

W. L. Blair was born in Portage county, Ohio, on Xo\eniber 2-], 1831, 
a son of John and Margaret (Douglas) Blair, who moved to DeKalb county 
in 1835, settling in Concord township, at which time there were but nine fam- 
ilies in the count}\ se\-cn of whom were located in Concord township. The 
Indians were frequent visitors at their home and at one time the subject's 
sister turned an em])ty barrel cn^er him while she ran to the field to tell the 
men of the approach of the Indians. .\lr. ISlair was reared to the life of a 
pioneer and early Iiegan assisting in the arduous labors of clearing the land, 
his educational privileges being very limited. The first school he attended 
was taught bv Rev. Benjamin Alton in a log house on land now occupied 
by Christian Curie. Mr. Blair is descended from a sturdy line of ancestors, 
his parents having been natives respectively of Massachusetts and Pennsyl- 
vania. The\- were the parents of nine children, namely : Mrs. Jane Xotestine, 
deceased; Douglas, deceased; Mrs. Samantha Dragoo. deceased; Hiram, de- 
ceased; Lucius J., deceased; William L.. the subject of this sketch, and Ben- 
jamin. John and Carlin, who are deceased. The land which the subject's 
father entered in DeKalb county is that now occupied by the present site of 
.St. Joe, and there the subject of this sketch spent his early years. He has 
always devoted his activities to agricultural pursuits, and, owing to his per- 
sistent industry, sound business methods and careful attention to the con- 
servation of the soil and other practical features of successful agriculture, 
he has for many years cnjov'ed a s])lendid re])utation among his fellow 
farmers, ffe owns thirty acres of land near the town of Butler, on to which 
he moved in 1XO3, and during the long period of his residence here he has 
continuously enjoyed the confidence and good will of the community. 

Mr. Blair has been twice married, first in 1859 to Amy Aldrich, to which 
union were born two children. Corwin B., of Gary, Indiana, and Mrs. Lena 
Corcoran, of Michigan. Mr. Blair's second union was to ^lary L. Hall, the 
daughter of J. C. and Abigail (Norris) Hall, natives of Xew Hampshire. 
Mr. Blair has reached an advanced age. heaven having lengthened out his 
life until he has been permitted to witness the vici>situdes of the most remark- 
able epoch in the world's business and inventive history, in all of which he 
has been an interested spectator. There is no doulit Init that his long life has 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 565 

been due to his sterling character, his conservative lial)its and liis pure- 
thinking. He is even temi>ered, patient, scrupulously honest in all the relations 
of life, hospitable and charitable, his many kindly deeds being actuated .solelv 
from his largeness of heart rather than from any desire to gain the approval 
of plaudits of his fellow men. In all that constitutes true manhood and good 
citizenship he has been a worthy example and none stands higher than he in 
the esteem and confidence of the circles in which he moves. 



JOHN H. LE.ASUKE. 

Specific mention is made in the following paragraphs of one of the 
worthy citizens of DeKalb county, Indiana — one who has figured and is still 
an active participant in the splendid commercial prosperity which characterizes 
this community, and who is contributing in a definite measure in his particular 
sphere of action to the growth of the locality and to the advancement of its 
best interests. Earnest purpose and tireless energy, combined with mature 
judgment and everyday common sense. lia\e l)een among his most prominent 
characteristics and he has merited the respect and esteem which are accorded 
him by all who know him. 

John H. Leasure was txirn in Savannah. .Vshland county. Ohio, on July 
26. 1849, the son of Lovengar and Eleanor (Hayes) Leasure. In 1852 the 
family moved to Auburn, Indiana, where he secured a limited education in 
the public schools, which, however, has been liberally supplemented through 
the years by much reading and habits of close observation. At an early age, 
the suliject was ap])renticed to learn the trade of shoeniaking. that being a 
period when most boots and shoes were made l)y Iiand to order. He worked 
at that trade for eight years, tiien accei)leil employment as a clerk in a hard- 
ware store at Auburn. About 1893 Mr. Leasure moved to ,\ngola, where he 
remained most of the time up to 1900. in which year he returned to .Auburn 
and engaged in the hardware business on his own account. Subsecpiently he, 
with W. H. McOuiston and Harry Swarts, organized the Auburn Hardware 
Company, with the intention of ojiening a new store. .\t tiiat time the John 
L. Davis estate was being closed up and his old estalJished store was offered 
for sale. The subject and his associates l>ought the store and ran it for two 
years, when Mr. Leasure and his wife and son bought the interests of Messrs. 
McQuiston and Swarts and thus became sole owners. This business has 
prospered under the wise management of Mr. Leasure and is now one of 



SoO' deKai:b county, Indiana." 

the principal mercantile establishmentsOf Auburn, comifianding a lai-ge afi'rf' 
cohSta-ntly increasing trade through this section of the country. A large' 
and well selected stock is carried, consisting of shelf and heavy hardware^ 
paints, stoves and other lines usually carried in an up^to-date store of the kind.' 
'On December 30, 1880, John H. Leasure was married to Lida Powers, 
Vvho was liorn ntar Greensburg, Indiana, the daughter of Jonathan and Mary 
(Hood) Powers, and \vlio is nientif/ned more fully elsew'here in. this, work.? 
To this union have been born two children, namely : Flossie is the wife of 
Harry M. Richwine, of .\ul)urn, and they have one child, Helen Marguerite : 
J. Kent is a medical student in the Indiana State Uni\ersity, at Bloomington. 
Politicalh', Mr. Leasure gives his support td the Democratic party, while 
fraternally he is an appreciati\e member of the Knights of Pythias. His 
religious membership is with the Presljyterian church, to which he gives his 
earnest support. In allthe relations of life he has bet-n a man among men! 
and, Ix'cause of his high character and earnest life, he merits fhe confidence 
and good will which he eniovs in the comnnmitv. 



[ACOB LUTZ. 



The character of a C(jmmunity is determined in a large measure by the- 
lives- of a comparatively few of its memlicrs. If its moral and intellectual 
staUdard be good, if its reputation for the integrity of its citizens has ex- 
tended into other localities, it w ill be found that the Standard set by the lead- 
ing men has lieen high, antl their uUUu-uce such as to mold the characters and. 
shape the lives of those with whom tlie\ mingle. Placing the late Jacob Lutz 
in the front rank with such men. justict- is rendered a biographical fact 
univi-rsally recognized throughout the locality long honored by his citizen- 
ship. .Vlthough a quiet and unassuming man, he contributed- greatly to the 
material and moral advancement of his community, while his admirable- 
(|ualities of head and heart and the straightforward, upright course of his- 
(lailv life won for him the esteem and confidence of the circles in which he 
moved and gave Ihm a reputation for integrity and correct conduct such as 
few achieve, and, although he is now ".sleeping the sleep of the just." hi.s- 
influence is still living and his memory is still greatly revered. 

Jacob Lutz was born near Canton, Stark county, Ohio, on January 17, 
iS2(j, and was a son of Michael and Magdalena Lutz. In 1828, when aljout 
seventeen years of age, he came to DeKalb county with his parents, whoi 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 567 

located liere on a farm. His father died about two years after their arrival 
here and Jacob and his brother Jolm became assistants to tlieir mother in the 
clearing, improvement and cultivation of the farm, and in the protection and 
care of the younger children. Mr. Lutz devDted his entire life to agricul- 
tural pursuits and his farm in (irant township became one of the most up-to- 
date and productive in the county. Progressive and methodical in his busi- 
ness affairs, as well as in the operation of his'''fartn;lit was hardly surprising 
that he should achieve a splendid success, for he possessed to a notable degree 
thost qualities which coiitriliute to jirosperity in any undertaikihg. Mr.' Lutz 
was at all times actuated by the highest motives and so oi'dered hiiMife a$ frt 
retain throughout his career here the confidence and good will of ail who 
knew him, and his death, which Dccurred on September 22. I900, Was Con- 
sidered a distinct loss to the community. ' Air. Lutz "was an active and earnest 
member of the Reformed church froiri boyhood, of which society Mrs. Lutz is 
also a memiier, and in everything that affected the moral, civic; mate'rial or 
educational welfare of the community he was active in sup])ort of the best 
measures. - . . . , - 

On June 29, i80y, Jacob Lutz married Sarah Hamman. who was, jjorn 
af Tappan, Kosciusko county, Indiana", the daughter of Daniel arid "Sophia 
(Wolfe) Hamman. Her father formerly lived in Columbiana county. Ohio. 
but '.subsequently became a resident for a few years uf DeKalb county, Indir 
ana, later moving to Kosciusko. He was married in Ohio l<i .Sophia WOlfe; 
who was a daughter of Adam and Susan \\'olfe. Her father died when she 
was hut four months old, and her mother afterward became tin- wife of 
(ledrge Mull, who lived until about 1872, or Until Mrs. Lutz was married-. 
.\fter her husband's death, Mrs. Mull came to DeKalb county and lived with 
her daughter until her death, which occurred in UjOi. Mrs. I,utz came to 
DeKalb county two years prior to her marriage and lived with lier sister, 
Mrs. Robert N. Crooks. 

To .Mr. and Mrs. Lutz were born lour children, namely: .Mien, who 
lives on a farm at Cleveland, Tennessee, married Carrie Harlh, ami thev have 
four children. Coral. Roy, Ralph and Iva: Laura died at the age of three 
vears; William, who was born in 1S74, lives on the home place with his 
mother: .Arthur died on .\pril 2j. kjoo, in his twenty-first year. In addition 
to these children, Mr. and Mrs. Lutz adopted a little girl at the age of si.\ 
months, whom they named Dora, and w horn they raised the same as they did 
their own children. She is now the wife of Clarence Bowman and lives on 
the old Bowman farm two miles east of Waterloo. She is the mother of a 
daughter, Thelnia. The Lutz frunily have long occu])ied a high position in 



568 DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 

the social circles of the community where they live, and are held in higli 
esteem because of their estimable qualities and the part they have played in 
the development and welfare of their county. 



HOWARD B. McCORD. 

The prosperity and substantial welfare of a communitv are in a large 
measure due to the enterprise and wise foresight of its business men. It 
is progressive, wideawake men of affairs that make the real history of a 
communitw and tlieir influence in shaping and directing its varied interests 
is difficult to estimate. The well known gentleman of whom the biogra- 
pher writes in this connection has long ranked among the leading business men 
of Auburn, and it is to such enterprising spirits as he that the locality is in- 
debted for the high position it occupies as a center of commercial activity 
and progress. 

Howard B. McCord was born on April i, 1862, about one mile south- 
east of Auburn, DeKalb county, Indiana, and is a son of George S. and 
Eliza J. (McClenathan) McCord. George S. McCord was horn in Lan- 
caster county, Penn.sylvania, on .^p^il 13, 18,^5. and on March 26, 18*1. 
he married Eli/.abeth J. McClenatlian. who continued his faithful and loving 
companion for over thirty-five years. Two years after the consummation of 
this marriage. Mr. and Mrs. McCord came to Auburn, Indiana, where they 
lived about six years and then moved to Fort Wayne, this state, where 
Mr. McCord was superintendent of a bucket factory. In 1875 they re- 
turned to Auburn where they made their future home and where George S. 
resumed contracting, which he had followed here prior to his removal to 
Fort Wayne. Later he engaged in the furniture and undertaking business 
for Schaab Brothers, and when they eliminated that department from their 
business, Mr. McCord went into that line of effort on his own account and 
continued in it until liis death. He was exacting and methodical in everv- 
thing he did and tliis characteristic was exercised in the last hours of his 
illness when he made a careful prei)aration and disposal of his business 
affairs just as he would were he starting upon a journey. Morally and 
spiritually, he was of unblemished character and had for many years been 
readv for the call whenever it might come. As w^as said of him by one who 
knew him. "Not onlv did he live this in formal service and devoHon, but 




HOWARD B. -McCORD 



DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 569 

in his daily life it was exemplified." He was a skillful workman, a sound 
business man and made a success of whatever he turned his attention to. 
He was a great lover of nature and in God's out-of-doors he received his 
greatest inspirations and keenest insight into spiritual life. He died on 
December 22, 1906, at the age of seventy-one years, approaching death with 
the calm serenity of a true Christian, "Like one who wraps the drapery 
of his couch alx)ut him and lies down to pleasant dreams." 

Howard B. McCord was reared in Auburn and in Fort Wayne and se- 
cured his education in the public schools of these cities. When eighteen 
years old he taught a term of school and then became a clerk in F. E. 
Davenport's drug store, which at that time stood at the corner of Eighth 
and Main streets, on the site where the City National Bank is now located. 
In July, 1887. Mr. McCord bought a half interest in the drug store owned 
by Robbins & Son, he and E. L. Robbins continuing the business where Mr. 
McCord is now. In 1897, Mr. Robbins retired and Mr. McCord has con- 
tinued the business alone ever since. He carries a large and well selected 
stock of drugs and druggists' sundries, and for many years has enjoyed 
his full share of local patronage. He has been successful in this enterprise 
and has become interested in other local business concerns, being a stock- 
holder and director of the .Auburn State Bank. In the civic life of the com- 
munity, Mr. McCord has long been prominent and was a meml>er of the city 
council for two terms. l)eginning March 26, h)co. when the city was incorpora- 
ted, thus serving four years. During his term of office the paving of streets 
was begun, one of the most marked improvements in its history. Mr. 
McCord was a nieml)er of the conimittee on re\ ision of the city ordinances, a 
change from town to city government, entailing many ratlical changes in the 
governing ordinances of the municipality, necessitating the collection of the 
ordinances from a great mass of other matter in the town records. This 
work was satisfactorily accomplished to the credit of the committee. 

In May, 1885, Mr. McCord was married to Tillie E. Williamson, the 
daughter of F.li .-md Su-~ann;i Wiiliamsdii, of Waterloo, wlio arc represented 
elsewhere in thts N-,,rk. To Mr. anJ Mrs. .Mc( on! liavc been 1)orn two chil- 
dren. \'ictor W.. who i.s in ihe (h'lig store with his father, and Dorothy M., 
who is at home. Fraternally, Mr. McConl is a member of tlie I'ree and 
Accepted Masons, Wonging to William Hacker Chapter, i^oyal .\rch Masons, 
and also l^-ioiigs to Lodge No. i2()i. Knights of i'ytiiias. of which he is a 
ch.-irler member, and tiie Ik-nevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Mr. Mc- 
Cor<l is a pleasant gentU'm;in. honest .and uprigiit ;it all times and he is not 



^fQ DEKALB-- COUNTY. INDIANA. 

only held in high esteehi t-or his superior Ijusiness abihty, but for his pubhc 
spirited nature, wholesome private and personal life and he is (jue of DeKalb 
countA-'s noted and influential men. .- ■ ^1 

— •:::<[ 

, . JOHN CiROGG, ^ .':'[ 

In the history of DeKalb county, as applying to the agricultural interests, 
the name of John Grogg occupies a conspicuous place, for through a number 
of years he has been one uf the representative farmers of Grant township, 
progressive, enterprising and persevering. Such qualities always win success, 
sooner or later, and to Mr. Grogg they have brought a satisfactory reward 
for his well directed effort, and while he has benefited himself and the com- 
iliunity in a material way he has also been an influential factor in the educa^- 
tional, political and moral uplift of the community favored by his residence. 

John Grogg was born on July i, 1845, '^i Plain township. Stark county, 
Ohio, and is the son of Daniel Grogg, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this 
work. He accompanied iiis parents to DeKalb county. Indiana, and was. 
reared on the old home farm, wliicli was located east of where the county 
farm is now, and tliere he lived until twenty-four years of age. He assisted 
in the early cultivation of the home farm and during the winter months 
secured his education in the common schools of the neighborhood. After his 
marriage, which occurred in 1867, Mr. Grogg came to Grant township, this 
county, and located on a part of the farm that his father had Ijought in 1840. 
Not an inch of the land which he secured had been cleared and he commenced 
to operate along the same lines which characterized the early pioneers. The 
timber had to be felled, the stumps cleared and fences erected, as well as 
other necessarv imi)rovements, .-uid at that time there was no road running 
from Auburn to his place wr)rtli mentioning, the only higliway lieing a trail 
which had been cut around the swamps. Mr. (irogg Iniilt a log cabin in wliich 
he made iiis home until lie was al)le to clear his land and raise crops, from 
wliich time onward lie was able to live in more comfortable circumstances. 
His present attractive residence was built in 1889. Mr. Grogg is now the 
owner of eighty-eight acres of good, tillable land, practically all of which is 
in cultivation and he follows advanced agricultural methods, rotating his 
crops from year to vear in such a way as to maintain the fertility of the .soil, 
while the general appearance of the place indicates him to be a man of good 



DEKAhR COt'NTY. INDIANA;- 37I 

judgment and sound ideiis. Durintj tlie years hi whicli he lias resided in the 
tOAvnship Mr. Grogg has taken an active interest in ever>thing pertaining toi 
the advancement of the comnnuiity and has served as supervisor f or 'tWdntVP 
six years,' this being a remarkable testimonial to his efficiency andthe.Satis-j 
factory manner in which he has discharged his official duties. In the/ improve-t 
m^nt of the public roads he has been especially interested . and has changed 
them fi^om the ekrly-day corduroy construction to as fine gravel i'oads as can 
be found atiywhere in the county, and he has just, reason- to be proud of hla 
attainments in this line. :. 

In 1867 Mr. Grogg married Catherine Kandel, who was born inr, New 
Bavaria, Germany, the dauglitcr of Jacob and Katherine Ivandel. iln'iSs^ 
she came \vith her parents to ^America, who located first at Tiffin, Ohio, but irt 
i860 came to DeKalb county, locating a half mile south of Faigler's Corners 
in Richland township, where they -spent the remainder of their days. To Mn 
and Mrs. Grogg were born four children, namely: Daniel J., born in 1.8681 
who assists; his father on the home farm; Annie, .who is -the wife^of Charley 
Zerkle, of Waterloo, has eight children, Ora, -Forrest, Ford, J<5hiiij Digwc^i, 
Guy, James and Lulu; Alta is the wife of John Melton, who -lives;.^wetit of 
Waterloo in Grant township and has two children, Blanche and Edna ; Nannie 
is at home keeping house for her father. Mr. Grogg's life has been character- 
ized by duty faithfully performed, and in his relations with his fellows he has 
earned their favorable opinion and is numbered among the popular and pub» 
lie-spirited citizens of his coninninit}-. 



rH()M.\S H. SPUOTT 



Karnest labor, unahaliiig persexerance, good management and a laudal)lc 
ambition t(i succeed, these are tlu- elements that have brought Thomas H. 
Sprntt prosperity ;in(I won for him the ijood will and respect of all with 
whom lie iias come in contact. A native of .\nlinrn. DeKalb county, where 
he first saw tlie light of d;iy on ."^eptemlier 4, 1850, he has s])ent iiis entire 
life in his native locality and is therefore well known here. His parents were 
Samuel W. and Sarah J. (Hays) Sprott Samuel W. Sprott was born in 
Darlington, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and was a son of Thomas and 
Mary Sprott, who were of Scotch-Irish descent. Samuel W. Sprott came to 
DeKalb county, Indiana, in March, 1836, walking the entire distance by way 
of Defiance, Ohio. He was immediately successful in whatever he turned his. 



572 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

hand to here and, his abilities and character becoming recognized by his fellow- 
citizens, in 1841 he became county clerk, county auditor and county recorder. 
He held the office of auditor for one year and the other two offices simultan- 
eously for ten years. In 1855 he was again elected to the office of county 
clerk, serving four years. He was a man of high character and strictest in- 
tegrity and during all the period of his residence here he enjoyed to a notable 
extent the absolute confidence and esteem of the people with whom he min- 
gled. Some time after locating in Auburn he married Harriet Miller, who 
died shortly afterwards, and subsequently, at Savannah, Ohio, he was imited 
in marriage to Sarah J. Hays, daughter of Thomas and Mary Hays. She 
was born at Haysville, Ohio, of which town her grandfather was the founder. 
Mr. Sprott continued to reside at Auburn, looking after his property interests 
and al.so engaging to some extent in agriculture. From 1872 to 1875 ^^ ^"' 
gaged in the shoe business and was postmaster at Auburn in the year 1867. 
He died on December 14. 1882, his wife having died August 19th of the 
previous year. They left two children, Mary VV., who became the wife of 
Dr. W. H. Nusbaum, of Indianapolis, and Thomas H., the immediate subject 
of this sketch. 

Thomas H. Sprott was reared to manhood in Auburn, and during his 
younger days was engaged in surveying to some extent. In 1872 he engaged 
in the shoe business in partnership with his father and remained so occupied 
until 1875. when he went into the real estate and insurance business. In this 
line he has continued ever since, being the oldest now in Auburn who have 
continuously engaged in that business in this county. Possessing marked 
business ability and energetic as a hustler after business, it is no wonder that 
Mr. Sprott has through the years enjoyed the largest patronage in his line 
in the county, and wherever he has gone he has made friends, which has 
meant increase in business. 

Mr. Sprott married Abagail J. Potter, of Auburn, the daughter of James 
A. and Catherine (Sponsler) Potter, these parents having come to this county 
from Ashland, Ohio. The father was a native of the state of New Jersey, 
but was reared to manhood at Jeromeville, Ohio. The Potters came first to 
Adrian, Michigan, where they lived a year and then alxiul the close of the 
Civil war they came to Auburn, where Mr. Potter engaged in the shoe trade. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Sprott have been horn four children: Jarl S., Pearl M.. 
Donald P. and Kirhy L. Jarl S., wlo was born in 1882, married Carrie Lar- 
sen and lives in Chicago, where he is city salesman for the General Fire 
Proofing Companv: he ha'< a dau'j^hter. Helen M. Pearl M.. who is assist- 



DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 573 

ant cashier in the Aulnirn State liank. lives in Auburn. I^imald P.. burn on 
November ii, 1886, married Haze! M. Knsley, is a^ent for the Metropohtan 
Life Insurance Company and hves in Auburn; he has three eiiihiren, Tiioina> 
R . Donald E. and Marie .Mice: Kirly 1.. b,,rn Jul) 7. iSi,i. i» eniijjoy.d as 
agent with the United States Express Company in Auburn. 

Politically, Mr. Sprott is an Independent Democrat. Fraternally, he 
belongs to DeKalb Lodge No. 214, Free and Accepted Masons, and to Auburn 
Camp No. 51, Knights of the Maccabees. In May, 1902, Mr. Sprott was 
elected mayor of Auburn, assinning the duties of this office on September ist 
of that year, and his administration was of such a character as to win for 
him the unqualified commendations of his fellow citizens. Mrs. Sprott, who 
moves in the best social circles of the city, has for a number of years been a 
prominent member of the Ladies' Literary Society and is otherwise active in 
many good works. Mr. and Mrs. Sprott botii enjoy a well deserved popu- 
laritv in the citv of their residence and are numbered anioui,' its best citizens.^ 



lOHX KRAUS. 



The gentleman to whom the reader's attention is now directed was not 
favored by inherited wealth or the assistance of influential friends, but, in 
spite of these, by i)erseverance, industry and a wise economy, he has attained 
a comfortable station in life and is well and fa\orably known throughout 
his community as a result of the industrious life he has lived here for many 
vears. being regarded iiy all who know him as a man of sound business 
princi])!es, tboroughlv up to date m all ]iliases of agriculture, and as a man 
who, while advancing bis individual interests, does not neglect his general 
duties as a citizen. 

John Kraus, who owns a tine little farm of forty-si\ acres in (irant town- 
ship, DeKalb county, Indiana, was born on .\ngust 1 _-, iSrx). in Holmes 
countv, Ohio, and is a son of Philip antl Catherine (Ludwig) Kraus. the 
former of whom was born in Bavaria, and the latter in Hesse, Germany. 
Philip Kraus was a .-^toiie mason by trade, and when the subject of this sketch 
was but one year old the family moved to Spencer count\ , Indiana, where 
the mother died when John was but nine years old, lea\ing three sons. -\t 
this time the father and his M.ns came to Auburn, Indiana, where he ..btained 
work at stone masonry, and the subject of this sketch still recalls his boy- 
ho.id (lavs when he assisted his I'ather in that work. In iNfu; his father 



574 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

married Mary Schaal, who as best she could became a mother to the orphan 
Ixiys. lier efforts being appreciated by them, and during all the subsequent 
years she enjoyed their confidence and highest regard. She was born in 
April, 1833. in Germany, and was residing at Toledo just prior to her mar- 
riage to Mr. Kraus. She was twice married prior to her union with Mr. 
Kraus, having first married a man named Schearer, by whom she had a 
daughter, Eva. who is now the wife of M. F. Long, ex-county clerk of 
DeKalb county, and now residing at Butler. .After Mr. Schearer's death 
she became the wife of a Mr. Detch. She is now, at the age of eighty years, 
making her home with the subject of this sketch. In 1870 the Kraus family 
moved to the Sprott farm and two years later moved to where the suliject 
now lives, in sections seventeen and eighteen. Grant township, where the 
father died when John was but fourteen years old. From the age of eleven 
>ears tlie latter had been compelled to practically earn his own way. working 
out at farm labor and other employment, and at the age of twenty-one he 
took up his residence on the home farm, to the operation of which he has 
devoted himself continuously since. Though his farm comprises but forty- 
si.x acres, it is so well managed and cultivated that he derives a greater profit 
from it than nianv do from much larger acreage. He is thoroughly u]) to 
dale in his ideas as to the eultivation oi the soil and the raising of crojjs. 
keeps in touch with twentieth-century theories and practice in agriculture, 
and the well kept appearance of his place bespeaks him to be a man of good 
judgment and excellent taste. Though deprived in his boyhood of the oppor- 
tunities for an education which he should ha\e had. he has by much reading 
and close observation become a well-informed man and is able to intelligently 
di.scuss all the leading questions of the day. He still retains the habit of 
reading which he formed years ago and in his lionie are found nian\ of the 
1 e-l Ixioks of the day. 

On September i. 1883. Mr. Kraus married Jennie Monger, who was 
lM)rn at .\villa. Xol;le connty. Indiana, the daughter of Sebastian and Mary 
(Zonker) Monger, the father being a native of Bavaria, and her mother born 
in Seneca countx , Ohio. They were married in the Buckeye state and came 
to Indiana together, locating in Noble county, where they lived the remainder 
of their days, the father dying at the age of eighty-three years and the mother 
when seventy-se\en years of age. Sebastian Monger was a carpenter and 
builder by vocation, living on a farm which was operated by his son. To 
.\Ir. and Mrs. Kraus have been born the following children: Gertrude died 
at the age of two ancl one-half years: Ralph Watterson. who died at the age 
of three vears and seven months of .scarlet fever: Charles .A., a painter, who 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 575 

was Ixini on June 12, 1886; Edward J., born on September 30, 1887, is at 
home; Agnes Catherine, born January 12, i88c): Frances A., born January 
13. 1894, and h'lorence, born October 7, 1897. 

PoHtically. Mr. Kraus is an earnest ]\ei>ul)bi.aii, having long taken a 
deep interest in pubhc affairs, but he has never aspired to office. Thougii 
his daily occupation does not bring him much into [)ublic life, he is unusually 
well acquainted throughout the county and enjoys the confidence and esteem 
of all who know him. He is a member of the township advisory board, dis- 
charging the duties of this position to the entire satisfaction of his fellow 
citizens. One of his vivid recollections is that of the last important trial in 
the old court house, which was the Miller murder case. He was on the jury 
and was confined with his colleagues six long weeks under charge of a bailifif 
day and night. Religiously, he and his family are members of the Catholic 
church. Because of his success antl genuine wortli. lie enjoys the esteem and 
confidence of all who know him. 



BYRON LEAS. 



The best history of a community or state is the cme that deals most with 
the lives and activities of its people, especially of those who. by their own en- 
deavor and indomitable energy, have forged to the front and placed them- 
selves where they deserve the title of progressive men. In this brief review 
will be found the record of one who has achieved a career of marked success 
in agricultural afifairs and a name which all who know him delight to honor 
owing to his upright life and habits of thrift and industry. 

Byron Leas, one of the most progressive and public-spirited citizens of 
Grant township, DeKalb county, Imliana. was i)()rn on October 6, 1873, on 
the farm where he now resides just west of Walerlix,. He is the son of 
Obediah Leas, whose sketch appears elsewhere m this wnrk. and lie was reared 
on the home farm, securing his education in the puiilic schools of the com- 
munity. Since his marriage, which fKCurred in 1895. Mr. Leas has been 
farming on his own account on the farm where he now lives which was owned 
by his father and where he has resided conlinuimsly for forty years. His 
place comprises one hundred acres, the east line of which is only a fourth of 
a mile from the corporation line of Waterloo, and a splendid gravel road ex- 
tends across his farm. The beautiful aiul attractive home, surrounded by 
graceful and shai)ely shade trees, the large and commodious barns and other 



576 DEKALK COUNTY, INDIANA. 

necessary outbuildings which are all kept in first class condition attest to the 
sound business judgment and excellent taste of the nvner. Mr. Leas has 
achieved a creditable success as a farmer and among his fellow agriculturists 
he enjcws a splendid and well deserved reputation. 

In 1895 Mr. Leas was united in marriage to Otie Jones, who was born 
and reared in (".rant township, a daughter of John Wesley and Sarah (Plum) 
Jones, who are mentioned on another page in this work. Fraternally, Mr. 
Leas is a member i>\ the Knights of Pythias, in the workings of which order 
he takes a live intere>t. Characterized by breadth of wisdom and strong 
individuality antl in all his enterprises actuated by noble motives and high 
resolves, Mr. Leas' success and achievement represent the results of the proper 
utilization of innate talent in directing his efforts along those lines where 
sure judgment has led the way. .Mthough he is toD busy a man to devote 
much time to political mxitters, yet he can always be depended upon to lend 
his influence and support to all wurtli}- movements whether political or other- 
wise that ha\-e for their o!)ject the betterment and ui)building of his com- 
nuuiitv. 



W.^LTER W. MOUNTZ. 



The office of biography is not to give voice to a man's modest estimate 
of himself and his accomplishments, but rather to leave upon the record the 
verdict establishing his character liy the consensus of opinion on the ])art of 
his neighbors and fellow citizens. The life of the honorable subject of this 
review has been such as to elicit just praise from those who know him best, 
owing to the fact that he has always been loyal to trusts imposed upon him 
and has been u|»riglu in his dealings svith his fellow men, at the same lime 
lending his support to the advancement of any cause looking to tiie welfare 
of the community at large. 

Walter W. Mountz, who is the present efficient city clerk and city col- 
lector of (iarrett, Indiana, \\as born on Juh* 10, i885, at ( )\erhrook, Kansas. 
He is the son of Francis Henr}- and Delia (Smith) Mountz, bolli (^f whom 
were natives of Steuben county, Indiana, and whose respective parents came 
from Peimsylvania, their fathers being Jonas Mountz and .\nios Snntli. 
nati\'es of the old Keystone state and of I'enns\ hania ( iernian stock. 
Shortly after his marriage Francis H. Mount/. mo\ cd to K.uisas. lucating in 
1884 on a farm there, where he remained until i8o_', when the f;iniily moved 
to Garrett, Indiana, and the following year Mr. Mount/, bought the old John 







WALTER W. MOUNTZ 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 577 

L. Davis hardware store. He continued the business until 1904, when, in 
September, he sold out ant! thereafter lived a retired life until his death from 
apoplexy, which occurred in December, 191 1, at the age of fifty-two years. 
He is survived by his widow , who now lives in (iarrett. .Mr. Mountz was 
well known throughout this community and was proininent in civic affairs^ 
having served as superintendent of street paving and public improvements. 
He was city councilman for two years, 1901 to 1903, and was president of 
the DeKalb Building and Loan Association several years. To liim and his 
wife were born three children, Walter W., the immediate suljject of lliis 
sketch; Mrs. Dessa Barre, of Washington, Pennsyhania, and Russell, \\lii>^ 
lives at home. 

Walter W. Mountz received his education in the (iarrett pul)Iic school.'^^ 
and during the latter years of his school perioc] Vx- worke.l in his father's 
hardware store. In 1(^05, Mr. Mountz went to St. Louis and entered the 
employ of the Simmons Hardware Company, but a year later he resigned 
and took a position as storekeeper and time keeper for the Baltimore & Ohio' 
Railroad Company, at Chicago. In 1907, he went to Denver in the employ 
of the Denver & Rio Grande railroad, but six months later he was employed 
as material clerk witli tlie Rock Island railroad, lieing located at doodland. 
Kansas. In 1908 Mr. Mountz came to (iarrett, Indiana, and accepted a jjosi- 
tion as salesman with the Leigii I Unit clothing store, where he remained two. 
years, or until his election as city clerk, which office he assumed on January 1.. 
1910, being re-elected in igi^ tn succeed himself for term of four years 
beginning January i, i()i4, without any opposition, he being chosen for a 
second term. He is eminently (|ualified for the discharge of the respon- 
sible duties of this office and has so conducted the affairs of the position 
as to meet the un(|ualified endorsemeiU of his follow citizens. 

Politically, Mr. ]\Iountz is a stanch sujjporter of the Democratic party. 
and has taken prominent part in political affairs. He served as precinct 
committeeman of the sixth |)recinct and al^o chairman of precinct com- 
mitteemen of Keyser townsliij) in 191-'. and in the same year he was 
secretary of the Wilson-Mar.shali Clul). Fraternally lie is a nienilier iti the 
Free and Accepted Masons, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks 
and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. In the last named body he has served 
as recording and financial secretary since June, 1909. Mr. Mountz is a 
very busy man. for in addition to his official position as city clerk, he also 
serves as city collector and is secretarv of the finrmcial board of the citv. 
(37) ' 



5/8 DEKALB COUNTY, IXDIAXA. 

Since January, i()J2. he has served as treasurer of the Garrett libiarv l)nard. 
and has rendered valuable assistance in the satisfactorv conduct nt the hhrarw 
On July lo, 1909. ]\Ir. Mountz married Lulu Maurer, who ched on 
July 29. 1910, and on August 4, 1912, he was united in marriage to Myrtle 
Osborne, of Kendallville. Mr. and Mrs. Mountz move in the best social 
circles of Garrett, and are very popular among their acquaintances. Mr. 
Mountz is a man of stanch integrity of character and possesses to an emi- 
nent degree tliosc (|uah'ties v, hich make an'l retain friendship. 



SIMOX A. l)ll.(;.\kl 



All credit is due a man who wins succe>^ and \>y iiersistenc)- and energ\- 
•gains a competence and a position of hon(]r as a man and citizen. Tiie record 
■of the subject of this sketch is that of such a man, for he came to DeKalb 
county in the days of her rapid growth and here worked out his way to defi- 
nite success and independence. He quickly adapted himself to the conditions 
which he found here and has labored so consecutively and effectively that he 
is now held in high regard li)- rdl who know him, ha\ing iiere maintained hi^ 
Jiome since 1859. 

Simon A. Dilgard was h,,rn m .\shland county, Ohio, on August iS, 
1854, and is the son of Ketihen and Lo\ ina (.Shaffer) Dilgard. Keulien Dil- 
gard was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, on l""el)ruary 28, 1822, and 
was the son of Jacob Dilgard, whose father was a native of Paris, IVance, and 
who came to .America in his youth, l)eing reared 1)\- a ( lerman family in 
Pennsyhania, where he became first a mountaineer teamster and later a miller. 
When fifteen years of age Reuben Dilgard moved with his parents to Ohio, 
being one of ten children, seven sons and three daughters, and it is a note- 
worthy fact that of this family the father and all seven boys learned and fol- 
lowed the trade of milling. In Ohio Reuben Dilgard married Lovina Shaffer 
on March 10. 1846, the wedding occurring at her parents' home near Lou- 
denville, Ashland county. Lo\ ina Shaffer was a daughter of Simon and 
Rebecca (Kinnard) Shaffer, the latter's father having been a native of Lon- 
don, England, who, in early childhood, was brought by his parents to 
America. Soon after landing in America, while crossing a frozen river, the 
ice broke and the parents were thrown into the water and drowned, an Irish 
woman rescuing and rearing the lad, who grew to maturity and became the 
father of Rebecca, Mrs. Shaffer. She had an uncle. General George, in the 



DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. 579 

War of the Revolution, and othei^ ot the faniilv liave l)eeii noted fur their 
courage and patriotism. .Vfter Reuheii Dilt^ardV niarriat;e in Oiiio. hi- hxi-d 
there until October, 1859, when he eaine to DeKalb county, huh.in.i. And 
located in the northwest (|uarter of section 7. (irant township, which at 
that time was covered by a dense forest, not a stick of timber havini,^ been cut. 
Though some other land had been bought in the neighl)orhood, Ijut little of it 
had been at that time improved. Here Mr. Dilgard entered bravely upon the 
task of clearing and improving the land in true pioneer fashion, and here he 
and his wife lived the rest of their lives. They were the parents of four chil- 
dren, two daughters and two sons, tlie former dyini; in infancy in Ohio. The 
boys were the subject of this sketcii and a brother, \\ illiani, wiio was Ijorn on 
August 28, 1850, and died at the age of thirty-five years, unmarried. Reuben 
Dilgard died on Jul\ 27. i8()6, and tlie mother, wiio was born Mav 1 i, 1824, 
died on August 17, 1891. 

Simon A. Dilgard has spent all his life since coming to Indiana on tin- 
original farm excepting about three years spent in New Mexico, dating from 
March, 1909. He has been active during all these years and acquired a 
competency so that during the later years of his life lie lias been enableil to 
spend a good deal of iiis time in tra\'el He and his son toijellier own three 
hundred and forty acres of land in one ])iece and liis son's wife also owns a 
quarter section of land adjoining in Xeu .Mexico only :i few rods from tiie 
old and historic Sant.i he tr;iii. .Mr. Dilgard has seen a good deal of frontier 
life during his travels, lia\'ing come in contact with the Indians and the oh! 
trails and Indian battle grounds, which he lias closely ol'-~erved, and lias also 
witnessed many strange customs among the i)order tribes. For a time he 
operated a flour mill at Auburn, but the mill was destroyed by fire in 1905. 

On February 3, 1876, Simon Dilgard was unitetl in marriage with Eliza 
Goodwin, who was born in Smithfield township, this county, the daughter of 
Daniel and Susanna (Kiefer) Goodwin. Daniel Goodwin was born in Wayne 
county, Ohio, on October 2, 1824, and was the son of David and K'atherine 
(ioodw'ii. lie came to UeKall) lor.ntv in uS.;^. His wife. Susanna Kiefer. 
was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, on September 21, 1828, the daugiiter 
of Jacob and Catherine (Smith) Kiefer. She was married on .April 20. 
1855, and came at once to DeKall) county, li\ ing in Smithfield townsliiii. 
Daniel Goodwin died on July 4, 19"('. and Mrs. Goodwin is still residing in 
Smithfield township, where she enjoys the respect of all who know her. 
Daniel (ioodwin was twice married, his first wife living Init a short time after 
their marriage. Her maiden name was Mary ,S. Barron, a native of Ashland 



^HO DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

county, Ohio, where their marriage occurred on June 28, 1850. She was the 
mother of two sons, Philemon, born May 14, 1851, in Ohio, and Henry, born 
in Indiana on September jo, 1854. The mother of these children was born 
in Wayne county, Ohio, on August 2, 1830, and died on September 24, 1854. 
Daniel Goodwin first came to DeKalli county, Indiana, in 1853, and entered 
land in Smithfield township, after which he returned to Ohio for a time. 
By his union with Susanna Kiefer were Ixirn the fciljowing children: William, 
born August 24, 1856; Eliza, born August 26, 1858; Elmira, born September 
10, i860; John W., born July 22. 1862, and David, born October 20, 1866. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Dilgard have been Ijorn the follcwing children: Myrara 
Arvie, who died at the age of four montlis; Ua\ ('., an undertaker at Auburn; 
Jay W., born March 17, 1887, is at home; Bernice, born August 8, i8q2, 
died at the age of two months ; \erna Katherine, at home. 

Fraternally, Simon Dilgard lias been a member of the Itjcal lodge of 
Knights of Pvthias at Waterloo from the time it was in.stituted, and is also 
an appreciative member of tlie time-honored Masonic order. His parents 
were active members of the Lutlieran church, in which they were earnest 
workers and were close students of the I'ilile. He, himself, lias taken an 
active interest in local j)ublic affairs, baving been a member of the tir.st town- 
ship ativisory board of (irant township. I'oiitically, a Democrat, he has fre- 
(juentlv been a delegate to county conventions and has been prominent in the 
councils of his party, enjoying a close i)ersonal acquaintance with Vice-Presi- 
dent Marshall and other eminent leaders of tlie party. He has been a man 
of indu-strious habits, showing wise (Hsrrimination and wise judgment in all 
his affairs and the success whicli bas come to him has been gained by hi.nc-sl. 
earnest effort, for which lie 's entitled to rlie universal respect wliich is ac- 
corded him in this comnuuiitw 



EUGENE KELLY. 



Fealty to facts in the analyzation of the character of a citizen of the type 
of Eugene Kelly is all that is required to make a biographical sketch interest- 
ing to those who have at heart the good name of the community, because it 
is the honorable reputation of the man of standing and affairs, more than any 
other consideration, that gives character and stability to the body politic and 
makes the true glory of a city or state revered at home and respected abroad. 
In the broad light which things of good report ever invite, the name and 



OEKAI.B COUNTY. INIMAN.V. 58 1 

character of Eugene Kelly stand revealed and secure, and, though of modest 
demeanor, with no ambition to distinguish himself in public position or as a 
leader of men, his career has been signally honorable and it may l)c studii-d 
with profit by the youth entering upon his life work. 

Eugene Kelly was born in Waterloo, Indiana, <>n July 17. iSjy. ;uk1 is 
the son of Alfred and Ada (Locke) Kelly, whose skt-tch ajjpcars Llsewlurf 
in this work, consequentlx the family genealogy will not be referred to specif- 
ically at this pnhn. Mr. Kelly was reared under the paternal roof and re- 
ceived his education in the ])ul)lic schools of Waterloo, where he graduated 
from the high school in iHqq. After completing his education his first em- 
ployment was at telephone line work for his father, who tlien owned the 
Waterloo telephone exchange, and he continued in this line of effort until his 
father's death in 191 1, since which time Mr. Kelly and his mother lia\e owned 
the exchange and Eugene manages the business. He is up-to-date and pro- 
gressive in his ideas relating to business affairs and by his indomitable energy, 
■courtesy to the patrons of the exchange, and his efforts to give .good, quick, 
efficient and prompt service, he has earned the apjireciation and <;ood will of 
all who have had dealings with him. 

Politically. Mr. Kelly is a Democrat and i^^ active in the local organiza- 
tion, as was his father. Fraternally, he is an enthusiastic memlicr of the 
Masonic order, in the workings of which he takes a deep interest. 

In 1892 Mr. Kelly married Carrie E. Triplett. of Rome City. Indi.ui.'i. ;i 
daughter of ( ieorge and .Xddie (Cliai)in) Triplett. (ieorge Triplett was jiorn 
in 1843, near .Akron. Ohio, tiie son of Joshua Triplett, while his wife was 
born near Medina Ohio. Tiiey were married at .Medina, ami soon .afterward 
Mr. Triplett became a private s,,ldier in the Seventy-fourth i'Jegiment In- 
•diana Volunteer Infantry. sei-\ ing for three ye.ars. He was orderly sergeant, 
.and was a courageous and faitiifnl snldier. being se\ ereh wonnded in battle. 
from which he was so IkuIIv di-^ahU-d that lie was unlit for field dut\ and was 
then detailed for service on ;i ho-^piia! tr,-ins]iori. After tlu- war be en<;aged 
in the grocery business at '{"oledo. ;in(l later at Medina, Ohi(., ;ukI about 1872 
went to Elk Point. South D.akota, where for ,1 while he ran a restaurant .and 
bakery. Subsec|uently he came to liuli;in;i, again locating at Koruioke. near 
Fort Wavne. where be followed the s.anie business until about 187S, when he 
went to Rome (."it\. Indiana, and has been eng.aged in the hotel business .about 
thirty-five years there. His wife died in March. 10 12 Religiously, they were 
Tnembers of the Universalist church. To Mr. and Mrs. Kelly have been bom 
two sons, Alfred, born December 17. i()04. •'"'' C.rant. born September 6. 



582 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

igo/. Personally. Mr. Kelly is a most courteous, companionable gentleman^ 
influtntial in Imsiness circle.-- and honorable and reliable in all of his dealings. 
He ranks among the enterprising and public-spirited citizens of the cilv in 
which he resides, manifests an actixe interest in whatexer pertains to the 
progress of DeKalb county and cn-operates with others in forwarding all 
measures whereby his fellow men mav I)e benefited. 



BENJAMIN CLOSE. 

Standing for upright manhood and progressive citizenship the subject of 
this sketch has long occupied a conspicuous place among the representatives 
of the great agricultural interests of Indiana and his influence in every rela- 
tion of life has made for the material advancement of the community in which 
he resides and the moral welfare of those with whom he has been brought 
into contact. 

Benjamin Close, one of the enterprising farmers and puitlic spiritetl 
citizens of Grant township, DeKalb countx , Indiana, was liorn nn .Vugust 24, 
1858, in Ashland county, Ohio He is descended fr^m a long line of sterling 
ancestors, the first member of the famil\- to locate in .\merica being Benjamirt 
Close, who with two brothers came from luigland U> this country in early 
colonial days. The subject's paternal great-grandfather, Benjamin Close,. 
Sr.. was a soldier in the American Revolution and lived about forty miles 
from Buffalo, New York. Among his children was Benjamin Close, Jr., who 
married Elizabeth Gale, and among their children was Samuel, the subject's 
father, a native of Ashland crauity, Ohio, who married Mary Foote. Mary 
Foote was born in Lorain county, Ohio, and was the (Laughter of Charles and 
Mary (Hunter) Foote. The suliject's jKirents grew to manhood and woman- 
hood in their native state and were married there. s\ibse(juently living on a 
farm, which pursuit the father followed during bis active years. 

The subject of this sketch was reared on the home farm in Ohio until 
thirteen or fourteen years of age. when tiie family moved to near Garden 
City in Blue Earth county. Minnesota, where the fatlier bought a farm and 
lived there about twenty-five years, and there the mother died. After her 
death the father lived among his children and is now a resident of the state 
of Oregon. 

The suljject of this sketch was reared to manhood in Minnesota and at- 
tended the public schools there, being graduated from the high school at 





DKKAl.U COUNTY, INIllAN \ 


( iardi'ii t'ity. After 


his niarriayc winch nccurn 


larniin.t;- in Alinnc-sdla 


t(ir thirteen years. lia\ in.t^' at 


one huiulred and si.\t\ 


■ acres. On ()ctol)er i, |8(; 



5S3 

ni i(S(S4, lie coiuuuieci 
ired a spieiKhd trad id' 
he s.ild that farm and 
came to DeKalb county, ln(han;i, hnyint; one hundred and eleven acres three 
miles north and a half mile west of Auburn, to which he has since devoted his 
attention with splendid results. Besides this farm he and his son own thirty- 
seven and one-half acres of land together. The subject's home jilace is well 
improved with a substantial and attractive residence, large and well built 
barns and other outbuildings, and the attractive and well kept grounds and 
other features of the farm reflect great credit on the owner. Mr. Close is 
modern and up-to-date in his ideas and keeps in touch with the most advanced 
thought relating to agricultural methods and practice. In addition 1(j the 
raising of all the crops common to this localit\- he is also engaged in the rais- 
ing of fruit and the breeding and raising of li\e stock, in which he has met 
with splendid success. 

In 1884 Mr. Close married Emma Shumaker, of near Napoleon, Ohio,, 
the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Weiler) Shumaker, both of whom are 
descended from statmch old Peimsylvania Dutch ancestry. These parents 
remained on the farm, being engaged in agricultural pm-suits until about ten 
years ago when they retired from active life and moved to Napoleon, where 
the mother died July 19, 19 t 3. To Mr. and Mrs. Close have been born six 
children, of whom one is deceased, as follows: Percy, born August 5, 1885, 
died at the age of twenty-five years May 2. loi 1. He marriet' Crace (loetch- 
kins, of Union township, this county, and left a d.iugiitiM. Audrey: .\rden. 
who lives on a farm in Crant township, this ctninty, married Lottie (irogg, 
and they have a daughter, Irene; Elma is at home with her parents, as are 
Joseph, Elbert and Maurice. The subject himself is one of ten children born 
to his parents, of whom one sister, Mrs. Jessie Osgood, lives in Calgary, 
Canada, and Perry is editor of the Dixon (Montana) Herald, the other 
children being all deceased. 

.\s already indicated. Mr. Close has de\oted much close stuily to the 
science of agriculture and is without a peer ;inionL;- the farmers in his section 
of the county, being progressi\e in his methods .-md making use of the latest 
and most approved implements and appliances liy nicans oi which the labors 
of the farm are not only greatly lessened but m.ule nnuh more cffectixe and 
economical. He keeps in touch with the trend of current events, takes an 
active interest in public and political afifairs and is numbered among the most 
progressive and enterprisin.g citizens of his section of the county. 



584 nEKALR CniNTV. INDIANA. 

GEORGE NOIROT. 

It is not an easy task td describe adequately a man who has led an emi- 
nently active and bus}- life and who has attained a position of relati\e dis- 
tinction in the community with which his intere'^ts are allied. Rut biot^^raphy 
finds its most perfect justification, nevertheless, in the tracing and recording 
of such a life history. It is, then, with a full appreciation of all that is de- 
manded and of the painstaking scrutiny that must be accorded each statement, 
and yet with a feeling of satisfaction, that the writer essays the task of touch- 
ing briefly upon the details of such a record as has been that of the lionoiable 
subject of this sketch whose eminently successful career now comes under re- 
view. 

George Noirot was born on February 18, 1864, in Paulding county. 
Ohio, and is a son of Nicholas and Magdalene ( Hurtig ) Noirot, the former 
bom in France in March, 1826. and died in Januar}-. 1005. at the age of 
nearly seventy-nine years, while the mother was born in Alsace, torinerh' 
France, now Germany, in March, 1823. These parents were marrietl in 
France in 1850, and in the spring of 1853 they came to America, locating first 
at Findlay, Ohio. The father was called a knife maker, but was really an 
expert at any kind of edged tools. He was enijiloyed at his trade at Findlay 
for seven years and then went to farming in Defiance county, that state. 
From there he went to Paulding county, and li\ed at \arious places in ( )hio. 
going froni Paulding to Putnam count\-. where be made hi- ])erni;inrm Iiouk' 
To bini and his wife were born ten children, three of whom died young and 
seven grew to maturity, all of the latter marrying but one and having homes 
of their own. In his old age Nicholas Noirot sold his |)roperty, dixiding the 
proceeds among the children with whom he afterward lived. His wife died 
on January 22. 1802. 

The subject of this sketch was reared on the home farm in Putnam 
coinit\'. Ohio, and being about ten years old when the family located there. 
he worked for his father until past the age of twenty-two years, and in the 
summer of 1886 he went to Kan.sas, wdiere he worked by the month until the 
fall of that year. He then returned to Ohio and rented his father's farm. 
which he operated for about two years. He then went to Fort Wayne. In- 
diana, and engaged in luisiness which occu])ied his attention for two years. 
after which period be sold his business or exchanged it for eighty acres of 
land in the southeastern part of Grant township, DeKalb county. In Ohio 
from boyhood he had been trained in the raising of potatoes and onions on 



3^ 
u 



Z9 




/[^tn^n^ 



DEKAr.B COUNTY, INDIANA. 585 

muck land and having discovered this class of land in DeKalb county, he 
conceived the idea that it could be developed to splendid potato and onion 
land, an idea that had never been thought of by the residents of this com- 
munity. The land which he bought was covered with swamps, tamarack 
bushes abounding everywhere, the only improvement on tlie entire tract being 
an old log cabin. To most people to produce a farm fmni this forbidding 
pro.spect seemed impossible. However, Mr. Noirot, witli far-sighted shrewd- 
ness, saw a possibility and he drained, tiled, grubbed and cleared and in 1892 
commenced to plant potatoes with some corn. In 1893 he put in some 
onions, being thus the pioneer in the onion and potato raising industry on 
any considerable scale in this county. In 1893 Mi"- Noirot bought more land 
adjoining his first tract and added more in 1894, thus becoming the owner of 
one hundred and twelve acres of land in one body, about two-thirds of 
whicli was genuine muck land such as he had pro\ ed to lie the most desiralile 
for the potato and onion business. He continued tlic raising of these cro])s 
with splendid success until the fall of i8()0. wlien be iiouglit tlie Knierick 
farm in Fairfield township, to which he moved, renting out the farm in ( ir.mt 
township. The Fairfield township farm comprises about two hundred and 
forty-nine acres, lying on high and rolling ground, and here be followed gen- 
eral farming and stock raising, togetlier with the raising of jiotatoes and 
onions as side crop-. .Mr. Noirot lived in Fairfield township until December 
14. i<)03. when he moved to the city of .Xuburn. in order to give his children 
the achantages of the city ^cliooK. and rented Iiis farm. During the first year 
in Auliurn he rented a le'^idence am 
most beautiful and substantial re' 
He is now extensiveh- engaged in 
saw mill in soutiieastern Missouri 
of his business ventures, he has been successful, llv ha> al-o dwni'd farms in 
\'arious other localities, now owning a farm in drant townsln']), one in Fair- 
field townstii]) and a ^mailer ])lace in I'nion io\\ iT-hiii. 'l"o I'im this locab'tv 
owes a large debt of gratitude, for 1ie (lemonsiratcd ,-i f.ict iliat has been ta'-en 
advantage of by many others who ha\e ac(|uired fortunes in the raising of 
onions and potatoes from muck land. Tlie land wliich was formerly worth- 
less cannot now lie Ixnight for one hundred and fiftx dollars an acre and 
thus the agricultur.al resources of the count)- ha\c lieen materially increased. 
In Tanuan-. i8()4. Mr. .\oirot was married to lunma Kessler. who was 
born in Coshocton county. Ohio, the daughter of Louis and Mary (Webber) 
Kessler, both of whom were natives f»f Ormanv. To Mr. and Mrs. Noirot 



1 then !"inght the ( iarw 


ood home, one of tlie 


iidences in .\uliurn, wl 


lere be now resides. 


dealing in timln-r and 


lumber. o])erating a 


for two vears, and in 


ibi-~, a^ in all otiier 



586" DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

have been born five ciiildrcn. namely: C'letiis, I'aul. ("leorye Leu, Jnhu I\av- 
mond, Mary Ma.Sfdalene and Corina Effie. Relii^idusly, Mr. Noirot and the 
members of his family are nieml)ers of the Catholic church and he belongs to 
the Catholic Benevolent League of Indiana. Mr. Noinit occiqiies a consijicu- 
ous place among the leading men of DeKalb county and enjoys the confi- 
dence and esteem of all who know him. His record demonstrates that where 
there is a will there is a way and that obstacles to success may be overcome bv 
courage, self-reliance and persistency. His career, though strenuous, has 
been fraught with good to the community and he enjoys a well deserved 
popularity in the circles in which he moves. 



JOHN JOEL E.VKRIGHT. 

\n enumeration of those men of the present generation who have won 
honor and public recognition for themselves, and at the same time have hon- 
ored the locality to which they belong, would be incomplete were there failure 
to make mention of him whose name forms the caption of this sketch. The 
qualities which have made him one of tlie prominent and successful men of 
DeKalb county have also brought him the esteem of his fellow men, for his 
career has been one of well-directed energy, strong determination and hon- 
orable methods. 

John Joel Eakright was Ijorn on March 15. iS^j, in Wilmington town- 
ship, DeKalb county, Indiana, about two miles south of P.utler, and is a son 
of .Abraham and Susannah (Miller) Eakright. Abraham Eakright was 
born in Wayne county, Ohio, on Decemlier ^o, 1827. His father, Samuel 
Eakright, was a native of England and came to America in 181 1, and soon 
after enlisted in tlie ser\ice of the United States in the war of 181 2. settled 
in Ohio and there married Mary Maxwell, a natixe of Ireland. In 1836 they 
moved to DeKalb county, settling in Wilmington township, where he died 
in 1853, and his wife in 1872. They had a family of thirteen children. When 
the family first moved to DeKalb county, their only neighbors were Indians, 
and it was eighteen months laefore Mrs. Eakright saw a white woman. Their 
trading point was Fort Wayne, or Lima, reaching the former place by 
pirogue boating on the river. None of Samuel Eakright's children are now- 
living and John Joel Eakright, the subject of this sketch, is the oldest mem- 
ber of the family. Abraham Eakright was married on June 19, 1831, to 
Susannah Miller, a native of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and the- 



DEKALR COUNTY. INIMAXA. 587 

daughter oi Joel and Sarah ( hjclielharger) MiUcr. who rame to DeKalh 
county in ahout 1847. locating four miles east of Auhurn in Union towushi]). 
where he bought a farm and lived during the rest of their lives. The Eakright 
family took a prominent jjlace in the early life of ihis locality and Samuel 
Rakright built the lirst bridge across the St. joe ri\er at Xewville. where the 
new bridge now stands. He wa- also the first ro:u! commissioner of D.dvalb 
county. Of the children of .\braham and Snsaunali 1 .Miller) Eakright. John 
J. is the subject of this sketch; Sarah A. is the wife of Lewis Manrow and 
lives north of Sedan: Edward W. is deceased: ]\lary Aknora is the wife of 
William J- Hoagland. of .\uburn. and Ellsworth ,\. live- on the old home- 
stead in Wilmington township. .Abraham Eakright's family was unbroken 
for over forty years. He was a faithful and earnest member of the I 'nited 
Brethren church until his death, which occiured on December 31, i8<)i. on 
the day following his sixtx -fourth birthda\- anniversarv. Mis life was lon.g 
and useful, and he enjoyed the respect and esteem of all who knew him. I lis 
wife. Susannah, was horn May j^. 1831, and came from Pennsylvania to 
Richland county, Ohio, with her i)arents. where they remained until about 
1847. \\hen the family came to DeKalb county. She. too, was a member of 
the United Brethren church from the age of sixteen years, and lived a sincere 
and faithful Christian life until her death, which oceiu-red on .\pril 6. 1904, 
in the seventy-third year of her a.ge. 

John Joel Eakright was reared on his father's farm and receiveil his 
education in Butler and the high school at .\uburn. In the fall of 1873 he 
began teaching school and continued this vocation successfully until 1885. 
when he compiled a history of DeKalb county. Resuming his pedagogical 
work then, he continued it until he had taught twenty-three years, of w^hich 
period eighteen years was in his home district, and in later years he taught 
many children of former pupils, and in these children he plainly observed 
traits of character that had been noticeable in their parents. He had a good 
influence over these children, wimiing them and then stimulating them by 
kindness and argument rather than by force. Because of the personal inter- 
est he manifested in his pupils and the close touch that lias been maintained 
between him and them during subsequent years, he receives many letters of 
grateful appreciation from them and is today numbered among the successful 
educators of his county, though he has not lieen actively engaged in the 
profession for a number of years. In 1884 Mr. Eakright was elected justice 
of the |5eace for a term of four years, and in 1895 he was elected trustee of 
Wilmington township, ser\ing the regular term and the extension period 
because of legislative enactment, amounting to a total of five years and three 



5-88 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

months. In 1905 he was elected county surveyor, serving two terms with 
eminent sati.sfaction to all concerned, and was subsequently elected city engi- 
neer of Butler, but, owing to an injury received in a runaway accident, which 
disabled him after about a month of official service, he gave up the position 
and returned to Auburn, where he has since resided. He is the owner of a 
splendid farm of one hundred and six and one-half acres in section twenty, 
Wilmington township, from which he derives a gratifying profit. Politically, 
Air. Eakright is a l\e]nil)]ican and takes a keen interest in the success of his 
part}-, as well as in local ])ublic affairs, giving his support to every movement 
which ])romises in any way to advance the local welfare. 

On October 28, 1874, Mr. Eakright married Acelia Treman, who was 
horn in Wilmington townshi]) about twd miles west of Butler, the daughter 
of l'"(lgar and Lama (Spencer) Treman. These parents, who were both 
nati\es of Medina county, Ohio, were married there and came to DeKalb 
county in about 1841. With Edgar Treman came John Treman, his father. 
John Treman entered (piite a tract of land and divided it among his children. 
Edgar owned eighty acres of land and there li\ed the rest of his life. He 
was a farmer and also a shoemaker, and his wife was in pioneer days con- 
sidered an e-X]5ert weaver, lulgar Treman served as township trustee and 
was otherwise strong in his comnumity. which was honored In- liis citizenship 
lip to the time of his death, which occurred on May 21. 1S85. His w-ife 
was a good, faithful woman, trained in the pioneer school of life and exper- 
ience and kiiew how to work and rear a family successfully iii the midst 
of difficulties which would deter the average woman of the present day and 
she gave to her cliildren the best years of her pure, noble life Her death 
occured in 1863. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Eakright has been born one son, Orton Edgar, whose 
birth occurred on Seiitember ij, 1877. and who was for n-iany years iii the 
employ of the 0\erland Automoliile Company at Toledo, but is now- a tester 
for the .\ul)urn Auto I'ompanx-. He married Louise Hard. John biel i'"a'<- 
riglit is a man of marked literary taste and abilit}-. and has written a ninn1)er 
of poems whicli iiave lieen published in current magazines and periodicals 
and which have received many commendatory words of praise. He writes 
for i)astime rather than as a means of profit and has written h\ request a 
|K)em for the reunion of the Eighty-eighth Indiana Volunteers. It was 
greatly appreciated and copies distributed as souvenirs of the reunion. His 
poems are varied in character, pathetic, humorous and other styles and all are 
very readable and of high literary merit. 



DEKAI.H COUNTY. INDIANA. 589 

CONRAD MILLER. 

Among the worthy citizens of DeKalh county of a past generation, whose 
residence here contributed in no small degree to the prestige of the commu- 
nity, was the late Conrad Miller, for, while laboring for his individual ad- 
\ancement, as was natural and right, he never forgot his obligations to the 
public and his support of sucli measures and movements as made for the gen- 
eral good could always be depended upon. He commanded the respect of 
all classes by his exemplary life, and liis memory will long be revered by liis 
friends who survive. 

Conrad Miller was born in Germany in 1817. and was a son of John 
Jacob and .Knna Mary (Bush) Miller. John J. Miller, who was a native 
and resident of Wittenberg, Germany, brought his familv to the United 
.States in 181 9, settling near Hagerstown, Maryland. Two years later he 
moved to Canton, Ohio, locating on a farm nearbx , where he spent the 
remainder of his days, his death occurring on June 3, 1868. at the advanced 
age of ninety years, eleven months and eighteen days. 

Conrad Miller was reared under the parental roof in Ohio. and. ujion 
attaining manhood's years, married Anna Long, who was born and reared 
near Canton. Mr. Miller engaged in farming, to which xocation he bad 
been reared, and subse(|uently he was for many years engaged in the opera- 
tion of a hotel at Daltnn. Wayne count}', Ohio. He became a man of promi- 
nence and influence in that community and for the long period of twenty 
vears he eftlciently served as justice of the peace. In 1866 Mr. Miller moved 
to DeKalb county, Indiana, where he engaged in farming, and here, too, he 
gained a high ])lace in the esteem of his fellows. When the county farm 
was establi.shed. he was appointed the first superintendent of the same, retain- 
ing that position four years. He bad twenty-three inmates under his charge, 
and at the outset he was seriously handicapped through lack of conveniences, 
but he did his best to properly care for the unfortunates under his charge and 
retired from the office with the api)roval of all who were familiar with the 
work he had done, .\fter leaving the county farm, Mr. Miller bought a 
home in .\uburn, where he lived about six years, but eventually moved to the 
state of Mis.souri, where the deaths of himself and his wife occurred. 

To Conrad and .\nna Miller were Ixirn seven children, of whom the only 
one living in DeKalb county is Ada. the wife of .M)e Grogg, of Grant town- 
shi]). this cfjunty. She had two brothers, both of whom are deceased. .A 
sister, Martha M., taught school in Auburn about six years, and then became 
the wife of Fletcher Starr, and they now live at Newkirk. Oklahoma. Ilarley 



590 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

taught school for awhile in DeKalb county, but eventually went west, where 
he studied medicine and was a successful physician at Newkirk, Oklahoma, 
until his death. Frances taught several terms of school in DeKalb countv. 
taught aliout si.\ years in Kansas City, and also served as an instructor in 
teachers' institutes in Alis.souri. She is now the wife of Doctor Wheeler, of 
Kansas City, who is secretary of the Mis.souri state board of health. Cora, 
who was educated for the pedagogical profession, married h'lan S])ellnian. 
now deceased, and she lives in Oklahoma. 

In every relation of his life, Conrad Miller was true to everv trust 
reposed in him and enjoyed to a notable degree the confidence and good will 
of all who knew him. He was a man of broad ideas and kindly impulses, and 
in the civic life of the communities where he lived he was a potent factor for 
good. The world is better for his having lived. 



JOHN WESLEY JONES. 

It is with no small degree of satisfaction that the biographer essays to 
set before the reader the salient pomts an<l facts in the life history of the 
estimable gentleman now deceased whose name initiates this paragraph, for 
his life was one singularly full of good deeds and his influence was ever whole- 
some and ameliorating, so that today he is remembered as a man who was 
held in the highest respect and admiration of liis many friends and acfpiaint- 
ances. 

John Wesley Jones was born in Ashland count\-, Ohio, on iVugust 22. 
1842, the son of Lsaac Jones and wife, of whose si.x children he was the 
youngest. Isaac Jones' family came to DeKalb county, Indiana, in the earlv 
days, where, at .Auburn, Mr. Jones later v.-ui a tin shop, though he subse- 
C|uently moved to a farm two and one-half miles south of .\ul)urn. Earlv in 
the Civil war John W. Jones enlisted as a member of Comp.any A, One Hun- 
dredth Regiment Indiana \'olunteer Infantrv, with which he served about 
nine months, being then discharged because of physical disabilitv. He re- 
cruited his health and on March 19, 1864. he again enlisteil in the First 
Indiana Battery of Heavy Artillery, with which he remained in the service 
until the end of the war. On April ig, 1864, soon after his enlistment, he 
was married to Sarah A. Plum, who was born in Stark county, Ohio, the 
daughter of Jeremiah and Jane (Scott) Plum. ,\t the age of five vears she 



DKKALH COUNTY, INDIANA. 59 1 

came to DeKalh CDunly with lu-r part-nts wlm lin-aicd al)iiiu imt mile east of 
W'aterliKi. Jeremiah I'hmi hecame tlie sheriff df Deixalh county a few years 
after the close of the Ci\ il war, lioldiiifi that office for four years, and his son, 
Philip, was sheriff of the county in later years. Here Jeremiah Plum fol- 
lowed farming during nearly all of iiis acti\e life and also gave some atten- 
tion to auctioneering, in which he was ver\ successful. He was a memljer 
of the United Brethren cluuch, as was his wife, and thev are hotli now de- 
ceased, their deaths occurring on their farm east of Waterloo. After Jolui 
W. Jones received his final discharge from liie luilitary service at the close of 
the Ci\il war he enga,ged in farming a year on liis father's farm and then was 
similarly engaged two years on tiie fariu of his father-in-law while the latter 
was serving as sherifif of the county. During the remainder of his life Mr. 
Jones was employed hy the Lake Shore Railway Company in various capac- 
ities, the last nine vears of his life being in the frei.ght service of that com- 
pain- at Waterloo. He was industrious and energetic, and was numbered 
among the valued employes of that comjiany, enjoying a well deserved popu- 
larity among his fellows. 

To Mr. and Mrs. [ones were born nine children, of wliom two died in 
infancy, seven being raised to maturity: b'rank Leonard, who lives a mile 
east of Waterloo, married Mary Mergy, aiul they have two daughters; Otie 
is the wife of Byron Leas, who lives west of Waterloo, and who is mentioned 
specifically elsewhere in this work; Josephine is the wife of K. W. Miles, of 
Hammond, Indiana, and they have a son; Norah is the wife of James Rainier, 
of Auburn, and they have two children, a boy and a girl ; Mary became the 
wife of Thomas Ferguson, who lives two and one-half miles south of Auburn ; 
Edison, who lives in Waterloo, married Lena Durst; Daisy F'ern is the wife 
of Chester C. Bowman. John Wesley Jones died on October 6, 1895, and 
his death was considered a distinct loss to the community, for he had been a 
man who, thougli not very pronunent in the public Hfe of the community, had 
nevertheless been an earnest and constant su])porter of everything which 
promised to advance the best interests of the locality, and he was numbered 
among the sterling and consistent citizens of Waterloo. Religiously he was 
a member of the United Brethren church, of which Mrs. Jones is now an 
earnest member, and fraternally he lielonged to the Knights of the Maccabees 
and the Grand Armv of the Republic. A kind and loving father, a faithful 
husband, a public-spirited citizen, Mr. Jones had for many years quietly but 
consistently fulfilled his duties as a citizen in his community and he exerted 
an influence which has been for the moral and social upbuilding of the people. 



592 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

GEORGE VV. KUHLMAN. 

The family of which the subject of this review is a creditable representa- 
tive has been known in DeKalb county for many years, and, without invidious 
comparison, it can with propriety be said that no other name is better known 
or more highly esteemed in DeKalb county. Honored and respected by all, 
there is today no man in the county who occupies a more enviable position in 
commercial circles than George W. Kuhlman, not aldne because of the suc- 
cess lie lias acliie\ed, l.iul also liy reason of the ciaiinifiidahle and straiglitfor- 
ward business policy which he has ever pursued and the upright life he has 
lived. 

George W. Kuhlman was born in Auburn, Indiana, on February 22, 
1876, and is the son of Enos and Amanda (Rhodefer) Kuhlman. Enos 
Kuhlman, who was of German descent, was born at Canton, Stark county, 
Ohio, and was a son of William and Mary (Hoover) Kuhlman. Enos Kuhl- 
man was reared at Canton and in young manhood he came to Auburn. Here 
he enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Regiment, Indiana 
Volunteer Infantry, of whicli company ex-Ciovernor W'infield T. Durbin was 
also a member. Mr. Kuhlnirin's niilitarx- record was a creditalile one in e\ery 
regard and after liis return Imme he liecame a salesman, traveling a part of the 
time. In 1900 he went into lousiness for himself at Mulhall, Oklahoma, where 
he now has a general store and where he is meeting with splendid success. 
Soon after his return from the army Enos Kuhlman married .\manda Rhode- 
fer, who was born and reared near .\uburn. a daughter of .\braham and 
Elizabeth (Feagler) Rhodefer. Her motlier was a granddaughter of Henry 
Feagler, who was a captain in the war of 1812 .'\manda Rhodefer's par- 
ents were from Holmes county, Ohio, coming to DeKalb county, Indiana, in 
an earlv dav and locating about tliree miles nortinvest of .\uburn. Later he 
moved to a farm about two miles southwest of that town, where he aiul his 
wife spent the remainder of their lives. To Enos and .Amanda Kuhlman were 
born three children, namely: .A.uhrey L., William O. and George W., all 
residents of Auburn. 

George W. Kuhlman was reared under the parental roof and until 
fourteen vears of age he received the advantage of a public school education. 
Out of school, his hours were well occupied, his mornings and evenings being 
spent as a chore boy for Dr. S. B. Johnston, while during his summer vaca- 
tions he was emploj^ed as a gardener by Elder S. B. Ward, consequently he 
had but little time in which to indulge in the sports and recreations common 




GEORGE W. KUHLMAN 



DKKAI.B COUNTY. INDIANA. 393 

to boys of his age. He was carefully reared, his nmther heiiii,^ a strict llaj)- 
tist, with ]iositive convictions of rislu and wrong, ;ind whd inculcated in her 
sons high ideals and worthy amhilions. In i8()() (ienrgc W. Kuhlnian hegan 
work in the dry goods store of \\'. P. ilarler as errand hov, at a wage of 
two and a half dollars a week. P.y strict honesty antl careful attention to 
every duty assigned to him he earned the confidence of his employer and was 
given charge of the domestic department. Under the strict discipline and 
wise instruction of Mr. Harter he there laid the foundation for a practical 
and successful business career. At the death of Mr. Harter. in 1893, the store 
passed into the hands of Bishop & Lackey, and Mr. Kuhhuan remained with 
the new firm until 1895, when, being offered an advance in salary and being 
desirous of gaining a broader knowledge and wider experience in business 
at1■■air>^. he accepted a jjosition in the clothing liouse of G. H. Veshera. with 
whom he remained seven years. . In 1902 Mr. Kuhlnian started in business 
on his own account, though in a modest way, opening a men's furnishing and 
clothing store on North Main street. A year later, his increasing business 
requiring a larger stock and more room, hemo\ed to the Sherman Hollister 
building, on Main street, on the we.st side of the pub.lic square. By careful 
attention to the wants of his patrons, his courteous treatment of them, and his 
sound business methods. Mr. Kuhlman prospered to even .i more not;ible 
degree in his new location, -o that in tgo- he feU justilied in buying the 
building in which he was located, rmd two years later the store was com- 
pletely remodeled. A new and attractive front was placed in the store room. 
better lighting and ventilating facilities were provided, while at the rear of 
the main store room a large balcony was erected f<ii- the ;icconuuod;ition ot 
stock. The second story of the building was al.so inipro\ed. being used as a 
sales and stock room, while the third floor and basement are also devoted to 
different purposes pertaining to the business. Furnace heat was installed ;ind 
other improvements made, so that it became the largest and most complete 
exclusive clothing and furnishing housejn northeastern Indiana. .Mr. Kuiil- 
man has done practicallv a cash business from the start, at the sanu- time 
adopting the ])o]ic\- of giving the utmost \alue for the money. He has (k'm- 
onstrated liusiness ability of a high order, and his success can be attributed 
to his careful study of the requirements of his business and his close applica- 
tion to his affairs, successfully mastering each diffictdty as it presented itself. 
On April 27, 1898, Mr. Kuhlman v.as united in marria.ge to Olive Mc- 
Clure, who, for ^ix years prior to her marriage. h;id been conni'Cted with the 
^38) 



594 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

dry goods and millinery trade, in the store in which Mr. Kuhlman had been 
employed. To them has been born a daughter, Ethelmae. Mr. and Mrs. 
Kuhlman are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which they are 
regular attendants and to which they give earnest support. Mr. Kuhlman 
is an active member of the Auburn Commercial Club and takes a deep inter- 
est in e\ery minement tor the advancement of the best interests of the com- 
munity. A man of genial disposition and kindly impulses, he has won and 
retains to a notable degree the friendship of all who know him. 



(iF.ORCE P.. DENISON. 



It is the purpose of this \ olume to preserve an authentic record as far 
as possible of the lives and deeds of tliose who have assisted in tiie upbuilding 
of the varied interests of DeKalh county. The rank that a city or county 
holds verv largelv depends on the aciiievenients of its citizens. Some add to 
its reputation by efficient pulilic service, some l)y professional skill, some by 
increasing its manufacturing or commercial interests and some by cultivating 
its lands. The subject of this .sketch has been interested in both business and 
farm life and in both lines of endeavor he has so conducted his afifairs as to 
not only win ])ecuniary success, hut aKo the esteem of all who are familiar 
with his career. 

Ceorge B. Denison \\a> born in 1SS7, on tlie Denison farm in tlie south- 
eastern part of (irant townshij), and is tlie --on of Ceorge O. Denison. whose 
sketcli appears dscwhere in thi> work, tlierefore, further details of the "^ub- 
iect's ancestral iiistory will not lie given ;il this ])oint. fieorge P.. Denison 
has sjient the greater part of bis life on the farm on which he was born and 
he received a splendid education in the pulilic schools of the community, com- 
pleting his studies in the high school at .Vulnirn. He was reared to the life 
of a farmer and .also e-ngaged in the ire liusiiu-ss in ])artnersliip with his 
father. He was later for four years in partnershij) with his brotiier-in-law. 
Clvde Fee, in the ice business, and is now in this business on his own account, 
having built up a large business at Waterloo and surrounding country. At 
the s-unc time lie is giving proper attention to the operation of his Crant town- 
shij) farm. 

The subject was married June 14. i()<)8, to .\gnes Brown, daughter of 
Elvis E. and Lulu (Burns) Brown, natives of Darke county, Ohio, the 
father being a traveling salesman for A. H Perfect & Conijiany, of b'ort 



DKKAI.l! COliNTN. INDIANA. 393 

Wayne, Indiana. To tliis union have- been born two cliiKlren: I^'Jizabotb and 
Lulu Juanna. 

I""or a number of years Air. Denison has taken a deep interest in military 
affairs, being a member of ('(imi)any K, 'i'hird Res^iment Indiana Xational 
Guard, and is at the present time second lieutenant of his company. Mr. 
Denison is an expert rifle shot and has twice been selected for the state team 
in military rifle conte.sts, in whicli he has acquitted himself with honor and 
■credit. Kind, courteous and affable in his relations with his fellows, Mr. 
Denison has won their esteem and because of his s])lendid character and at- 
tainments in life, he has earned a marked p(i]>nlaritv tliroughoul this section 
of the count\ . 



.!.I.\M DUW. 



This bic 


igr; 


iphic 


al me 


perpetuation 


in 


this 


work, 


been closed 1 


)y 


the f 


ale lb 


citizens of li 


is t 


■cnin 


nmit\' 



nnir has l.. do with a character well wnrthv of 
for Wiiliam Dunn. wh..sr life cliapter has Icn- 

It awaits all mankind, was one i>\ llie prdininent 
although lie was summoned to close his earthly 
iiccounts while still in the zenith of his powers. There were in him sterling 
traits which C()nnnande<l uniform confidence and regard, and iiis memory is 
today honored by all who knew him. 

William Dunn w;is hoi-n on the idtb (la\- of [anuary. 1844. in Wayne 
countv, ( )hio. and his death occurred at bis |i<ime m ( irant township. DeKalb 
county, India.na. in 1871. lie w.is a son of John and Elizabeth (Bachtel) 
Dunn. The latter was born in Lancaster countw rennsyK ,ama. and was a 
sister of Hem->- r.achtel. who is mentioned elsewhere in this W(irk. John 
Dunn was])orn ],robahlv m 1 b .hues o .untv. Ohio, and was of Irish parentage. 
When he was a lad of lender years ilie home was broken up and he and a 
younger sister were cast among sti-angei-s. The\ wei-e sadly mislreaied, and 
on one occasion were sent out into tlie dense woixls after the cattle, which had 
strayed away, and lliey were toK! nm t<i return without the c.illle. .\oi being 
able to find them. lhe\- remaiiu-d in the wcxkIs o\er night, and narrowly 
escaped being attacked by wolves. rbe\ ;ii)i)eased their hunger by .such food 
as they could find in the forest, and in the midst of this experience the lad 
vowed that if he ever had children of his own the\- should never suffer as he 
was doing, and this thought was one of the incentives that spurred him on in 
his mature years. He was reared to manhood in his native state and there 



596 DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 

married Elizabeth Bachtel, his assets at that time consisting of two dollars 
in money, a strong physical constitutidn and an abundance of grit and de- 
termination. He learned the trade of a hlack^-niith. at wliich he worked, and 
also gave some attention to farming in ()hin. In 1841) Mr. Dunn came to 
what is now (irant township. DeKalb (~<iunly. and bought a farm of two hun- 
dred acres in the >outh half of tedious 8 and 17. This land was at that time 
practically uutouclied. tlie onl\- inipro\enicnts consisting of a small cleared 
space, on which hatl been erected a log cabin, and tlic land in that locality was 
very swam[)y. Wild game was ;ibiuid:uit and. as Mr. Dunn was a good 
hunter, the family larder was kept well >up]ilie(l with fresh meat. He .suc- 
ceeded in clearing most of his land, though for a long time he foiuid it 
necessary to farm around the swamps ;ind swales — indeed, for many years 
the ground was so wet in the spring th.-il ;it corn planting, when the\- would 
dro]) pumpkin .seeds the latter flo.ated. John Dunn wa^ .ui indefatigable 
worker and was highly esteemed in the new communit\ w liere he had cast his 
lot. His death occurred in 1863, as the result of exposure while on a hunting 
expedition. He was survived a number of years by his wul.iw. who died in 
1888. They were the parents of six children, as follows: ( icorge, who grew 
to manhood and married, died before his t;ither. in i8hi. lea\ing (^ne child, 
George, Jr., of Kansas; K;itherine married ( ieovge Peiijjle ; William, the 
immediate subject of this memoir; Mar\- .\nn. deceased, was the wife of 
Jo.seph Rohm, and left three children; b'annie (bed at the age of two years; 
John now lives on the old JKinie place in ( Irant township. 

William Dunn was reared under the pan.-nt,il roof, and a^ soon a-- cild 
enough he gave assistance to his father in the labors of the home farm. He 
secured his education in the district schools of the neighborhood, and (knoted 
all of his active years to agricultural work, remaining on the homestead until 
his death. He was energetic and practical in hi- work, and was counted 
among the enterprising and successful farmers of his townslup, his death 
being counted a distinct loss to the community. 

On January i, 1865. William Dunn married Sarah .\. Stroh. a (Laughter 
of John and Calbcri'ie Stroh. and 
Kttde.ssie, who died in June. !0M> 
who lives in Waterloo, is marrieil 
lives on the Dan Stroh farm in tlic 
ried Mae M. Nicewander and they 
March 22, 1883, Mrs. Sarah Dunn became the wife of Wesley Fulton, of 
(irant township, who is represented elsewhere in this work. 



thei 


11 were born t 


hree children. ii;ii 


niely: 


was 


the wife ot 1 


M-ank (loodwiii; 


John. 


id h; 


i^ a daughter. 


, Helen: William, 


, whc 


lUtlu 


.-.•istern p.art o| 


i ( .rant township. 


mar- 


:a\ e 


two children. 


Lanta and Boice. 


On 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDJANA. 597 

Mr. Dunn was a man of ckan |)cTS(.nal liahils, uiiright in his daily life, 
genial in his relations with his fellow iiifu, ami was ck-scrve<lly popular in the 
community where the .greater part of his life was passed. 



OBI' 1)1 AH I.EAS. 



It is by no means an easy ta.-k to deserihe within the limits of this review 
a. man who has led an .-iclive and eminenth- useful life and b\- his own 
exertions reached ;i i)osition of honor and trust in the line of industries with 
which his interests are allied. lUit l)io,-raphy finds justihcalion, nevertheless, 
in the tracing and recordini,^ of such a life history, as the public claims a cer- 
tain property interest in the career of every individual and the time invariably 
arrives when it becomes ad\ isaMe to give the right publicity. It is then with 
a certain degree of s.atisfaction that the chronicler essays the task of touching 
briefly upon such a record as has been that of the subject who now comes 
under this review. 

Obediah Leas was born in Salem townshi[). Steuben couiUw Indiana, on 
November 5, 1851, and is a son of John and Susan (Shimpf ) Leas, who are 
represented elsewhere in this work. The subject was reared on the paternal 
farmstead and secured his education in the common schooL. When he was 
about fifteen years of age the family moved to Smithfield township, this 
county, where he grew to manhood and lived until his marri.age in 1872. He 
then moved into Ihiion, now drant townshij). west of Waterloo, where he 
began farming operations on a rented farm. In .about 1H73 he bought a 
farm <d' his own in the same neighlxjrhood and in iS<)8, after the death of 
his father, he purchased the interests of the other heirs in the paternal estate in 
Smithfield township, to which he moved and where he livetl about four years. 
At the end of that period he moved into the city of Waterloo, where he has 
since resided, buying his present home about two years after coming to this 
town. While carrying cm farming ojierations, and since, Mr. Leas has given 
much attention to the buying, baling and shipping of hay, being associated in 
this business with his brother, D. L. Leas, for about eighteen years. He was 
very successful in this enterprise anil was numbered among the most extensive 
shippers of hay in this section of the state. He is now the owner of three 
hundred and twenty-three acres of splendid farming land, besides his prop- 
erty in Waterloo, and is numbered among the substantial and enterprising 
citizens of the countv. 



598 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

On November 2-/, 1872. Obediah Leas married Lydia Plumb, the daugh- 
ter of Joseph and Nancy (Slick) Plumb. Both of her parents are now de- 
ceased, her father dying in 1908 and the mother in 1887. Mrs. Leas was 
born in Salem township, Steuben county, Indiana, but later the family moved 
to Waterloo, where her father was engaged in the bakery business with his 
brother, Richard Plumb. To Mr. and Mrs. Leas have been liorn three 
children, namely: Myron, burn Octdln.T 6, 1873, 1'^'^'^ "H t'lf <'1'1 home farm 
west of Waterloo. He married Otie Jones, of ( Irant township; Franklin 
O., born .\ugust 28, 1875, owns a farm in Iviiriield township, which he 
operates, together with a part of iiis father's land. He married .\lar\- Stomm, 
and they have three daugliters, Riiah, \eriia and l\ul)y; Lula, the wife of 
Carl Schomberg, li\es in Smitlibeld township on tiie old farm, and thev have 
one son, Franklin. 

Fraternally. Mr. Leas is a member of the l-'ree and Accepted Masons, 
while he and his wife belont^' to the auxiliar\', ( )r(KT of the Eastern .Star. 
Success has attended Mr. Leas' efforts because he has worked for it along 
legitimate lines. He has always been regarded as a man in whom the utmost 
confidence could be rei)osed and being friendly and neighborh' he is well liked 
by all classes. While he has never taken a great deal of interest in political 
affairs, he has always done what he could toward the betterment in anv wav of 
conditions in his community. !)eing ])ul>lic-s])irited ;md broad-minded in liis 
views of men and things, hence lie enjoys a well deserved popularity through- 
out the community. 



MVR(W S. KUTZNEI 



The character of ;i communit\- is determined in a large measure by the 
lives of a comparatively few of its members. If its moral and intellectual 
status be good, if in a social way it is a pleasant place in which to reside, if its 
reputation for the integrity of its citizens has extended into other localities, 
it will be found that the standards set by the leading men have been high and 
their influence such as to mold their characters and shape the lives of those 
with whom they mingle. In jjlacing the subject of this sketch in the front 
rank of such men, justice is rendered a biographical fact uni\ersally recog- 
nized throughout DeKalb county by those at all familiar with his history. 
Although a quiet and unassuming man with no ambititjn for public position 
or leader.ship, he h;is contributed nnich to the material advancement of the 
community, while iiis admirable f|ualities of head and heart and the straight- 



DEKAI.B COUNTY. INDIANA. 599 

forward, upright course of his daily hfe have tended greatly to the moral 
standing of the circles in whicii he moves and gives him a reputation for 
integrity and correct conduct such as few achieve. 

Myron S. Kutzner was horn on March 15, 1859, on the farm on wiiich 
he now resides, which is located in the southwest (|uarter of section 7. (iranl 
township, DeKalb county, Indiana. He is a son of Augustus and Amanda 
(Eberly) Kutzner, of whom the father was born in Stark county, Ohio, the 
son of Isaac am! Mary ( Zou\er ) Kutznc-r. Tlu-se parents were natives of 
Lancaster county. PennsyK ;uiia. who moved in an earlv dav to Stark county, 
Ohio. Tlie family is of ( ierman ancestry and its members have in their lives 
exhibited the sterlin,;; (|uaHties of cliaracter wbicli have ever characterized 
that nationality. The suliject's mother. Amanda l-lberlw was born in Stark 
county, Ohio, and was a daughter of bmas h^berly and wife, the wife's maiden 
name having been Eberly. She came to DeKalb county from Stark county 
with her parents in the early fifties and locate<l on a farm southeast of Water- 
loo, where she lived until her marria.ge. Their coming to this localitv was 
in an early day, antedating the fir.st railroad into this part of the country. 
Augustus Kutzner's parents came here about 1S51, locating north of Auburn 
on the farm now occupied liy iM'ank (irossmp. Augustus did not come here 
with his parenls. but rem;tini(l in bis nali\e localitv two year- longer with an 
uncle and aunt. Samuel and Harliara WiUaman. with whom be bad spent 
much of his voutl'. Willi tliem he came to HcKalb county in 185,^ and the\ 
located where the subject of this sketch now lives, the Willimans having 
bought that tract of land, and the subject's father buying a tract adjoining 
them on the east. Here the father be,gan his farming operations and here he 
died in i860, when the subject of this sketch wa-- but one year old. leaving 
two children, the subject and a sister. Ellen 1". 1 be mother of these children 
lived about nine years longer, dving when the subject was but ten vears old. 
after which event the two children were reared b\- Mr. and Mrs. WiUaman. 
who b(jth died on their farm here Having no ciiildren of their own. the sub- 
ject of this sketch was to them like a son. Mr. Willam.in died in 1884. .md 
was survived many years by his widow . who died in 1905. 

Mvron Kutzner was reared to ni.anbood on the farm which he now occu- 
pies and received his education in the public schools, completing it in the high 
school at Auburn. He has never forsaken the pursuit of agriculture, in which 
he has met with most j>ronounced success, and is nov\ numbered among the 
best farmers of his community. He is the owner of one hundred and twelve 
acres of land, all of which is tillable and owns an attractive and substantial 



OOO DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 

residence, large and conimndious liarns antl other neressary outlniildint^s. tlie 
general appearance of the place imlicatini^ iiini to he a man of iijood judgment 
and excellent taste. 

Tn January, 1882, Myron Kutzner wris married t:' .Marx Cov, whci was 
horn in Jackson town.ship, this county, tiie daughter of John and .M.aria 
(Fiant) Coy. who came to this county from Wayne county, Ohio. John 
Coy, who was a son of Jacoh and Barhara ( l-'ried ) Cov, was horn in West- 
moreland county, Pennsyhania. on Octoher j^-;, i8i(). and at the age of si.x 
years accompanied his parents on their removal to Wayne county, ( )hio. where 
he lived until 1845, when he came to Jackson township, HeKalh coiuitw Indi- 
ana, and settled on what is now known as the Cov farm on the .\uhurn .and 
Spencerville road. His wife, Maria Fiant, was liorn in Westmoreland 
county, Pennsylvania, on May 13, 1830, and in 1834 accompanied her par- 
ents to Wayne countv. Oliio. where thev remained until 184.5. when thev 
came to DeKalh county. Imliana, her marriage to Mr. Coy occurring on 
Decemher 6, 1840. They took- up their home on the Co\" farm, huilt a pleas- 
ant and attracti'.e residence and reared a familv as follows: Jacoh ?>. ; 
Rebecca; Isaac X. : Belinda: Elizabeth, who died in infancy; Mary; Andrew; 
P'ranklin, who died in ir.fancy; Martha; John, who died at the age of twelve 
years. In the early eighties- John Coy and fanuly mo\ etl to .\ngola. Indiana, 
where they lived .ihout ten years, but eventually moved back to their farm 
and spent their List years with their eldest daughter, Mrs. Rebecca Miller, 
.south of Auburn. To Mr. and Mrs. Kutzner have been born three children, 
namely: Winnie, born in 1883, is the wife of John Buss, of Auburn, and 
they have two children, Edith and Mary Elizabeth: Allie, born in 1887, died 
at the age of four years: Carl C. born .\pril 27. iS<)fi. Mr>. Kutzner has 
a vivid recollection of conditions in DeKalh county when she first accom- 
panied her parents on their removal here. Her people told her that the wolves 
used to howl and scratch around their cabin door at night. Indians were 
frequent callers at their home, and even bears were to be seen occasionally. 
Mrs. Kutzner was reared on the farm which her father had homesteaded 
and reclaimed from the wilderness and their cabin home was characterized 
l)y all the primitive utilities which characterized that period. She well remem- 
bers the old "fat" lamp, tallow candles and how when the first oil lamp was 
introduced into the community people were extremely careful to avoid explo- 
sions. Mr. and Mrs. Kutzner are members of the United Brethren church, 
and because of their earnest, upright lives they enjoy an enviable standing 
among their acquaintances. Mr. Kutzner through the years has always stood 



DKKAI.K COUNTY, I X HI A X A. 60I 

for tlie highest and hesi standard ><i li\ in,<,^ and lia> .yivcn Ins -upport unrt-- 
servedly to every movement to atlvance tlic welfare of liis fellows in any way. 
so that he has honestly earned the position whieli he has lon.s^ enjoyed as an 
enterprising and progressive man and a leader in the moral, educational and 
social advancement of the coniniunitv. 



ABRAHAM GROG(i 



All calling's, whether humble or exalted, may he productive of some 
measure of success, if enterprise and industry, coupled with a well directed 
purpose, form the motive force of the person directing the same, and in no 
case is this fact more apparent than in agricultural pursuits. It is a well au- 
thenticated fact that success comes as the result of legitimate and well applied 
energ\-. unflagging determination and perseverance as well as the above enum- 
erated cpialities. When a cmirse of action is once decided upon these attri- 
butes are essential. .Success is irever known to smile u])on the idler or dreamer 
and she ne\er courts the loafer and only tho-^e who ha\e diligentl\- sought 
her favor are crowned with her blessings. In tracing the history of the 
prosperous and influential gentleman whose name forms the caption of this 
biographical review, we hnd that the above named elements have entered 
largely into his make-up and therefore we are not surjirised at the large and 
e\er-growing success which he has attained. 

.\brahani Grogg was born on December 30. 1S4O, in Stark county, Ohio, 
and is the son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Hultz) Grogg. Daniel (irogg was 
one of the early settlers of L'nion township. DeKalb county, and was horn 
in Stark county, Ohio, on .August 13. 1818, a son of Dorman and Mary 
f Snyder) Grogg. who were nati\es of Northampton county, Pennsylvania, 
and of German descent. They emigrated to Stark county. Ohio, in an early 
(lav and there the father died, the mother afterward coming to DeKalb 
county. Indiana, with her children, and dying here at the advanced age of 
ninety-five years. Daniel Grogg received a common school education, spend- 
ing his early years under the parental roof. In May. 1849. he came to De- 
Kail: county, settling on a farm where he spent the remainrler of his life. His 
first ])urcha.se was of one hundred and twenty .acres, to which he added until 
he owned three hundred and eighty acres of good land, on which he built a 
large, twu-story brick residence and other farm buildings also of substantial 
character. He was married in Ohio in t8j3 to F.lizabeth Hultz. and to this 



602 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

union were born six children : John, Abraham, George, Peter, Frankhn and a 
daiigliter who died in young ladyhood. Mr. and Mrs. Grogg were members 
of the Lutheran church. When Daniel Grogg came to this county but ten 
acres of his land had been cleared, and on this land the trees had been simply 
chopped, but the ground was not cleared of the rubbish. A log house was 
there and here the family established themselves until a more substantial 
and modern house could be built. Their first home was located just east of 
where the county farm now is. Before moving there Daniel Grogg had 
iKnight a farm in the northwestern part of what is now Grant township, but 
never made his home there, though he kept it and added to it the original 
(irant township tract, comprising one hundred and fifty-eight acres, for 
which he paid five hundred dollars, this land being now worth many times 
that price. 

A1t€ Grogg was reared under the parental rouf and as soun as large 
enough was compelled to assist in the work of clearing the farm; most of his 
youth, however, was spent with his uncle Jacob Grogg, who lived at the 
northern edge of Auburn, where he operated a farm and ran a mill. Here 
the subject did all kinds of work and i)roved a valuable assistant to his uncle. 
.\fter he attained his majority he spent three years with Moses Gonser, and 
when the county farm was instituted he was employed by the first superin- 
tendent of the farm, Conrad Miller. While thus employed he made the 
acquaintance of Mr. Miller's daughter, .\(la, who afterwards became his wife, 
their marriage occurring in 1872, and after that event the young couple 
moved to their present home, the tract which his father had bought in jMoneer 
da\s. .\t this time only four acres had been cleared and no buildings or 
fences erected. Mr. Grogg first Imilt a log house and started to clear the 
land much in the wav his father had done many years before. In the winter 
lie would clear four or h\t; acres for corn land and then in the summer give 
hi^ attention to the culti\ation of the soil. P.y this method followed persist- 
entl\- year after year he has succeeded in developing a most excellent farm- 
on which he has resided continuously since. He follows modern methods in 
agricultural operations and is numbered among the progressive men of his 
locality, for he hesitates not to adopt new tnethods when their superiority 
over old ways has been demonstrated. He and his wife are members of the 
Presbyterian church at \\'aterl(io, and are earnest supporters of every move- 
ment for the educational, moral or social advancement of the community, so- 
that they enjoy the confidence and good will of all who know them. 

On January 2, 1872, .Abe Grogg. married Ada Miller, the daughter of 
Com-ad and .\nna (Long) Miller, whose personal sketch appears elsewhere 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 6o_^ 

in this work, and on April _:i<l tollowint; their marriage, they moved tn their 
present home. To them has l)een horn one son, .\rthur .M., whose natal day 
was I'>hruary 25, 1877. He was reared on the home farm, secnring his edu- 
cation in the common schools, yradnatino; from the liisjh school at Waterloo 
in 1897. L'ntil iqoj he remained with his father on the home farm and then 
l:ecame a rural mail carrier from Waterloo, traxelin.!; his route hve and one- 
half years. Then after passing- an examination he was appointed a railway 
mail clerk and followed that occupation about nine months, when he was com- 
pelled to give up that line of work on account of an attack of measles which 
had settled in his eyes and almost hlinded him to such an extent that it re- 
(piirecl many months of heroic treatment hefore he received any assurance 
that he would not lose his eye sight entirely. Ui)on leaving the road he came 
home, where he remained until igo(), when he hought the farm adjoining his 
father, to the operation of which he is now de\oting his attention. On h'eh- 
rnary 23. igio. Arthur (irogg married Mildred P.owman. the daughter of 
.\rchie and .Alice (Kelly) Ilowman, her birth having occurred in .\drnns- 
ville, Michigan. Her father, who was liorn near \Vaterloo. this county, was 
a son of Cyrus and Sarah (Smith) Bowman, the former of whom wa.^ at 
one time a member of the count}- 1)oard of couimissioners. Mrs. Grogg's 
l)arents now live about two and a half miles nordiea.st of Waterloo. Mrs. 
(irogg recei\ed a good education, having graduated from the Waterloo high 
school with the class of 1007, after which she .-Utended the Tri-State Normal 
.Scliool at .\ngola. and afterwards engaged in teaching school in \\"aterloo 
for two \ears. .\rthur (Irogg is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and 
he and his wife belong to the r\thian Sisters, of which lodge she is deputy 
grand chief. .Mr. < irogg ,iKo belongs to the (ileaner>;. a farmers' fraternal 
organization. 

Abe (irogg has been a resident of DeKalb county during the most active 
l)eiiod of his life and has been an eye-witness and a participant in the won- 
derful development which has characterized tiiis locality. He retains vi\id 
recollections of the early conditions here and also has a number of valuable 
heirlooms which are interesting and unique, .\mong them is a [jcwter plate 
brought by his ancestors from CTermany, on which are stamped German, 
l-"rench and English seals, the plate being at least one hundred and fifty years 
old. He also has a porcelain goose-oil jug of unique design, also the .old 
spinning wheel which his mother used, as well as other mementoes of more 
than intrinsic worth. The Grogg family ha\c been not only successful in the 
ac(]uisition of n-iaterial wealth, but liave been |)rominenl factors in the life of 



604 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

the various communities in wiiich they lived, enjoying at all times the respect 
and confidence of their acquaintances. 

Of the subject's brothers and sisters it max be stated that John lives in 
the northwestern part of Grant township : Peter resides on the old homestead 
east of the county farm : George died at the age of forty-six years, leaving a 
wife and daughter, now deceased; Frank Ii\-es aliout three miles west of 
Auburn and Emil\- is deceased. 



ADAM W. Hl'SSI'.l.M.W". 

The gentleman to a rexiew of whose honorable career we now call the 
attention of the reader is one of the representative citizens of DeKalb county 
and one of the lest known and most substantial farmers in Grant township, 
being the owner of a fine landed estate. An analyzation of his life work shows 
that he has been dependent upon no inheritance or influential friends for 
what he has ac<|uired, but has through his continued effort and capable man- 
agement gained a desirable property whereby he is classed among the self- 
made and influential men of the community. 

Adam W. Husselman was born on Xoxember y, 1859, m the xvestern 
])art of Grant toxvnship, DeKallj county, Indiana, and is the son of Samuel 
and Amanda (King) Husselman. Samuel Husselman, who xvas one of the 
honored old pioneers of Grant toxvnship, xvas born on December 11, 1827, in 
Wayne county, Ohi(.), and is the son of John and Catherine (Miser) Hussel- 
man. A history of his parents and the ancestral record appears in the sketch 
of Henry Husselman elsexvhere in this work. Samuel Husselman was but 
fourteen years old xvhen his parents brought him to DeKalb county in 1842, 
and they located in the wilderness about half way betxveen Waterloo and Au- 
burn. When he was but twenty-three years of age his father gave him one 
hundred and si.xty acres of uncleared land, to the clearing of which he imme- 
diately applied his energies and he recalls the hard ploxving among the roots 
and stumps and the toil incident to the placing of the land under cultivation. 
At the age of txventx-three years Samuel Husstlrnan married Amanda King, 
who was born about thirty miles from Baltimore, Maryland, the daughter of 
John and Catherine King. The parents came to DeKalb county, Indiana, in 
1846, locating northeast of Auburn, near where the county farm is now sit- 
uated. Samuel Husselman has remained on the farm where he now lives 
during all the subsequent years and for many years has been numbered among 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 605 

the most respected and sulistaiitial citizens of liis localit). i'o liim and his 
wife were liorn four children, two sons and two daii.^hter>. namely: i'jinne- 
line, the wife of Jacob Amstntz. who lives in section d, ( irant townshi]), 
this County: Adam li\es in s^^ction iS. this township: Lewis, wiio li\e- witii 
his father and is the owner of eighty acres south of hi> father's place. ;uid 
F.da, who is the wife of John .Monroe. li\es in the eastern part of Richland 
township. Mrs. Hussehuan. the mother of these children, died on April i. 
Kjii. .Mr. Husselman i- an earnest and faithful member of the United 
Brethren church, and in his daily life he has long endeavored to exemiilif)- the 
teachings of the Divine Master. 

.\dam W. Husselman was reared on the paiernal farmstead and secured 
his education in the district schools of the neighhorhood. After his marriage 
in 1885 he began farming for himself m the southwestern part of Grant town- 
ship on land which he rented for ten years, but finally bought. His place com- 
prises eighty acres and is most elegantly located, being improved to an extent 
that reflects great credit on the owner. The splendid and attractive residence, 
commodious and substan.tial barns and other outbuildings have all been 
erected by Mr. Husselman and he adopts nioderii methods in his agricultural 
operations, realizing gratifying profits from his efforts. When he moved 
upon this land it contained a lot of timber, but this has all been cleared away 
and now all the crops common to this section of the country are raised here, 
and in connection Mr. Husselman also gives some attention to live stock, 
which lie has found to be a profitable source of income. 

( )n \ugust iS. 1XS5. Mr. Husselman marrieil .\my .McCague, who was 
bom m Richland township, this county, the daugluer of John and Julia 
(Wxrick) .Met ague, her birth having occurred October 14, i8fio, and her 
death occurred on August _'. nji-'. at the age of tifty-one years. .At the age 
of twenty years she was taken into full membershi]) in the Lutheran church 
at Sedan, and lived a faithful and consistent life until her death. .\ faithful 
wife and loving mother, a loyal neighbor, she was sincerely mourned by all 
who knew her. for her life has been a blessed benediction to the community in 
which she lived. To Mr. and ^Mrs. Husselman were born three children. 
namely: Howard Earl, Donald Roscoe and \' iola Ruth. Howard is helping 
to operate his uncle's farm near his father's place, ant! Donald and Viola are 
at home with their father. Quiet and unassuming in his manner, but so- 
ciable with his friends. Mr. Husselman has won a large and admiring ac- 
quaintance throughout the locahty and is counted a good citizen. He gives 
his support to every movement having for its object the ad\ancement of the 
general welfare of the community. 



6o6 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 



HERMAN D. BOOZER. 



Among the enterprising and successfnl business men of DeKalb county, 
none stands higher in the esteem of liis fellow citizens than the gentleman 
whcjse name heads this sketch. Persistent industry, well-directed effort and 
sound business judgment have been the concomitants which have contributed 
to the success that has crowned his labors, and his sterling integrity and up- 
right life have gained fur him universal respect. 

Herman i). I'khi/at \va> Ixirn (ni neccmher j, 1862, in Riciiland county. 
Ohm, ihc >(in oi" janies .\. and Marselia ( i'.arnett) Boozer. James A. P.oozer 
was horn in Lancaster county, I 'ennsyhania, in ICS33, tiie son of Henry and 
Alary ' AlcEwan ) ISoozer, and Henry lloozer, wlio was Ijorn in Pennsyl- 
\ania in 1/98, was the son i^f a ( iernian emigrant. Alarv McEwan was born 
in Pennsylvania in 1800. James A. Boozer came to Ohio at the age of eleven 
years with his parents in 1844, living in Richland county where he grew to 
manhood, and in Feliruary, i8f)2. married Alarsella Barnett, who also was 
horn in Ricldand county, tlie (hiugluer of David and Mary (Stewart) 
r.aiiH-tt, luT father of Irish descent, his mother s maiden name being Lattimer. 
In .\pril, i80(-), J;T;ie^ .\. i'.o(,zer m.ivol to Waterloo, Indiana, where he en- 
g;iged ill (he agricultural implement business fcir two year>. but in the big 
lire which occurred ;it that time, his stock was destroyed. He then went into 
the general mercantile business in partiu^rship with ( '. T. ("'ark. Imt twcp x'ears 
later Air. Clark sold his interest to Mr. P.lattner, and the firm of P.oozer & 
Blattner was in existence until 1873 \\hen the}- were jnit out of business by 
the severe financial panic of th;it ve;ir. .Mr, l'o(].7er then again engaged in 
the agricultural inu^)lenieiit luisiness and \\.is .iNi, agent for the Buckeye 
Harvester Company until his death, which occurred in ."September, 1888. He 
was an earnest member of the Presbyterian church antl a ni.an of splendid 
qualities of character. His widow sur\ived him about twenty years, her death 
occiu-ring in i()o8. her lat'er \ears lia\ im; l>e;.n spent in the home of lier sdu, 
Herman These parents h;ul three children, the subject of this sketch being 
the lirst m order of l)irtli, the others bein-- Henr\-, v ho v.as bom in iSW) .and 
(lied in (Vt(.ber, 1007, leaving a wife ■.^n^\ ;i son, R.alph, who is a graduate of 
the mechanical engineering department in Purdue L'niversity, and Hugh H. 
P>oozer, who lives in Baltimore, Maryland. 

Herman D. Boozer was reared at Waterloo and until his father's death 
assisted hini in the implement business. He then went on the road as sales- 
man for the P.uckeye Harvester Company, remaining in that capacity until 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 607 

January, 1903. In the fall ui tlie previdus yiar he had been elected auditur 
of DeKalb county, and at the lirst of the year entered u\H<n his official duties. 
holding the tiffice until January 1. 1007. and retirin.ii: frou) his office with the 
con.niendation and approval of all who knew him. lie had resided during 
his official life on his farm on the southeast edge of Waterloo, and he has re- 
mained there continuously since. He has one hundred and thirteen and a 
fraction acres of splendid land, which has been maintained at the highest 
standard of cultivation and the farm is further attractive because of the 
splendid residence and other up-to-date iin]irovements. 

1-1 January. i88c), Mr. I'oo/.er was married t(. Mary K. lieard. who \\,as 
born in h'ranklin township, this county, the daughter of Jefferson IJeard, who 
was born between Canton and Ma^sillon. ( )hio. on August J3. 1834. a son of 
John an<l Kli;-.abeih Heard Jefferson P.eard owned a farm near Ta\ior's 
('orners at the time of h.is second marriage, and a \ear and a half later he 
bought the rUoouey farm adjoining and later sold his first farm. Since ni> 
tleath, in U)o6, the widow lives in Waterloo. Mr. l!eartl was a lifelong 
farmer, v,as township assessor for several terms and also justice of tlie ()eacc. 
To his first marriage, which was to a Miss Richex. were born three children: 
Mary, wifi of the immediate sul)ject of thi> -ketch; I'.lla. wife of C'ommo- 
<lore Hammond, and .May, deceased. liy his second marria.ge. which w is 
with .Sani.-mtiia Kelly, there were three children. ( ieorge, l^dsou and liertha. 
Mr. r.eard died on I >ecember 15, U)()(x .Mr. lieard's second wife. Samantha 
(Kelly) Heard, was JHjrn in Wayne county. Ohio, in 184(1. and came to De- 
Kalb county with hei" parents when bvil six years ui age. being reared near 
Taylor's Corners. In 1868 she was married to Mr. I'eard. and of their chil- 
dren it may be stated that (Ieorge married Ella Sangster, and lives ;ii Taylor's 
Corners. They have two daughters, Esther and bJhel; l-dson lives on the 
old home farm, and ni.arried Hilda Clark, and tluv have a daughter. Rnlb: 
Ilertha is the wife of liert Heffelfinger, and lives at l-..ri I'.liss. near I'.l Paso, 
Texas. They have two children. Robert and .\udrev Mary. To Mr. and 
Mrs. I'.oozer has been born .a s.m. James J., the da'e of whose birth was 
December 24. i8<)i, and wlio is now engaged in electrical work at bdrt Wavne 
ha\ ing made an extensive and exhaustive study of electricity at home. 

.Mr. P.oozer is .an earnest sujiporler of the Democratic party and has 
rendered efficient ser\ ice as a member of the executive committee of his party. 
He stands for right principles in everything and is a strong advocate of 
temperance and for all movements that ]iromise to be of benefit to his com- 
munitv in anv wav. Thrifty, progressive, industrious and a good manager, 



6o8 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

he i> iK'i imly achicvin.t;- niaUTial success in his business affairs, but has also 
,!,Mined tliat which is nf nidre value, the regard and esteem of his fellow 
citizens. No niuvenient for the advancement of the community but receives 
lii> licart)- endorsement, and, keen-sighted and sagacious, his ad\ice is con- 
>idere(! \a!uab'e in all affairs aifecting the public interests. 



F. H. RITTER. 



That life is the most useful and desirable that results in the greatest 
good to the greatest number and, though all do not reach the heights to 
which they aspire, yet in some measure each can win success and make life a 
blessing to his fellow men ; it is not necessary for one to occupy eminent 
public positions to do so, for in the humbler walks of life there remains much 
good to be accomplished and many opportunities for one to exercise one's 
talents and influence which in some vyay will touch the lives of those with 
whom we come in contact, making them better or brighter. In the list of 
DeKalb county's successful citizens, the subject of this review occupies a 
prominent place. In his career there is much that is commendable and his 
record forcibly illustrates what a life of energy can accomplish when one's 
plans are wisely laid and one's actions governed b) right princijiles. noble 
aims and high ideals. 

F. H. Ritter was l>orn l'el)ruar\ 25. 1X83. at llawpalh, now 'i'opeka. 
Lagrange county, Indiana, and is the son of James H. and ]\Iary A. (Hall) 
Ritter, Ijoth of whom were also natives of Indiana, the father horn in La- 
grange countv and the mother in Noble county. Loth are descendants of 
early settlers in their respective counties. The subject's father, who followed 
farming throughout his active life, is a man of strong character and stands 
high in his community. To jiim and his wife were born three children, 
Ashley, Icy and F. H., all of whom are living. Ashley has charge of the 
home farm and Icy is the wife of L". E. Mast, of Shipshewana, Indiana. 

F. H. Ritter secured his elementary education in the common schools of 
Lagrange county, completing his preliminary studies in the high school at 
Topeka and then engaged in teaching school for tliree }ears. Having deter- 
mined to make the practice of law his life work, he then entered the State 
University at Bloomington, huliana, but a year l;iter liecame a student at 
Notre Dame University, where he completetl his professional studies and 




F. II. RITTER 



DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. (>Oy 

received the degree of Bachelor of Law. He at once located at Alijion and 
entered upon the practice of his profession, but a year later located at Butler, 
where he has since remained antl where he has attained to a gratifying degree 
of success in the practice of law. Well qualified by natural ability and train- 
ing, Mr. Ritter has successfully handled many difficult cases in the local 
courts of the county and has earned the warm regard of his professional 
colleagues. He is careful and painstaking in the preparation of his cases, 
never going into court with a case until thoroughly prepared and, judging 
from his record thus far, the future holds promise of still greater successes. 

On June 25, 1908, Mr. Ritter was married to Flora G. Holcomb, the 
daughter of John W. and Amanda (Wert) Holcoml), l)oth of whom were 
natives of Lagrange county, thi- state, their respective families having been 
early settlers of the eastern part of tliat cdimty. To Mr. and Mrs. Ritter has 
been born one son, Harold, who is at homo with his parents. 

Aside from his professional interests. Mr. Ritter has taken an actixe ])art 
in the various civic activities of the community, having served one year as 
president of the Butler Commercial Club, and is at present city attorney for 
the corporation. Politically, he is affiliated with the Republican party, taking 
a deep interest in political campaigns, while fraternally he is a member of the 
Knights of Pythias, belonging to the subordinate lod.ge at Butler, and is also 
a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows lodge at Lagrange. 
Indiana. His religious membership is with the Methodist Episcopal church, 
in the prosperity of which he is deeply interested and t(i tlu- 'Support of winch 
he contributes liberally. Mr. Ritter has hosts of friends in DeKalh county 
owing to his honesty in business, his success in liis jjrofession and his upright 
social and private life and he enjoys a marked popularity in the circles in 
which he moves. 



JOHN I-R.WT/ 



The subject of this review is a re])resentative farmer and stock grower 
of (irant township, DeKall) county, Indiana, and lie is known as one of the 
alert, progressive and successful agriculturists of this favored section of the 
Hoosier state. In his labors he has not permitted himself to follow in the 
rut in a blind, apathetic way, but has studied and experimented and thus 
.secured the maximum returns from his enterprising efforts, while he has so 
ordered his course at all times as to conunand the confidence and re.gard of 
(.39) 



6iO DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

the people of the community in whicli lie lives, being a man of honorable 
business methods and advocatin,<: \vb;itever tends to promote the public wel- 
fare in any way. 

John I'Vantz is a native of the little republic of Switzerland, which has 
sent so many of her best citizens to America and who has contributed so 
largely to the upbuildino; and development of the country. He was horn on 
July 5, 1850, the son of Christian and Margaret (Amstutz) Frantz. When 
the subject was about four or five years old in 1855, the family came to 
America, locating in what is now the northwestern part of CJrant township, 
DeKalb county, Indiana, where they bou.ght a farm from the mother's brother, 
who had preceded them here. Here the subject's parents spent the rest of 
their lives, being numbered among the best citizens of the locality, the father 
dying about iSgT, ;ind tlie molher in the sjjring of 1907. They became the 
parents of eight children, namely; Christian .\., who li\es with the suljject: 
John, the immediate subject of this sketch; Tillie McClellan, of Huntington, 
Indiana: Mrs. May (Irogg. the wife of 01i\cr Crogg. who lives west of 
.\uburii ; Maggie, no\v deceased, was the wife of Peter Schull ; Samuel, 
Henry and Fred all died in childhood at the same time of diphtheria, and 
the subject of this sketch himself almost died of the same di.sea.se at that time. 

John l->.mtz ha-- li\e(l on the h<ime f;ir 
ing to this countrx and alter the death of hi- 
interests of the other heirs in tlic estate, 1 
e(hic;ition in the district .-cliools .-ind dex'ott 
<lustr\ to ;he cidti\atti'n of the farm >o tha 
the best agricultural tracts in this section of th 
Joanna King, who was horn in Union township west of .Vulmrn, the daughter 
of Alexander and Caroline (Bowman) iving, who were early settlers in this 
count V. Thev c.inie from Baltimore, Maryland, .about 1840. and bought a 
farm west of Auburn where they spent the remainder of their lives and where 
Mrs. Frantz lived until her marriage. Air. and Mr--. I'rantz are the parents 
of a daughter, Doreas, who received her edue;ition in the high school at 
Waterloo, and who i^ a popular member of tin social circles in which she 
moves. Mr. hVantz has ;i pleasant and attractive house and the farm, which 
is well kept in every respect, is a credit to him. He is a man of marked 
domestic tastes, his greatest pleasure being found in his home and its sur- 
roundings, to the improvement of which he constantly devotes his attention. 
His brother. Christian, who is unmarried, also lives with the subject. John 
Frantz is regarded as one of the most progressi\-e and painstaking agricul- 



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DEKALB COL"^■T^■, INDIANA. ,6l I 



turists in his ti Aviisliip, usini 


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jOHX LUTZ. 







To rescue from fading tradition the personal annals of the ])ioneers of 
<)Ui- Ciiuntry is a pleasing hut lahorirnvs ta>k ; not so lahorious, perhaps, as per- 
plexing, by reason of the fact that many facts and impressions of the early 
days have faded from memory. To gather up the broken threads of strange 
yet simple stories of individual li\es. to catch the fleeting stories and fireside 
histories and hand them down to posterity is a laudable ambition worthy of 
encouragement on the part of everyone interested in his community. John 
Lutz, who long since passed to "that undiscovered l)ourne from whence no 
tra\eler returns.'" was one f)f the i)i(jneers of DeKalb county. Indiana, that 
noble band who were in the \an of cixilization nio\ing westwarfl. and who 
here passed through years of arduous toil and hardshi])s. amid (jrinu'tive con- 
ditions which sound strange to the present generation. I'.ecause of his labors 
and his character he is eminently entitled to representation in the annals of 
his county. 

John Lutz was Iwrn in Stark county, Ohio, in 1826, and was a son of 
Michael and Magdalena (Crawford) I,ut/-, who, in 1847. came to DeKalb 
county, entering a tract of government land in I'nion township. Here the 
father commenced the task of clearing the land, but his death occurred with- 
in two years after his arrival here, leaving to his widow and children the 
gigantic task to complete. Mrs. Lutz was an energetic, ambitious woman, and 
worked hard to make a h.ome and rear her children. In this she was assisted 
h\ her son. the subject of this sketch, who devoted himself to his mother with 
a faithfulness and devotion that was commendable in him. She died in 1882. 
after a life of usefulness and honor. John Lutz inherited seventy-three acres 
of land from his father's estate and to the cultivation and improvement of 
this land he bent his energies, lie was accustomed from his youth to bard 
work, which became a habit with him. In his younger days to him was as- 
signed the duty of hauling the farm produce to market and bringing back the 
needed supplies. He generally drove over the miserable roads to Ft. Wayne. 
Kendallville and other points, and it was always necessary to carry along an 



6l2 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

axe ti) clear the roads of the fallen tiniher before he could get through. .\lr. 
l.utz, l)y hard work, good nianagenient and wise economy, was prospered 
and at the time of his death, which occurred on December 15, 1S94, he 
owned two hundred and se\enty acres of good land, his farm being well im- 
proved in every respect, including a splendid frame residence and other feat- 
ures that made it one of the attractive and valuable homesteads of the county. 

On March 24, 1868, Mr. Lutz was united in marriage with Susannah 
Oberholtzer. who \\a- born in the northeastern part of what is now Grant 
township, this county, the daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth ( Gisgrich ) 
Oberholtzer. To them were born six children, as follows; One died in in- 
fancy; Bessie died on Octolier 17, 1884, at the age of five years, a sprightly 
and lovable child, of pleasing maimers: John. Jr., born in Xoxemlier, 1873, 
(lied on August (), i8iJ4, aged eighteen years and nine months. He was sin- 
gularl}- exemplary in character. ;i dutiful son and affectionate brother; the 
other three, Jennie, Addie and Martha, live on the old homestead, ea.st of 
Waterloo. They were born, respectixelw on February 28. 1870. December 
21, 1 871, and .August 26, 1873. 

John Lutz was baptized in the faith of the l.utherar. church, and was 
faithful to his religious convictions to his death. .\ faithful husbaiul. kind 
father and upright citizen, lie was respected and esteemed by all who knew 
bim. and his death wa-- C(insidered a distinct loss to the comnumity which 
bad been honored by bis citizenship. 



DAXIF.I. GKOGG 

The student interested in the history of DeKalb county, Indiana, does 
not ha\e to carry bis iinestigations far into its annals before learning that 
Daniel Grogg was long an active and leading representative of its leading 
agricultural interests and that his labors proved a potent force in making this 
a rich agricultural region. Through several decades our subject carried on 
faruu'ng. gradually improving his valuable place, and while he prospered in 
this, he also found ample opportunity to assist in the material development 
of the county, and his co-operation was of value for the general good. 

Daniel Grogg, who became one of the earliest .settlers of L'nion town- 
shi]>, DeKalb county. Indiana, was born in Stark county, Ohio, on the 13th 
day of .August. 1818. and was a son of Solomon and Mary (Snyder) Grogg. 
who were born in Xortham]iton county. Peunsyh-ania. but who became 



nEKAi.n c(n'Nr\. Indiana. Iiit, 

pioneer residents of Stark count\ . 0\un, wlicrt- the father died, tlie mother 
afterwards coming to DeKaib ci unity witli lur cliildren and living iiere until 
her death, whicli ot-curred at the advanced age of ninety-five years. The 
Grogg family is di' ( icini;in descent, and there are still in possession of mem- 
bers of this family \ahial)le heirlooms, among which is a pewter plate one 
hundred and fifty years old, nn wJiicli arc st.-miiu'd (".crnuin, hVcncli and Eng- 
lish seals; a goose-oil jug of unii|uc design and :m njd spinning wheel used 
by Airs, ("irogg. 1 )aiiicl (irogg was reared im a farm and received his edu- 
cation in the common schools of his localil)-. !ii May, iiS4(), he liecame a resi- 
dent of DeKalli county, settling on the farm in Union township, where he 
spent the remainder of iiis life, the farm being located near the county farm. 
Daniel (irogg had also bought a farm in the northwestern ^art of what is 
now Grant township, comprising one hundred and fifty-eight acres, for which 
he paid five hundred dollars and which afterwards became very valuable land. 
HanicI (irogg m;trried Klizalieth Hultz. and to tlicni were liorii six childieii. 
namely: John, wiio now li\es in the northwestern part of Grant township: 
.\1k'. who lix'es near him and who is rejjresented elsewhere in this work: 
Peter, who Iive< on the old homestead east of the county farm: George, who 
died at the age of forly-si.x years, leaving a wife and one daughter, now de- 
ceased; Frank, who lives west of .\uburn, and Emily, also deceased. Daniel 
Grogg died at his L'nion township home on Marcli 23, 1887 and his wife died 
in December, 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Grogg were for many years active and 
earnest memJj.'rs of the Lutheran church, in the ]3ros])erit\- of which lliev 
were deeplv interested and to the su])iiort of which tlu-y contributed liberally 
of their means. Mr. <"irogg during hi^ lifetime made many ])ermanent and 
valuable ini])ro\ements on his farm, so that at tlie time of his deatli it was 
numbered among the leading agricultural tiacls in the county, .\mong tlie 
improvements was a line two-story brick hou-^e. which is still standing. .Mr. 
Grogg's domestic life was eNcnijilary, for the home wa'^ a genial and happy 
one. He was an affectionate and faithful father and hi.- sons have cause to 
honor iiim and revere his memory, lie was a hospitaiile man and cordiallv 
res];onsive to all sm'ial cLaims and Ins home was attr'active to all whom he 
numbered in his list (jf friends. The death of such a man. even in the rounded 
fullness of a long life where his work had ceased to be more than an e.\ani])le. 
was :\ |>uMic loss, .-unl iim mily his intimate asscKiates but the people generally 
of tlie community felt that his passing away was a distinct loss to the com- 
ninnilv. lie left to bis family the rich memory of an unstained name and to 
the locality where be lived the record and ex.ample of an iionorable and well 
spent life. 



6l4 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Reverting to Mr. (irogg's ancestry, it may be stated that his mother, 
whose maiden name was Mary Snyder, wa.s born in F^ennsylvania. moving 
to Ohio in a da}- when there were but few white people in all that country, 
the savage red men being practically the only human beings, and they were not 
\ery peaceably inclined to the whites. Her mother's father, Henr\' Reichel- 
derfer, came tn this country from ( lermany, and it is related that he was 
nearly a year making the trip acros.^ the ocean, during which e\eryonc on 
board the ship nearly star\ed, it being necessary to eat the rats that infested 
the ship in order to keep alive. Henry Reichelderfer was a great hunter and 
settled in Ohio in an early day. .\n aunt of Mary Snyder was captured by 
Indians in Stark count\- and tied to the eaves of the cabin by the little tin.gers 
of her hands, so that her toes barely touched the ground, and another aunt 
was horribly gashed and criss-crossed, dying from the effects of her injuries. 
Following these atrocities Captain Brady and his famous band of Indian 
lighters followed the red men and wreaked on them \engeance for their 
misdeeds. 



\\FSI.b:\' la'LTOX. 



The subject of this sketch is one of the progressive farmers and enter- 
])rising citizens of dranl township. HeKalli county, where he has made his 
home for a numl)er of years, i)eing closely associated with its (levelo])ment 
and welfare. He is a thoroughlx' practital :igricultmi-t and a man of busi- 
ness, and, like tlie great majority of viucessful men. has been the architect 
of his own fortunes. His fidelity to his duties liiis never been neglected in 
acting his part as a worthy son of the great American commonwealth. 

Wesley I'ulton was born on October lo, 1S47, in Fayette county, Penn- 
sylvania, and is a son of David .uid Mary (Knight) b'ulton. David Fulton 
was born in Somerset countw Pennsylvania, and was a son of James Fulton, 
who was of Irish parentage, his fori)e;irs liaving come from the north of Ire- 
land. David Fulton was married to Marv Knight, who was lK)rn in Som- 
erset county, Pennsvhania. the daughter of James Knight and wife. David 
iuilton remained in Pennsylvania about four years after his marriage, then 
spent abtnit nine years in Perry county, Ohio, after which he returned to 
I'Xvette county, Penn.sylvania, to care for lus parents, who were getting old. 
He remained there about nineteen years and in 1X^3 went to Carroll county, 
Illinois, where he bought a farm and .spent the remainder of his life there, his 
death occurring in February, 1884. He was survived a number of years by 



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DEK.M.B COUNTY. INDIANA. 

his widow, who died in i8q8 m 
a life-long- farnier and wa-; alsc 
church. He wa.s prominent in 
where he lived both in the East and in Illinois. 

Wesley Fulton lived under the parental roof until iSfx). when, at the ai;e 
of twenty-two years, lie was married and then liet^an farming;- for himself 
near his home. He couducted a.tjrieultural o])eratious aliont >ix vear-. and 
then nio\ed to Lucas eouiit\, Iowa, where he l>on,iL;ht a small farm, on wliich 
lie li\ed until the death of his wit'e in i SSo. .\l,out iSSj, ,,r the year follow- 
ing-. Mr. Fulton sold his Iowa property and came to Indiana, where he was 
again married, and he then engaged ill farming- on the place where he now 
lives lives south of Waterloo. He is the owner of sixty-five acres of good 
land, which has engaged his undivided attention and which he has develo])ed 
into one of the choice agricultural homesteads of the section of the county 
in which he li\es. His life here has been characterized hy ])ersistent and 
wisely directed uidustry, his efforts heing rewarded with a degree of Mueess 
commensurate with his etiorts. lie has a good set of farm huildnigs. while 
all the o])erations of the farm are given his personal sii|icr\ ision. and in the 
conduct of his affairs he has been guided by the soundest of iudgmeiit which 
has characterized him in ever\thing to which he has given attention. 

In 1869 Mr. Fulton married l-'dizabeth Dorus. who was h.irn in brank- 
lin county. Pennsylvania, the daughter of |obii I )orus. 1 U-r parents mo\ed 
to b'ulton county. Illinois, when sin- was Init a child, and there she lived nutil 
about a year before her marriage, when she 1. seated in larroll county, Illi- 
nois. Her death occurred in iSSo. she leaving three children, namely: .\evv- 
ton .\., Cora I!, and Mary L. Xevvton, who was born in December, 1874. 
now lives at Danbury, (. onnecticut, where he is engaged in pedagogical work, 
being superintendent of a commercial school. He has taught six or seven 
years in New York and Connecticut. ( Ura I'., became the wife of l-raiik 
Williams, and they lived in Xebiaska. where her husb.-ind died, leaving two 
children, (Irant W. and Jessie. She afterwards became the vvife'of ( )-car 
Kent, and they live on a farm near Alma, .Xebniska. I'.v her second union 
she is the mother of three children; Mary L. is the wife of bred l.ampman, 
of Milledgeville, larroll u.iiiilv, Illinois, and they have three children, 
luhelyn, Margie and a baby boy. Mr. Inilton's second marriage was to Mrs. 
.Sarah .\. ( Strob ) Dunn, the widow of thi- late William Dunn. She was 
iKjrn in Ch-eensburg, Summit county, Ohio, and is a daughter of John and 
Catherine (Dice) Stroh. She was brought to DeKalb county when only 
nine months old by her parents, who located on the northern edge of Ciiion 



6l6 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

towiisliip. and tliere she was reared and received her education, her mar- 
riage to Mr. Dunn occurring on January i. 1865. After that event they 
lived on the Dunn homestead in Cirant township until Mr. Dunn's death in 

1871. siie lea\ino- tliree cliil(h-en. namely: Mrs. Ettdessie Goodwin, de- 
ceased: John Dunn, nf W'aterloci. and William Dunn, of Grant township. 
To Ml'. Fulton's last union has been horn one child. Zella G., who is now the 
wife of h'rnest Cole, of Toledo, where he has a good position with the street 
car company. Religiously, Mr. and Mrs. Fulton are members of the Metho- 
dist Episcopal church, in the prosperity of which they are deeply interested 
and to the support of which they contribute of their means. Mr. Fulton is 
one of the leading citizens of his community and enjoys in a marked degree 
the confidence and esteem of his neighbors and friends throughout (irant 
township. His career has heen eminently honorable and all who know him 
speak in high terms of his many sterling qualities and characteristics. 



FRANK D. FANNING, M. D. 

There is no class to whom greater gratitude is duL- from the world at 
large than the self-sacrificing, sympathetic, noble-minded men whose life 
work is the alleviation of suffering and the ministering of comfort to the 
afflicted, to the end that the span of human existence may be lengthened and a 
greater degree of satisfaction enjoyed during the remainder of their earthly 
sojourn. There is no standard by which their beneficent influence can he 
measured, their helpfulness being limited only l)v the extent of their 
knowledge and skill, while their power goes hand in hand with the woiulerful 
laws of nature that .spring from the very source of life itself, .'-^omo one lias 
aptly said, "He serves God licst who si-r\e^ humanity mo>t."' Vniong the 
physicians and surgeons of Delxalii county who Iku e risen to eminence in 
their chosen field of endeavor is the subject of this review, whose c;ireer has 
been that of a broad-minded, conscientious worker in the sphere to which his 
life and energies have been devoted and whose profound knowledge of his 
profession has won for him a leading place among the most distinguished 
medical men of his day and generation in the city of his residence. 

Frank D. Fanning, an enterprising physician and public-spirited citizen 
of Butler. DeKalb county, Indiana, was born on May 4. 1873, at Butler. 
DeKalb county, and is a son of I^r. Fred W. and Carrie M. (Myers) Fan- 
ning. Fred W. Fanning, who was born at Belleville, Ontario, in 1841, was 




ANK D. FANNING, M. D. 



DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. I)\J 

educated in Colniri; Cdlloge. Cohurg, Ontario, .iifnuhiated in the I'niversity 
of Michigan at Ann Arljor. Miciiigan, and shortly afterward he located at 
Butler, DeKalb county, Indiana, where lie practiced his profession for thirty- 
six years, having previously fieen locateil at Heaver Dam, Ohio, for two 
years. His record was an honorable one as a citizen and professional man 
and he stood among the leaders of his profession in this part of the state. To 
him and his wife were born two sons, the subject of this sketch and Charles 
H., who is a stationary engineer at Bryan, Ohio. 

Frank D. Fanning received a good ])ul)lic school education and then at- 
tended the University of Michigan at Ann Arl)or. after which he matriculated 
in the medical department ni the I 'niwrsity of Illinois at I'rlaiia, where he 
was graduated in 1897 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Imme- 
diately afterwards he came to ISutler and became a i-artner of his father in the 
practice of his profession, remaining with him until the hitter's death, since 
which time he has engaged in the practice alone on his own account. He 
has been eminently successful in his treatment of diseases, having handled 
many very difficult cases and is held in high re])nt(.- among his professional 
Ijrethren. He specializes in diseases of ilu' eye, ear, nose and throat, of 
which he has made a close and critical study, and in which he is considered an 
authoritv. He is local siu'geon for the l'enns\]\ania, W abasli and Lake 
Shore railroads and is ;i member of the Wabash Railway Surgeons" .Associa- 
tion, the Lake Shore &■ Michigan SoiUh 
and the Penns\-lvania Railway Surgeon 
broad human s\-m])athy which aids him 1 
to him for assistance and in the sick roo 
and hopefulness which enter -o largel\- mlo ibe >iKee--fnl treatnienl of phys- 
ical ailments. 

For many years Dr. Fanning has had .1 keen interest in political affairs 
and is now an ardent and enthusiastic supporter of the Progressive party. 
Religiously, he is a member of the Church of Christ, while his fraternal re- 
lations are with the h'ree and .Accepted .M.isons, Modern Woodmen of 
America and Lodge No. 158. Kni,ghts of Pythias. 

In 1888 Dr. Fanning married Florence P.. .\gler, tiie d.iughter of Hiram 
and Laura Agler, of P.utler Dr. Ivuuiing i^ an enthusia-t in his chosen call- 
ing, a close student, an original thinker ;uul an untiring in\ estigator. He 
avails himself of every legitimate means to kec]) in touch with the trend of 
modern medical thought and is familiar with the leading authorities, having a 
fine professional library in which he spends much of his time when not re- 



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t)I» DEKAI.B COUNTY. INDIANA. 

Spending to the calls of his numerous patrons. In him are combined two facts 
which have been the main contrilniting' elements of liis success; thorough prep- 
aration and a deep interest in the profession, (pialities which are al)solutely 
essential to advancement in a calling requiring such proficiency and skill as 
the healing art. His knowledge of the kindred sciences of medicine and sur- 
gery is broad and comprehensive and in his ])rofessional lah<irs he has siiown 
himself amply <|ualified to cope with the intricate problems tiiat continually 
confront the ])ractitioner in his etiort-^ to ])rolong hfe and restore health. Per- 
sonally, he is genial and unassuming ;md easily makes friends and enjoys a 
wide and loval acnuaintance throughout the coimtv. 



WILLIAM H. HINMAN. 

.-\mong the prosperous l)usine-> men ot DeKall) county. Indiana, the sub- 
ject of this review occupies a deservedly conspicuous place and the following 
brief outline of his career and tribute to his worth should he perused by those 
whose lifework is yet a matter of the future. Honorable in all his dealings, 
considerate of the rights of others and a man whose influence has ever been on 
the side of right, his life lias lieen fraught with good to his fellows and the 
world made better by iiis presence. 

William II. Hinniau is a native of DeKalb county, Indiana, having been 
born in Smithheld township on necemlier 2. 1858. His jjarents were Morgan 
( ). and Alar\- jane ( \'ard ) Hinnian. .Mcjrgan ( ). I Human was born July 
20, 1832, between Akron and Middlchury, ( )hio, the son of Orron and Eliza- 
beth (Haynes) Hinniau. Long l)efore the ad\ent of railroads through this 
section of the countr\- ami when Morgan Hinnian was lint a lad of thirteen 
years, his father had come to Oc-K.alh county. liidi;uia, and bought two farms, 
one located at Haynes' Corners, north of liarrett, and the other in Smithfield 
township, near the Cedar Lake church. He returned to his Ohio home and 
prepared to bring his family here, Init his death occurred before they started. 
He left a widow and six children, four daughters and two sons. A year 
later the widow and her children came to DeKalb county, establishing the 
family home on the Haynes' Corners farm, wiiere she spent the remainder 
of her days. Morgan Hinman was fourteen years old when the familv came 
here, and, lieing the oldest son and next to the oldest child, lie became prac- 
tically the head of the f;uiiily, remaining witii his mother until his marriage. 



DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. (iK/ 

About 1857 he erected a rude cabin cm the Smillifield township farm, which 
had no floor and was a ly[)ical hnme of that period. He married about that 
time Mary jane Yard, born June 13, iS^:;^. in l^evonshire, England, the 
daughter of John and Ivli/.abcth N ,ird. She wa> eighteen vears of age at the 
time of the family's emigration to America, her birthday having occurred 
while on the ocean, on which trip the family sjient eighteen weeks. Her 
family was among the early settlers near Cn'irrett. and all the members of this 
family now living here are well known and respected citizens of their re- 
spective communities. Mary Kli/.abeth ^',•lrd and her lirother were engaged 
in teaching school here in the early \ears. and thus performed their part in 
the early progress and advancement of the comninnit\. After his marriage 
he went ahead clearing and draining his farm, which he de\elof)ed into a 
fine tract of land, and when the Air Line dixision of the Lake Shore railroad 
was projected through this locality, he engaged in clearing off timber for the 
right-of-way of this road. His first purchase of land was forty acres of the 
old homestead, but later he also bought the interests of two sisters in his 
father's estate, thus becoming the owner of eighty acres of fine land. Event- 
ually he sold that place, which is now known as the Ren Farrington farm, 
and about 1865 he moved to the Myers farm, two miles south and one and 
one-half miles west of C'orunna. where be rem.ained imtil about 1881, when 
he mo\ed t(i Dixon county, Nebraska, buying a farm at Wakefield. There 
his wife died. I'ebruary i. 1005. and subseijuenth he moved to Oklahoma, 
locating in C.arfield countw four miles Miuth of h'nid. where his death oc- 
curred on May 12, 1908. 

The subject of this sketch was reared t<i nianboi'd on the farm south- 
west of Corunna, DeKalb county, Indiana, and until .attaining his legal 
majority he worked out by the month. L)uring his youth he had obtained a 
fair education in the public schools, and thus by the time he had attained man- 
hood's years he had formed a verv definite idea of life's responsibilities and 
of its serious aspects. .After his majority he was for four years engaged in 
farming on his grandmother's jilace at Haynes' Corners, and then spent a year 
engaged in a like pursuit in Sniithfiild townshi]). He then went to Nebraska, 
where he resided about a year prior to his father's removal to that .state. 
Eventually he returned to DeKalb county. Tndian;i. and after his marriage 
in 1883. he bought forty acres of land just east of Cedar T,ake, Smithfield 
township, where he lived about seven years. He then moved into Waterloo, 
and for a year was employed in a furniture store. About 1895 Mr. Hin- 
man started a wagon shop, which he has conducted continuouslv since, erect- 



(^JO DKKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 

ing a building on the lot where he is now located and equipping it with every 
appliance necessary for wagon repairing and work in kindred lines. About 
five years ago Mr. Hinman also put in a line of agricultural implements, and 
in this enterprise, as well as in the former, he has been very successful, being 
now numbered among the leading business men of his city. About 1907, 
Mr. Hinman sold the forty acres whicli he had first purchased here and 
bought fifty-si.x acres near Cedar Lake, and in the fall of 19 13 he bought the 
Smalley farm, and now is the owner df erne hundred and twelve acres of as 
good land as can be found in DeKalh county, in ic)o8 Mr. Hinman bouglit 
a. nice home on I'nion street, in Waterloo. 

On Fel)ruar\- 1. 1883, Mr. Hinman was iiniled in marriage with Zella 
Smalley, who was l)iirn in Richland township, DeKalb county, Indiana, the 
daughter of Jonathan and Loretta (Farrington) Smalley, who are referred 
to later in this sketch. To Mr. and Mrs. Hinman has been born one daugh- 
ter, Leone, who is now the wife of Lee Wise, of ,\uinim. and they have two 
children, Thelma and Lois. 

Fraternallv, Mr. Hinman is a meml)er of the Free and Accei)te(l Masons 
and the Independent Order of Odd I'ellows, while he and his wife belong 
to the Order of the F.astern Star and the Daughters of Rel)ekali. Re- 
ligiouslv, thev are earnest members of the Christian church, to which they 
consistently give a liberal support, and in e\ery phase of Christian endeavor 
they have stood for the best type of lite. Mr. Hinman is a quiet, unob- 
trusive man of steady habits and good character, and he has performed his 
full part according to the dictates of an honest conscience. Because of his 
sturdy integrity and his 'lusiness success he is deserving of the honorable 
position which he liolds in the community. 

As mentioned before, the fatlier of Mrs. Hiimian wa^ Joiuiliian Smalley. 
son of Chester and Father Smalle\-. he having i)een born in Crawford county 
Ohio, on the 5th of .\pril, 183;. With his p.irents, he came to DeKalb 
county, Indiana, in September, 1856, the family settling in the dense wilder- 
ness which then co\ered tjie western \ydrt of the county. Jonathan assisted 
his father in the making of the new home, helping to Iniild the log cabin which 
was their first habitation. The nearest town to tliem was seven miles distant 
and the nearest railroad twenty-five miles. In the winter of 1858- 1859 Jona- 
than Smalley united with the Christian church. He was marrieil to Loretta 
A. Farrington, a member of the same church, of which they both always 
were faithful members. Three children were born to this marriage; Mrs. 
Zella Hinman. of Waterloo: Albert B., who was killed in a .sawmill explosion 



DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. t)21 

in December, 1888, and Bolland D., of Auburn. In 1866 Mr. Smalley bought 
a tract of unimproved land in Smithfield township, DeKalb county, which he 
cleared and developed into a fine farm, erecting a comfortable home and good 
buildings. Here he and his wife spent the rest of their days, he passing 
away December 22, igi2, and she preceding him to the great beyond on 
November 13, 19 12. 



ARTHUR CAR^DEX WOLFE. 

It is a generall\- acknowledged tact that jnurnrilisni is one of the most 
imi)ortant factors in twentieth-century life, exerting as it does an influence on 
practically e\-ery tlepartnient of societ)-. This relation is just as actual and 
polenl in the smaller cities and towns as in the large cities, and he who directs 
the policy of a newspaper, or wields the peii which expresses that polic}'. 
exerts a personal control over local thought and action not ecpialled by any 
other piofession. .\niong the newspaper men of DeKalb county who ha\e. 
by their progressive attitude toward local affairs, contributed in a very definite 
way to the advancement of the community, is the gentleman whose name ap- 
pears ajjove and who is successfully publishing the A'cu'j at Asliley. 

Arthur L'aryden Wolfe, third son of John Manuel and .'^arah Elizabeth 
I iM-a/.icr) Wolfe, was born at Antwerp. Paulding count}', Ohio, .\pril 9. 1870. 
ISeing one of ten children, he was forced by necessity to lea\e school after 
finishing the eighth grade, and his education was finished while learning the 
printing trade, under Col. James H. Fluhart, publisher of the Coiiliiicittal 
I r,hio ) .\V?i'.v. Colonel b^luhart outlined a course of study, furnished the 
books and acted in the double capacity of tutor and em]iIoyer for a ])eriod of 
six years, l)eginning in October. 1S91. The Colonc! was a grand type of 
man, possessing a fine sense of honor, and was also a man who would rather 
be right than President of the United States. He was a college graduate and 
taught school prior to the Ci\il war, in which latter service he won lioth 
honors and distinction, wearing the regalia of a colonel when the war closed. 
It was under Colonel Fluhart that Mr. Wolfe was inspired with the idea of 
becoming publisher ')i a country newspaper, for Mr. Fluhart was an ideal 
pioneer publisher, his young apprentice often sharing hardships, which ha\e 
since pro\ed in\aluable to him in his work. 

Mr. Wolfe first became interested in the i)rinting business while residing 
with his parents in Chicago, Illinois, where, after school hours and during 
school vacations, he was a "newsie." His first armful of daily papers came 



622 DEKALIi COUNTY, INDIANA. 

frcini the office of the Soutli Chicago Caliuiicl, after which se\eral uf tlie 
down-town papers were sold by him, jjilgriniages tiften being made to the 
down-town streets, where lie sold to many of the hurrying people on the 
main thoroughfares. The battles with the otlier newsboys for "corner 
rights" but added to his knowledge of humanity and broadened his ideas as 
to the "common rights of others.'" O. C. LaBoe, a reporter on the Daiiy 
Calnnict. interceded in his behalf and "Xewsie Wolfe" was granted the right 
tci -iweep the offices and composing room at a dime per night. The scattered 
ly|ie in the com])osing room and his manifest interest in the types lead 
"Shorty" Burk. a compositor, to teach ".Xewsie Wolfe" the news case, and 
subsecjuently, when the Wolfe family returned to Ohio to reside, he ke])t 
a.sking Editor I-luhart for a "job," until that kind, benexolent old gentleman 
finally consented for him to become nn apprentice, under the condition that 
he was to study such books as would be furnished and endea\or to become, to 
use the e.xact phrase of .Mr. Miihart, "mentally equipped to become a great 
erlitor." Mr. Wdlfe lays no claim to being the great editor as indicated: but 
he does consider that the editor of e\en a country newsjiaper has a great re- 
sponsibility. He endeavors to be consistent and not to betray his trust nor 
take advantage of liis position in the community by ])erverting his columns 
to a wrong use. 

Wv. Wolfe published weekly papers at Deshler. ( )hio, Columbus drove, 
( )hio. and Montgomery. Michigan, after working in various offices as ])rinter 
and local editor, buying the .Ashley .Vi'tc.t in igio of J. L. Gilles|)ie. the 
founder. The -\shley .Xr.ws- was started in 1901;. after J. l-~. Coss. publisher 
of the -\shley I'iiiu-s. became involved in a suit over a deal of his new.spaper 
propert}', when the Times was discontinued. The sub^cri])tion list of the 
A'cTi'.T was ver\- small, onh containing two hundred names when ])urchased 
1;\ .Mr. Wolfe, but toda} it contains nearly eight hundred and fifty names — 
which gives one some idea of Mr. Wolfe's ability as a newspaper man 

Mr. Wolfe was united in marriage October 10, 1807, at Continental, 
( )bio, to Julia Irene, daughter of Irene and Emma ( Hull) Harbaugh. To 
this union seven children were born, one dying in infancy. The six living 
children are: Emma Elizabeth, lulward Keith, Lester Kenneth, Leota .\vis, 
.\rthur Charles and John Manuel. 

The .\shlev Xc7^-s is equipped with modern power machinery and up-to- 
date printing material throughout, which is free from incumbrance. '!"he 
volume of business done each year is about four thousand dollars, which 
would indicate that the .Vru'.v- office is at least .getting the business rightly 
beloii-iii"- to it in its field. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 623 

H^:xR^■ v.. fOE. 

.\nuiii.t;- tlR' men of t-anifsl purpn^c and useful life wlitisc record lia-- 
been not only creditable to ilieniselvo. hut has di.ijiiihed tlie conimunity in 
which they have resided, the suhject of this sketch holcN hi^h rank, and in 
the ];edagogical profession, to which his lifetime has heen devoted, he has 
achiexed a record next to none of his contemporaries. 

Henry K. L'oe was horn in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, .Sejitemher J4. 1853, 
the son of William 1.. and .\nn (Crooks) Coe. William L. Coe was a 
native of Xew I-lngland, his ancestors being of English descent, 'the lineage 
being traced back to the fourteenth century in the mother cmintry. The sub- 
ject's mother was lioru in Tnunbull county, ( )hio, ;md is of Scotch-Irish 
extraction. William 1.. Coe renvi\ed from his \\-\\ I^ngland home to Cuya- 
hoga county, ( )hio, and was there married to Ann Crooks, who acconi]janied 
him on their removal to DeKalb county in 1S3S. the subject of this sketch 
at that time Iseing but bve years old. The family settled in I'nion township, 
where the father followed day laboring anil where be spent the remainder of 
his life, bis death occurring in 1887. His wife died in 1882. The subject 
received his education in the public schools of Union township, the high 
school at Waterloo and Oberlin College. Oberlin. Ohio, after which he en- 
gaged in teaching in the district schools of this count\ . ,\fter following 
teaching in the graded schools for a while, Professor Coe became principal 
of the high school at Waterloo, and was later principal for four years of the 
high school at .\uburn. Then followed one \ear as ]jrincii)al of the schools 
at Orland. Indiana, after which be returned to Auburn, where he taught 
for four years, at the end of which period be was elected superintendent of 
the Butler schools. After three years' efficient and appreciated service in 
this canacitv be was elected count}- su|)erintenilent of the schools for a two- 
vear term, and then, by the -ame board, was elected to the regular four-year 
term. .\ noteworthv testimonial to Professor Coe's al)ility and standing in 
the community is the fact that, though Republican in his political views, he 
was elected b\ a Deniocv.itic board. He served fourteen years as county 
su])eriutendent, at the end of which period he was called hack to Butler to 
take charge of the schools of that place, and where he is still actively engaged. 
A well-educated, symmetrically developed man, Prfifessor Coe takes a deep 
interest in his profession, keeps in touch with the most advanced thought 
relative to pedagogical matters, and as an educator has a reputation which 
extends far bevond the borders of his own county. .\ public sjieaker of 



624 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

recognized ability, Professor Coe has made many forceful and effective ad- 
dresses on educational and kindred topics, and is a welconif member of any 
circle which he enters. 

On November 16, 1875, Henry E. Coe was united in marriage to Hattie 
\. Keed. the daughter of Isaac and Harriet E. (Hackley) Reed. Isaac 
Reed was a snldier in the Ci\ii war and was killed in a charge of Union 
troops at Atlanta. He was a native of Pennsylvania, as was his wife, and 
was an early settler of DeKalb county. To Professor and Mrs. Coe have 
been bom five children, viz : Jessie, the wife of Spencer Bair of St. Paul, 
Minnesota; Roliert, of I'.url ank, California: Bernard H.. deceased: George, 
of .Vuburn ; and h"arl. \\ ho is attending W'esleyan Uni\ersit\- at Delaware, 
Ohio. Politically, the suiiject of this sketch is a Republican, while fraternally 
lie is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His religious 
connections are with the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a con- 
sistent meml)er and an earnest supporter. Genial and unassuming in man- 
ner. Professor Coe has a wide acquaintance throughout DeKalb county, and 
enioys a large circle of warm and lo\aI personal friends. 



FRANK \N . OLINGER. 

Among those persons who have, by virtue of their strong individual 
qualities, earned their way to high standing in the estimation of their fellow 
citizens, having by sheer force of character and persistency won their way 
from an humble beginning to a place of influence and pronunence in the com- 
munity, wliere thev are active in bu-ine>s affairs, the subject ni this sketch is 
entitled to specific mention in a volume of the character of the one at hand. 

Frank W. Olinger was liorn in Keyser township, DeKalb county, Indi- 
ana, a short distance west of .\uburn, on March 4, 1870, and he is a son of 
John S. and Lucy ( \:\.rd ) Olinger. The sul)ject's paternal grandparents were 
David B. and Rebecca (Suihart) (dinger. David B. Olinger was born near 
Hagerstown, Maryland, on June 17, 1813. and died near Auburn, Indiana, on 
December 19, i8q6, at the age of eighty-three years. He was descended from 
good old Pennsylvania Dutch stock. He emigrated from Maryland to Stark 
county, Ohio, where, on February 18, 1836, he married Rebecca Swihart, 
and there, on Februarv 21, 1837, their only child, John S., was born. They 
remained in Stark county until August, 1846, when they came to Indiana. 
Thev drove through, the journev lieing one characterized by hardships, poor 




'RANK \V. OLINGEK 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. (125 

n)all^. l)ri(l,i;x'k*ss ^ircaiiis, and dther ClllKlitil)n^ which made tlie jcmnu'v a 
tirc'Sdnu- and dftlinio daiij;'i.T(ius fxperienct'. l"])iiii ihi-ir arrixal ht-rc Uu-y 
Incalfd tw.i and a lialt nnles ca>l of Auhuni, wlu-re David l)on,i;ht ui.uiUy acres 
i)t liniJKT land, nn which not a slick had h(.rn cnl. I'or a time the family 
livetl on a near-by tract, on wiiich \v;is a small c.ahin. with the roof so low- 
that they conld reach it from the ground, .\hont a vear later they nu>ved to 
the Henry Shull place, north of Auburn, where the\- lived about three years, 
moving from there to the Brandon farm, two miles west of .\uhurn, where 
they remained ten or twelve \'ears. Then Mr. Olinux-r bought eighty acres 
just south of that tr;iet. on which he built ,i house, th.at being about two years 
prior to the outbreak of the C"i\ il war, and there I );Lvi(l Olinger ma<le his per- 
manent home. His first wife died on l'\-bru;ir\ _'<), 1870, and on ( )clober 
10, 1878, he married Margaret Kiestrick, who died on the i_'th of October, 
1891. After her death he lived with his son, |ohn S. Olinger. I'or about 
twenty-five years Daxid 1'. ( )linger seixed his communit\- as justice of the 
peace and was honored and esteemed bv .ill who knew him. 

John S. Olinger w;is a lad of ten vears when bis ])arents brouglu him to 
DeKalb county, antl he was thus an eye-witness of the early de\ elopment of 
this section of the country. When he came here Indian-- weie still roaming 
the forests and deer were as numerous as shee]) are tod.iy. Li\ ing conditions 
were primitive in the extrenie for the first few vears, and in the gigantic 
task of clearing the land. de\ elojjing farms and m.iking ])ul)lic imijrovements 
he had an active part. He w;is reared, to the life of ;i wnodsm.in and his own 
first land was acquire<l through his skill in woodcraft, for by cutting the 
timljer from forty .acres he was gixeii a forty-.acre tract in payment for his 
labor. In 1862. John S. Olinger enlisted in Company .\, One Hundredth 
Regiment Indiana X'olunteer Infantry, his regiment being assigned to the 
Western Army. He proved a faith fid ,ind coura.geous soldier, but .after 
about ten months' .service he was honorably discharged because of ])hysical 
disability. His illness so incapacitated him that he was practically unabli- to 
work for about a year afterward. T^e then bought forty acres of land north 
of (iarrett, a part of which he cleared, .and then sold that tract and bought 
fortv acres located about one and a half miles farther east, of which about 
an .acre li.ad been cleare.l and on which was a log house. He cleared the re- 
mainder of that Land, which he cultivated for a few year>, and then sold it 
and bought forty acres a mile and a half west of .Auburn, which, like the pre- 
y-eding place, had but a small portion cleared. However, a trifling matter 
(40) 



626 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

like that offered to him no discouragement, and he soon liad tlie tract cleared 
and in cultivation. He has lived on that i)!ace now for forty-five vears and 
has made of it one of the best farms in his section of the count v. In addition 
to his labors as a farmer and woodsman, Mr. dinger worked much at the 
carpenter's trade during his active years. 

On April 18, 1861, John S. Olinger married Lucy Yard, who was born 
at Exmouth, England, on June g, 1842. the daughter of John and Marv 
(Simmons) Yard. Her parents, who were highly educated and well-tn-dc. 
were principals f)f an academy in England, but emigrated to this countr\- in 
an early day, probably in 1852. They first located in' Cleveland, where they 
remained a short time, coming then to DeKalb county and locating a mile 
north of Carrett, where they bougiit a farm and made their permanent liome, 
their original tract comprising about sixty acres. Tliough Mr. ^."ard was 
handicapped by having the use of only one hand, he was a man f)f energy and 
good business ability and eventually became cpiite well-to-do. To John S. 
and Lucy Olinger were born six children, namely: Salome died in infancy; 
David B. died at the age of ten years; Frank \\'. is the immediate subject of 
this review; Cora E. is the wife of George M. Ditmars and they live two 
miles south of .Xuburn: Mitchell H. is a barber and li\es at (larrett: Nettie 
May is the wife of P.ert Lockwood and thev !i\e on her father's farm, one 
and a half miles west of .\uburn. The mother of these children died on 
January 2Q, 1008, at the age of sixty-five years, hax'ing lieen an iinalid for 
manv vears. Desjiite her sufferings, she ever remained cheerful and ])atient. 
e\-incing and e.\]iressing an unfailing trust in an all-wise Providence. She 
was reared in the C"hurcli of England, or tiie F.iiisco]ial church, but later 
identified herself with the Lutheran church. <if whicli she w;is an earnest and 
faithful member. John S. Olinger is ;i niemlier of the Grand .\rmy of the 
Republic and the b^armers' .Mliance. He is a man of unquestioned integrity 
and consistent life and. i)ecause of liis right li\-ing. iiis kindlv nature and his 
success in life, be enjoys a higli ^tan(hiig in the ci.mnuuiity lionorcd by his 
citizenship. 

bVank W. ( )linger reni.-iined wiiii liis iiarenls on the boUK- farm until he 
had attained his majority. In November. 1008, he moved into .\ui)urn. buy- 
ing a good residence propertx on South Jackxm street. He was associ- 
ated with John Clark in the fiu-niture business until he accejited the nomina- 
tion for sheriff' in the fall of n)i2. being nominated by the Republican party 
for that office, but, owing to the Democratic landslide of that year, he went 
down to defeat together with the rest of the ticket. On ]\Larcli 14, 1013, Mr. 



DEKAl.B COUNT\'. INDIANA. (j2J 

Olinger engaged in the lumlK-r business at Aulmrn. in ])artnersliii) witii ( )ra 
Brandon, and to this Imsiness he is now t;iviii.i^ his itiuiivided attetition. They 
carry a complete hue of all kinds df luniher, tnuetlK-r with general building 
supplies and, owing to their excellent business methods and e\ ident desire to 
please their cnstoniers. they are enjoying their full share of patronage. In 
September, 1911, .Mr. Olinger bought a beautiful luinie at the Cfirner of 
Thirteenth and Main streets, which he has improved and where he now 
resides. 

On September ^c. 1 -So 1 . brank W. Olinger was married to Marv .M. 
Dilmars. wli.. wa^ b,,ru about three miles south of Auburn, the daughter of 
I.saac ami .Martha. ( ( ieorge ) Dilmars. Isaac Ditmars. who was born in 
Wayne count}-. Ohio, on September ,7,. 1837, was the son of John A. and 
Eliza (Nefif ) Pilniars. who, in 1853, came to DeKalh county, Indiana, locat- 
ing a mile and a half south of .\ulnirn, where they made their permanent 
home. There John .A. Ditmars owned a farm and a good water-jiower saw- 
null. In the building of the latter Isaac Ditmars had a hand and there he 
labored many a dav and mglu. John A. Ditm.ars, who was l,orn in New 
Jersey on November j8, 181 i. ni.arried b:iiz,a .Neff. who was a nalix e of 
Hunterdon county, Xew Jerse}-. < )n their DeKalb count\- homestead Is.aac 
Ditmars was reared to maturit\- and took nii farminL; for his lift- occu]iation. 
On September 22, i8()i, be enlisted in ('ompan\ 1'. 1 'ortv-fom-lli Regiment 
Indiana \'olimteer Infanlrw with which hv saw sonie scxcre service. \\ the 
b.attle of Shiloh he received a serious wound, from the effects of which he 
w;is rendered unlit for dutv and r. reived an honorable disch.arge. lie siill 
limps some from the effects of the injm-y. After returning home. Isaac Dit- 
mars resumed his f.-irnnng oii.-ra' ions snuth of Xibnrn. in which he met 
with good success, at one lime owning three hundred ;ind twent\ acres of land. 
Since the death of Ins wife he has m.ade his home with Ins sisier. .Mrs. 
F.mily Reed, about a mile .and a half north of .\nbnrn. On Oct. .her 30, 
1862; I.saac Ditmars m.arrie.l Martb.a ( ieorge. \xhu was born in W avne 
county, Ohio, and w;is the d.atighler ..f lohn T. and \anc\' (.McClelland) 
George, who came to Indian.a in 1844. To lsa;ic and .M,-ii-tha l)itm;irs wei-e 
born foui" children, n.aniely: I'lvsses Fdlsworth was killed bv falling from 
,1 tree October 2. 1873. in the eleventh vear of his a.ge ; (icrge M. is a f.arnier 
about two miles south of .Xnbnrn ; :\Iarv M., the wife of I'rank W. Olinger; 
Ami.a L.. the wife of b'rank D.awsou, who lixes a mile north of .'\uburn. 
The mother of these children, who passed awa\- 1 >n ,\pril 20. 1005. w.as ,a 
worthv woman .and ;i liighlv esieeme.l member of the ILaplist church ,it 



628 DEKAl.B COUXTV. INDIANA. 

Auljurn, 'l"o I<"raiik W. and Mary AI. ( Miniver have l)eeii Ixirn three chiUh'en. 
namely: !m erett D.. liorn Septenilier 30. iS(),v died ><u December 5. iSo;; 
p:thel (ieraldine, hnrn June id. 18(17. is a <\u\vm m tlie Auburn lii.t;b -dvn,]. 
and (ieori^e .M.. whn was l)nru on April 1-. iS<)<). is alsi> a student in the 
public schiKils. lM-aternalI\. Frank \\ . ()lini;er i- a member nt the Kni<jiits 
of Pythias and the I\ni,i;hts (if the Maccabees. Karnest purpose and tireless 
energy, comliined with mature judgment and e\ery-day common sense, have 
been among his most ]ir(inilnent characteristics, and he has merited the 
respect and esteem which .are accorded him by all who know him. He is 
broad-minded, kind-hearted and triendl\- in hi- relation- with others and is 
univer.sallv well liked. 



CHARLES CAPP 



While success cannot be achieved without unflagging industry, the fu- 
tility of effort is often n(3ticeable in the business world and results from the 
fact that it is not combined with sound business judgment. Many a man 
who gives his entire life to toil, earnest and unremitting, never acquires a 
competency, but when his labor is well directed, prosperity always fcjllows. 
Mr. Capp is one whose work has been supplemented bv careful management 
and today he is among those who have triumjihed o\er adverse conditions 
and won success. 

Charles Capp was born in Lorain county, ( )hio. on July u. i<S04. the 
youngest son born to Edward and Sarah Capp. His early life was spent on 
the ]jaternal farmstead and his education was secured in the district schools 
of that locality, .\fter the death of his parents, and that of his elder brother 
in i.SSj, Mr. Capp went to .Morenci, Michigan, to carr\ on the hitter's busi- 
ness. After spending hve years in that city as a stock dealer and butcher. 
Mr. Cap]) came to Butler, Indiana, and entered into a ])artnership with his 
brother Edward in the meat business. They started in on a small scale, but 
bv strict attention to their enterprise and fair dealings with their patrons, 
they built up a large and prosperous business, so that later on they were 
enabled to purchase a building of their own. Edward Capp sold his interest 
in the business to his brother William, but eventually the subject Ixjught his 
brother's interest and conducted the meat market successfully for twenty 
years. In Kjo^ Mr. Cajip purchased the Madden farm, located east of Butler, 
on which he built a slaughter house and a large stock barn, and in i()o8 sold 
his lueat market in lUitler to .\. L. Lake, of Spencerville. Indiana. Mr. Capp 



DKKAI.li C()fi\T\', INDIANA. ()2y 

has continued to Inilchci for the local trade, hut is giving his chief attention 
to the buying and selling of live stock of all kinds, in which business he has 
met with pronounced success. He is a good judge of live stock, and has 
houglit antl shi])])ed immense (|uantitit> ihniug'inut this locality. He pos- 
■^esses splendid husine-^s (pialiHcations. and by untiring perse\erance and the 
exercise of sound judgiiUMit lie i^ achievini; a splendid success in his en- 
terprise. 

(hi Xoveniher 24. 1889. Ciiarles Lapp was united in marriage with 
Lizzie Swift, of l'"ayette. Ohio, and to this iiuiuii have been bom six chil- 
dren, four sons and two daughters, of whom two sons and one daughter 
died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Capp are well known throughout this coni- 
munitx and enjoy the friendship of all who know them, who esteem them 
because of their excellent qualities and genuine worth. 



GILES THOMPSON .ABBEY. 

The life history of Giles Thompson Abbe\-. one of the well known and 
highly esteemed venerable \eterans. now living in honorable retirement in 
the picturesque little town of Waterloo, Indiana, shows what industry, good 
habits and staunch citizenshij) will accom])lish in the battle of acquiring 
proi)erty and rearing children to lead steady and respectable li\es. His life 
has been one replete with duty well and conscientiously performed in all of 
its relations. He has not been a man to shrink from his duty, however irk- 
some or dangerous, and it is such traits that win in life's affairs. He has 
come down to us from the pioneer period and li:is noted the wondrous trans- 
formation from that time to this, playing well his part in the drama of 
cixilization. He has been an adxocate of wholesome living, and cleanliness 
in jiolitics as well, and has e\er been outspoken in his antipathy to wrong 
huml)le citizen or bv the incumbents of influential 



doing, whether b\ 


■ the 


offices. 




Giles Tbomps 


-on \1 


of HeKalb county, 


, Indi; 


county. Ohio, and 


is a s 



who for forty-nine years has been a resident 
,as born on Xovember 24. 1827. in Sandusk}' 
.\lansoii and Lucy (Daggett) Abbey, both of 
whom were born and reared in Ontario count)'. New "S'ork. where their mar- 
riage also occurred. The subject's paternal ancestry is traced back in an 
unbroken line to emigrants from England, who located in Massachusetts. 
they being the subject's great-grandparents. The subject's paternal grand- 



630 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

father. Joshua Abbey, who was Ik mi in Massachusetts, was a solcher in the 
war of the Revolution, in which al-o his brotliei . bibn. was an officer. 
Joshua Abbey moved to Ontario Cdunt}-. Xew \'ni-k, and there Alanson 
Abbey was born in 1793, and who was eventually a soldier in the war of 1812. 
.\fter his marriage in 1S19 he movefl to .'-Sandusky count)'. ( )hio. where he 
bought and dexeloped a farm. In 1S3S the family uioxed to .Steuben county, 
Indiana, settling in Steuben township about one-half mile --outh of Pleasant 
Lake, where the father spent the rest of bis life, hi■^ tle.ath <iccurring in 1877, 
at the age of eighty-four years. His brst wife, who died in 1S40, was the 
mother of ten children, six of whom lived to maturity. In Xovember, 1841, 
.\lanson Abbey married Mary Boyce, whose death occurred when the sub- 
ject of this sketch was fifteen years (dd, at which time the father broke up 
housekeeping. His first wife, mother of the suliject of this sketch, was l^orn 
in New York in 1803 and was the daughter of Jacob Daggett. 

Giles T. .Xbliey recei\-ed bis education in the district scliools of Saiulusky 
county, Ohio. One of his first leacliers was the grandniotlier of Gen. J. U. 
McPberson, the latter having been a playmate of the subject in his youthful 
days. Giles- Abbey was but eleven years of age when brought to Steuben 
county, at which time the Indians were numerous here, and in his yur.th he 
wrestled, ran foot races and enga.ged in nearly all the sports wdth which the 
inflians were familiar. .\t the age of fifteen years be started out in life on 
bis own account and for a year \Nas emiiloyed at farn.i work. He then 
api)renticed himself to learn the t.anner's trade in his home townshi]), at 
which he was eni])loyed until be was twenty-one years old. It was not a 
hard matter to lind employment, but it was extremely diriicult to get money. 
Hefore Mr. Abbey had attained to his majority be had. by dint of the most 
persistent economy and closest saving, accumulated money enough to pur- 
chase forty acres of land and about the time he Ijecame of age he bought 
one hundred and two acres adjoining his first tract, and upon this land he 
engagefl in farming on his own account. .\t the time be first engaged in 
leannng the tanning trade he ''ad reser\ed the ])ri\ilcge of going to school 
three months each w inter. This he did until the age of eighteen years, w hen 
the teacher of his school (put and Mr. .\bbey was inil in his place and taught 
school during the winters until twent\-four years old. He had \er\- little 
education e.xcept what he could pick up outside of the schools which he 
attended, but by dint of the most persistent reading and close observation 
he became a well informed man. In 1850 Mr. Abbey was married and then 
continued fanning three years, at the end of which period he sold his farm 
and moved to Flint, Steuben county, and bought two hundred and forty 



DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. (y^l 

acres of land there, wliich he sold a year later. He then nio\ed to Lagrange 
county, this state, and for three years was engaged in the milling business at 
Mongo. formerly called Mongoquinon. In 1860 he moved hack to Steuhen 
county, where he resided uw year-^ and where his wife died in i.Sf)4. He 
then in.)\e(l to DeKalh count\ and for a year was engaged in the liver\ 
business at Waterloo, but sold the business back to the ]iarties of whom he 
bought it. The next year he erected a three-story brick business block on 
the east side of Main street, about a block south of the railroad, and during 
this same period he lost three thousand dollars through endorsing notes for 
a Waterloo merchant. During the following two years Mr. .Abbey was 
engaged in a mill at Waterloo, doing the buying and selling. In 1870 he 
became agent of the I'ort Wayne, Jack.son & Saginaw Railroad, which runs 
north and south through Waterloo, retaining this position for six years. In 
1876 Air. .\l)liey became cashier of the DeKalb Bank, and during the fol- 
lowing twenty-seven years he filled this position to the entire satisfaction 
of his a.ssociates in the bank and to the patron^ of the institution. Since that 
time Mr. Abbey has not engaged in any permanent business because of im- 
paired health, though he has settled a number of estates and bought and 
sold some real estate. In 1909 he unfortunately fell and received an injury 
to hi-i s])ine which has since rendered him an invalid, though until the sum- 
mer of [913 he v.as able to go aI)out and, to some extent, attend to business. 
He is now residing in Waterloo, where he has a pleasant and attractive home 
on the south edge of the town, his daughter and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. 
Hollester, living with him. 

Politically. .Mr. .Vlbcy has always 1 ecu a strunich Renublicau, and was 
an enthusiastic worker in the interests of the party in c-arly days, haxin.g 
assisted in formin.g the Re])ul)lican organization in Stculicn coiun\. bra- 
ternally. he has been a member of the Masonic order for forty-eight years 
and has been appreciative of the work and. in fact, has endeaxured to e\em- 
l)lify the sublime precepts of that time-honored order. 

In 1850 Mr. Abbey was united in marriage to .Martha .A. Long, who 
was born in Steuben county, Indiana, the daughter of James and Mary 
((iulhiie) Long. Mrs. .\bbey died in 1864, leaving two children, Ella J., 
now the wife of Wellington H. Hollester, of \\'aterloo, and Carrie J., the 
wife of John B. Parsell, who is cashier in the First National Bank at Angola. 
Indiana. In 1866 Mr. Abbey married Mrs. Lurene (Howe) Davis, the 
widow of Joseph D. Davis, deceased, late of Auburn. She was bom in New 
York state and was the daughter of James Howe. She came to Fort Wayne, 
Indiana, with her parents and there married Mr. Davis, by whom she had 



632 DEKAT.H COIXTV, IXDIANA. 

two sdiis. Hugh and Kiiiniett. To her union with .Mr. Abhey were Ijorn two 
children. Edith L. the wife of .Albert Theiss. of Memphis. Tenne.ssee, and 
]''arl (].. wlio li\es in Kansas Cit}-. where he is emplox'ed in the secret ser\ice. 
He i.s a man of great physical courage and is sent by the service to the most 
important cases. He was recently assigned to recover two ])ictures of rare 
\alue that had been stolen and his finding of them caused a great deal of 
favorable comment. He married Maude Drake, who died leaving two chil- 
dren. F.thel and :\Iino. .Mr. .\bhey's second wife died in i88_'. and in 1883 
he married Saphronia (Holmes) McEntarfer, the widow of .\nthony .Mc- 
Entarfer. .She had two children by her first marriage, both of whom are 
deceased. Mrs. .-\bbey died in iQog after twenty-four years of happv 
w?edded life together, ami. being a woman of many fine qualities of head 
and heart, her death was considered a distinct loss to the communitv. .Mr. 
Abbey's life record exhibits a career of unswerving integrity, indefatigable 
private influstry and wholesome home and social relations, a most commend- 
able career crowned with success. It is the record of a well-balanced mental 
and moral constitution, strongly marked Ijv those traits of character which 
are of special value in such a state of society as exists in this country. .\ 
resident of DeKalb county for nearly a half century, he has been an eye 
witness and ]jarticipant in the wonderful development whicli has character- 
ized this localitv. and among the veneraiile and honored citizens of the count v 
uo man enjoys to a more eminent degree tlie respect and veneration of the 
])eoi)le with whom he has mingled so long. Because of his genuine worth 
and his record in the community he is clearly entitled to representation among 
DeKalb county's representative citizens. 



J()H\ W. Dr E.Sl.l-.K. 

It is with pleasure that the biograi)her has an opportunity to place before 
the readers of this work the life record of the honorable gentleman whose 
n;uiic initiates this paragraph, for he is deemed eminentlv worthy of repre- 
sL'utation along with the best and nio.st industrious citizens of DeKalb 
cor.ntv, owing to the fact that he belongs to the energetic and enterprising 
class that has made this favored section one of the most noted and richest 
in the great Hoosier state. Enjoying distinctive jjrestige as a farmer, he 
has achieved marked success, while his practical intelligence, mature judg- 



niCKALH COl'XTV, INDIANA. (\J,J, 

meiit and sound business jirinciples have had much to do in moulding pul)hc 
sentiment in the community where he has long maintained his home. 

John W. Duesler was horn on September _'i. 1862, in Sandusky county, 
()hiii, and is a son uf l.orin ('.. and Mary 1 Hampsher) DucsIer. Lorin G. 
I )ueskT was b(irn mi July 1 _'. 1S34. in I'otter. ^■ates count}'. New York, the 
sun (if William and Catherine ( Slosson ) Duesler, aiid died at the home of 
his daughter, Mrs. j. W". Metcalf, east of .\uburn. DeKalb county. Indiana, 
on October 5. U)ij. at the age ni se\enty-eighl years. He was one of a 
family of eight, six tlaugbters and two sons, and was descended from sturdy 
German ancestry on the paternal side, his mother being of Yankee 
parentage. When he was twelve years old the family moved to Seneca 
c<niiity, Ohio, and later to Sandusky county, that state, near Fremont, where 
he married Mary j. Hampsher. a native of Clyde. ( )hio. They became the 
parents of five children. namel\- ; I'rancis M.: Ada S., who died in infancy: 
I'.liza M.. now Mr-. J. (i. Diehr ; John W. and Minnie i'... the wife of J. W. 
Metcalf. All of the children are now li\ing in DeKalb county, except Mrs. 
Diehr. who resides in Fremont. Ohio. ,\fter living eight years near the old 

Indiana, locating about two miles 
ind .-uid make a home. Ily indus- 
ill f;inii which, a- his nrjan> ])er- 
til lu' owned a splendid tract of 
line months later returned to the 
wedded life, his wife died on 
December 10, 1904, her death l;eing considered a di-tinct lo-s to the commu- 
nity in which she had spent so many useful years. Lorin ( i. Duesler was a 
man of rare qualities of character and was never hai)pier than when attend- 
ing to his farm and cultivating his garden. He was a faithful husband, a 
loving father and a lieli)ful and considerate neighbor and ujiright citizen. To 
him and his wife were born bve children, n.amely: One who died in infancy: 
Francis M. lives about one ;iiid one-half miles ea.-l of Waterloo; Fliza M.. 
the wife of (ieorge Diehr, of I'reniont. Ohio; .Minnie, the wife of William 
.Metialf, who li\es about two antl one-half miles east of .\uburn, 

b)hn W. Duesler came lo DeKalb county with his [iarents when but two 
years old and was reared in (bant township with the exception of a part <if a 
\ear. when the faiiiih' Ined at I'"lkh;irt, Indiana. He was reareil to farm 
labor and secured an education in the ]iublic schools. .\t the age of about 
twentv-three vears he began agricultural efforts on his own account on the 
home farm, to which he gave his attention until thirty years of age. In the 
spring of 1895 he rented a farm in the south ])art of (irant townshii) and in 



home Mr. Duesler iiio\ed. in May 


. iSt,4, 


east of Waterloo, where he began 


toclea 


try and thrift he was enabled to 1 


ir.y a - 


mitted, he added to from time t< 


1 time 


land. In iSf.y he m.ived to b:ikl- 


i.arl. In 


home farm. .\fter nearly bftv 


years 



634 DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 

the following year bought forty acres of land in the northwest part of 
section thirteen, which he operated until 1907. In 1904 he had bought the 
farm where he now lives in the northwest quarter of section fourteen, the 
l)lace comprising eighty acres, which he rented until 1908, when he located 
on it. In the spring of 1910 he sold his first forty-acre purchase in section 
thirteen. The farm on which he nuw lives is splendidly improved in every 
respect and is numbered among the best farms of the township. The present 
condition of the farm is due to the persistent and untiring efforts of Mr. 
Duesler, who has spared no laljor nor expense in putting the farm into con- 
dition that will in the future bring the best results. He raises all the crops 
common to this locality and also gives some attention to li\e stock and in all 
his efforts is meeting with well deserved success. 

On February 6, 1894. Mr. Duesler married Rosa .Mutzfelt, who was 
born in Wilmington township, this county, the daughter of Christian and 
Magdalena (Sclaugh) Mutzfelt. Christian Mutzfelt was born in Nassau, 
Germany, on March 25, 1827, and his wife in Baden, Germany. Mr. Mutz- 
felt was reared in his nalixe coiiimunit\' and in 1850 was married to Henri- 
etta Schneider, to which union six children were born. He came to America 
in 1854, locating west of .\ul)urn, Indiana. In 1864 he enlisted in the United 
States army and on January 28th of the following year his wife died. On 
July 23, 1866, he married .Magdalena Sclaugh, who was born on February 
24, 1835, the daughter of Detrich and Katherine (Happ) Sclaugh. Her 
mother died when she was but eight years old and thereafter she lived in 
CJermany until nineteen years old, when she and a sister, fxosa Sclaugh, 
three \ears older than herself, came to America with a ])art\- of neighbors. 
She had a brother and two sisters in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and 
her purpose was t(j H\e with them. Howexer, when her sister married and 
mox-ed to Ohio, she accompanied lier, and exentually came to DeKalb county 
with her sister, li\ing near Corunna until her marriage to Mr. Mutzfelt. Mr. 
Mutzfelt was a successful farmer, h.a\-ing started with twenty acres of land 
west of Auburn, but later sold this and bought a farm west of Butler, where 
he spent the rest of his acti\e years, his death occurring there on November 
6. 1892, leaving a wife, nine children and nine grandchildren, a lirother and 
sister. He was a memlicr of the Cnited Brethren church from the year 
1878. and was faithful and earnest in the performance of his church duties. 
He lielped to build a new church edifice, which was dedicated just two weeks 
after his death. Mrs. Mutzfelt now li\'es with her daughter. Mrs. Duesler. 
Tf> Mr. and Mrs. Duesler have Iieen born five children, namelv : Lena M.. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 635 

born May 5, 1895; Helen V., burn October 14, 1X98; Ralpli 1... liorn June 
21, 1901; Charles VV., born September 29, 1904, and Rutli \\'., born ATarch 
13. 1907, who died in infancy. Mr. Duesler and the members of his family 
are all affiliated with the L'nited lirethreii church, in ibe ])rusperity of wliich 
they are all deeply interested and to the -^upijort of which he contributes 
liberally of his means. .\lr. Duesk-r has a wide arquaiiU.-uicc and hosts of 
friends as the result of In.-, .i^enial (li>])o-iti<in. bi> kiu.duess. honesty antl 
uprightness and his untiuestioned i)usiness ability, being one of the most biglil}- 
resj^ected citizens of bis cumniunity. where he has si)eiit tiie major ])orti(ni of 
his useful and busv life. 



JOHN MORRISON KIMSEY. 

.\mong the men of a past generation who impresseil their personality 
on the ci\ic and pubHc life of DcKall) county was John M. Kimsey, who 
tor mail}' years was an influential and potent I'actor in the welfare anil 
development of this localit)-. lie was born in Carroll county, Ohio, on Octo- 
l)er 9. 1833, and he was a son of Dr. Thomas Boland and Sarah (L'arr) 
Kimsey. Dr. Thomas B. Kimsey was born on December 7, 1806, probably 
in the state of Virginia, while his wife, Sarah Carr, was born on Februarv 
i8 1S07. in .Anneskillin. Ireland. Thomas B. Kimsey was the son of John, 
Knr.sey, who was born in England and came to America as an officer in the 
r.ritisli arm\ . but, when he realized what the .\merican colonies were fightiijg 
for. he left the British army, and later, at the request of (leneral Washing- 
ton, became an officer in the .\nierican army, iieing killed during the progress 
of th(-wai. He had brought his wife to this country and located in Balti- 
more. He left one son, John Kimsey, who married Lydia Boland, and they 
V. ert the ];arent.^ of l-'r. Thomas B. Kimsey. The latter's wife, Sarah Carr 
Kimsey, died in Waterloo, Indiana, on September 9, 1875, having made her 
borne with her son. Dr. Thomas B. The latter became a well known and 
sui-cessful pin sici;ui. being engaged in practice at Carrollton, Ohio, and later 
moved to .Monmouth, .\dams county, this state, and in 1852 came to .\uburn, 
Indiana, where he was numbered among the pioneer physicians of that com- 
munitv. Hi^ death occurred on May 6, 1856, and his passing away was con- 
sulered a distinct k'ss to the coiDmunity. His children were as follows-: 
John M., Aseneth, Lydia, William T., James Boland and Robert Ferguson. 

John M. Kimsey was reared to manhood at Auburn and early in life 
became a clerk in the Sanders dry goods store. In September. 1858, he and 



(>^(i DlCKAhB COLNTV. I.NUIAXA. 

hi^ l>rolher >laru-d the first Republican paper published in this county, the 
DcKalb County Tiiiics, but there were so few Republicans in this Democratic 
county that at that tune the paper lacked proper support and went out of 
business in alxjut three months after its establishment. Mr. Kimsey continued 
his services in the Sanders dry goods store at Aubin'n until i8(>o, when he 
came to Waterloo to accept a position in the store of Reuben J. Lent. In 
i8f>i .Mr. Kimse\- enlisted as a private in Company K, Forty-fourth Regi- 
ment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was in the militaiy service of his 
country tor eighteen months. He was made principal musician of his regi- 
ment and was mustered out of the service when the ])ands were dispensed 
with. After his return to i)eaceful pursuits Mr. Kimsey liecame an employe 
in the store of Amos & Marshall Hale, oi Angola, and later he went into 
business for him.self in partnership with Myron Hester. A few years later 
he moved to Waterloo and resumed his old position with Mr. Lent. Then 
for a time he ran a transfer line antl was suJKequently appointed postmaster 
at Waterloo by President Hayes. His administration of the office was very 
satisfactory and he held the position through the administration of President 
Garfield and one year under President Cleveland, a total service of nine 
vears. About i8qo Mr. Kimsey removed to Toledo and there spent the re- 
mainder of his davs. 

On July _>8. i8()i. Mr. Kimsey married Harriet E. Lent, the tlaughter 
of Reuben J. and Almira (Forsythe) Lent. Her parents were natives of 
New York state, the father born at L'tica and the mother at Cooperstown. 
The latter was the daughter of John Kimliall and Mary (Bailey) l-"orsythe, 
while John K. h'orsythe's father, Oliver I-'orsythe, was a general in the war of 
the Revolution. Mary Bailey's father, Joel Bailey, was also a soldier in the 
war of the Revolution. Harriet Lent was born in DeKalb county, Indiana, 
her parents having come here from New ^'ork state in about 1837. Her 
grandfather, John K. p-orsythe. had come here in 1833. locating in Otsego 
township. Steuben county. Indiana, when there were only five families in 
that locality. Reuben Lent settled at Hamilton and built the first hotel in 
that, place. Finally he mo\ed to .\uburn and ran the Ohio House in 1855, 
and in the following, year be and Miles Waterman laid out the town of 
Waterloo. Here he established a dry goods store, ran a hotel and, for ;i time, 
he and T. R. Dickinson ran the H'atrrloo Press. Mr. Dickinson being editc^r. 
Mrs. Dr. Broughton, of Waterloo, has in her possession the first copy of the 
first issue of this paper. In 1863 Mr. Lent moved to Toledo and spent the 
rest of his life there, dving at the home of his daughter. Mrs. Kimsev. His 



Ii|-K\l.i; COrXTV. INDIANA. <)7,J 

wife (lied oil July 17, \Hz,>). Mr. J,,lin Kinisey died (.11 .\oveniher m. n,i 1. 
and was .survived l.y lu.-^ widnw. wh.. slill lives at Toledn. To them uere 
hiirii six children. iianiel\ : I .( ila .\1.. the wife of Dr. llrou-htoii, of Waterloo; 
Jessie .\lniira. who died at ilu- .ige of seventeen years; I'.irdie K., thi- wife 
of Ora (). P.rown. of Toledo; Reuben Thomas, of Toledo; Ro.se Kllen. the 
wife of -\. T. Honneau. and |ohn h'orsvthe. of Toledo. 



GEORGE E. HARiMES. 



Among the substantial men whose labor and influence have given 
impetus to the general material iniproxement of DeKalb county in years 
gone b)- and who toda}- occupies no insignificant place in the esteem of the 
community in which he resides is the worthy gentleman whose name forms 
the introduction of this sketch. He has been content to spend his life in his 
native locality, wisely deciding that this favored section (jf the great Hoosier 
state was as well if not better suited for the pursuit of agriculture than any 
other. 

(ieorge 1*1 Harmes was horn in DeKalh eouiux. Indiana, on .\pril _'3. 
i8()(). the son of Henrv ;md Maria (Young) Harmes. Henry Harmes was 
born in Hano\er, (lermanx. December 30. i82_', the son of Frederick and 
Mary Harmes, who emigrated to the I'nited States in 1S30. Henry Harmes 
wa> married on September 19. 1S30. to Maria ^■oung, who was born in 
Huron couiitv, Ohio, and the same year the\ iiio\ed to DeKalb county. 
The\- became the parents of seven children, of whom oiil\ two are now living. 
Mrs. L'lara J. I'.rumback and the subject of this sketch. The mother of 
these children died on December u, iSfiS, and <in January 13, 1870, Mr. 
Harmes married Mrs. Sarah Knapp, they removing to Xolile county during 
the same year. Henry died on July 3, igoh. 

George E. Harmes received his education in ihe common schools of 
Noble county, and on completing the public school corrse he attended a busi- 
ness college at .Vngola. Indiana, thus receiving ;i good jiractical education in 
both the literary and business branches. 

Reared to the ])ursnit of farming, he has never seen cause to forsake 
this vocation, in which he has achieved a pronounced success, and is now the 
owner of a magnificent farm of three hundred and thirty-five acres in 
••"airfield township, to the cultivation and improvement of which he devoted 
his undivided time. He follows general farming, raising all the crops com- 



638 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

ninn to this locality, and also gives some attention to feeding of cattle, in 
which he has heen very successful. His farm is splendidly improved in every 
respect, the attracti\e and comfortable residence, commodious and well- 
arranged liarns and other necessary out-buildings indicating him to be a man 
of excellent taste and sound judgment. He gives his personal attention to 
«very detail of his farm work, and by persistent industry and the exercise 
of good judgment he has attained to a high place among his fellow agri- 
culturists. 

On October 10, 1893, deorge K. Harmes married Mary Bessie Stone- 
Ijiaker. a daughter of John M. and Harriet ( Drowley ) Stonebraker, botli of 
whom were early settlers of b'airfield township. Mr. Stonebraker was a vet- 
eran of the Civil war, having enlisted on .\ugust 27, 1861. in Company B, 
I'wentv-ninth Regiment, Indiana N'olunteer Infantry, with which he served 
with valor and faithfulness until his honorable discharge on .\ugust 2~ , 1864. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Harmes iiave been born foin- children. Clifton I-:.. Harriet 
H., Henry T. and Theodore K. 

Politically. Mr. Harmes has been an ardent supporter of the Republican 
partv, though lie has been too busy a man to as])ire to public office on his 
own account. l''raternall} . he is a member of Corunna Lodge Xo. 248, 
Knights of I'vtliias. in the workings of which he takes an intelligent interest. 
I'.v a life characterized b\- industry anl integrity Mr. Harmes maintains the 
conhdence and good will of the people of his community, and among his 
neighbors and acrpiaintances hi< charactc" and integrity have ever 1ieen above 
reproach. 



hR.ANK BROUCHTOX, M. 1). 

It is not always easy to discover and define the hidden forces that nio\e 
a life of ceaseless acti\ity and large ])rofessional sticcess. Little more can 
be done than to note their manifestation in the career of the indisitlual under 
consideration. In view of this fact the life of the distinguished ])hysician 
and public-s]iirne(l man of aft'airs whose name appears above affords a 
striking example of well-defined pur])ose with the ability to make that pur- 
pose subserxe not onl\- his own ends but the good of his fellow men as well. 
He has long held distinctive prestige in a calling which requires f(.)r its basis 
sound mentalitx' and intellectual discipline of a high order, supplemented by 
the rigid i)rofessional training and thorough mastery of technical knowledge 
with the skill to ajiply the same, without which one cannot hope t<i rise abo\-e 



NDIANA. 






In his cl' 


iiiseii 


1 Held ( 


•h as tew 


atta 


in. and 


il mm o\ 


Del- 


Call) an 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 639 

mediocrity in ministering to human ilLs 

Doctor Broughton has achieved success such as tew attain, and his present 
eminent standing among the leading medical men of DeKalh county is duly 
recognized and appreciated. 

[•"rank Broughton, M. [).. of Waterloo, DeKalh county. Indiana, was 
horn in Noble county, this state, on July 30, i8fio, and is the son of William 
and Rebecca (Casper) Broughton. William Broughton was a native of Ohio 
and came to this state in an early day, while his wife was a relative of the 
Caspers. so well known among the early pioneer.-; of DeKalb county. Frank 
Broughton spent the first sixteen years of his life on the home farm in X'oble 
county, receiving his education in the district schools of his home neigh- 
borhood. In iSjtj and iS.So he was a student in llie Methodist Episcopal 
College in Fort Wayne, and then, ha\ing determined to make the practice of 
medicine his life work, he matriculated in Rush Medical College, of Chicago, 
where he was graduated in 1SS4. During the following three years he was 
engaged in the practice of his jjrofession at A\illa. Xolile countv. Indiana, 
at the end of that jieriod coming to Waterloo, where he has been continuouslv 
engaged in the practice since, lie is well (|nalilie(l hv n;iture and training 
for the calling which he follows, and !iis elturt^ lia\e met w itli \er\ gratif\- 
ing success in thi.« community. His office is well e(|ui])i)ed with all modern 
apparatus for the successful handling of difficult cases, including an .\-ray 
static machine and other medical fixtures, while he has a well selected |)rofes- 
sional library whicli enables him to keep in touch with the most ad\-anced 
thought relative to the healing ;irt. Doctor BroughtMii ha^ for several years 
been surgeon for the Dake Shore &• Michigan .Southern Railroad, and for 
nine years was local I'nitcd .States jiension examiner. \side from his ])ro- 
fession. he has taken a commendable interest in tl)e affairs of the comnnniitv 
and served as a member of the .school hoard, being ])resident of that 1 od\ a 
part of the time. He is also local examiner for about ten life in-^urance 
companies. In addition to bis creditable career in one nf the most useful 
and exacting of jirofessions. the Doctor has also pro\eii ;ui honoralile mem- 
ber of the body politic, rising in the CMnlidence and esteem of tlie public, 
and in e\-er_\- relation of life he h.-is ne\ er fallen 1 elow the dignit\- of true 
manhood nor in an\- way re-orted tn methods ;ind wiles that invite criticism 
or censure. He is essentially a man ;unong men. and as ;i citizen he e;isil\- 
ranks with the most influential of his comnnmity. His course has been abo\e 
suspicion, and those favored with an intimate acquaintance with him are 
profuse in their praise of his manly virtues and upright character. 



640 DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 

Politically, Doctor Llruu.^hton is a Republican, in the success of which 
party he has been actively interested. Fraternally, he is a member of the 
h'ree and -\ccc])ted .Masons and the Knights of I'ythias. 

In 1884 Ddctor liroughton married Lola M. Kimse\-, a daughter of 
John .\l. and Harriett K. (Lent) Kimsey. Harriett !•".. Lent was jjorn at 
Ligonier, Indiana, and is a daughter nf Reuben j. Lent, a pioneer of DeKalb 
county, and at one time one of its best known citizens. A biographical 
sketch of John M. Kimsey aj^pears elsewhere in this work. Lola M. Kimsey 
was liorn at Angola, Indiana, and when but three years of age her family 
mi)\ed to Waterlcio. where she was reared and Ii\ed until her marriage in 
i<S(S4. She attended the public schools and was also a student in the Meth- 
odist College at b'ort \\'a\ne, where she formed the acquaintance of Dr. 
Broughton. .\fter leaxing the college she was emploxed in the Waterloo 
postoffice for about five years. She is a woman of marked intellectual attain- 
ments and excellent social qualities, but her interest is centered in her home, 
being thoroughly domestic in her tastes and desires. Doctor Broughton and 
wife base one son. Jay VV., who first saw the light of day on March 15, 
1885. He attended the public schools at Toledo, and is now connected with 
the dining car service of the Union Pacific Railway from Ogden, LUah, to 
Omaha, occasionally requiring him to go to the Pacific coast. 



H. L. TESS. 



The history of a state is but a record of the doing> of its peuplc. .md 
the story of the plain common |)eople wlm constitute the moral bune and 
sinew (^i the state shouKl ever attract the attention and prove of interest to 
all true lovers of their kind. In the life story of the subject of this sketch 
there are no striking chapters of stai 
of life true to its highest ide.als and 
the youth just starting in the world 

H. L. Tcss is a nati\e son of 
was born on February 25, 18^4. 
(Smith) Tess, the former a nati\i 
vania. Louis Tess emigrated t<i tbi- 
in DeKalb count}', where he followe 
prominence in his comniunitv, he bail the sincere regard of all who knew 
him because of his straightforward, honest and industrious life an<l was 



tling incideiUs. but it is nierelx 


■ the record 


fr.-uigiit with much that shoul 


d stimulate 


as an indei)endent factor. 




the count\- in wbicb be now 


resides .-uid 


His parents were Louis an 


td Harriett 


of dermanx- and the latter 1 


,f I'ennsvl- 


country from the b'atlierland 


and settled 


(1 day labor. Though not a m 


.an of great 



642 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Sarah Ann (Smith) llownian. Cyrus I'.ownian was a brotht-r of jaiiics 
I'.Mwnian. wlinse reccml ^ixes interesting details nt tlie family ancestry. 
('\rns Ddwman was a S(jn of John and Matilda Bowman, and was horn in 
\'an Bnren. Onondaga county. New ^'ork. on Xo\emi)er (j. 1S18. and died 
at his home in West Waterloo. Indiana, on March u. looi. at the advanced 
age of eighty-two _vears. He came of good old i'uritan stock, his father 
having been a native of .\e\\ Jersey and hi> mother of Connecticut. Mr. 
Bowman remained with his jiarcnts in Xew N'ork until he reached his 
majority, his youthful years being si>ent in workuig on the farm. His father 
had entered land in DcKalb county, Indiana, in 1S38, and gave one hundred 
and si.xty acres of this land to his son, who came here the following year, 
spending three years here unmarried, in which time he worked hard clearing 
the land, splitting raiK. building fences and getting about twenty acres of 
his own land \n condition for culti\-ation. In 1842 he returned to his native 
state and there, on June 13. 1843, he was united in marriage to Rachel 
Waterman, a native of \an Buren, New York. The same fall they came to 
the farm in IJeKalh county, building a log cabin in the woods northeast of 
Waterloo, and there together they shared the joys, sorrows, hardships and 
privations incident ttj pioneer life. To their union were Ijorn two children. 
Harriett Matilda, who died on October 8, 1835, aged nearly eleven _\-ears, 
and Rosa (i,, who is now the wife of Phineas D. Childs, of I-^'airfield town- 
shi]), this countv. Mrs. liowman died on October 17, 1853, and on Sep- 
tember 4, 1838. Air. Bowman married Sarah .Ann Smith, the daughter of 
.\rcliibald and Maw ( Tlioni])Son ) Smith. Her father, who was born in 
Scotland, was married in Liverpool to Mary Thom]ison, a native of Rngland, 
and the\- sailed at onci' to .\nierica. They were storni-dri\-en south of the 
equator and \\ere three months on the journe\- across the ocean. They lixed 
a short time in .\ew \(<vk city and then came to Stark county. Ohio, and 
linallv to DeKalb county, Indiana. To Mr. and Mr^. Bowman were born 
tw<i childien, Archie S.. now of Smithfield township this count)', and l'>ed 
C, of Waterloo. Late in life Air. Fjowman bought a nice home in Waterloo, 
where he spent his last years. In politics he was an ardent Republican, and 
in 1886 he was elected a member of the lioard of county commissioners at 
a time when the normal political majority was against his party, but, owing 
to his nersonal po]>ularity and his ability, he reversed the majority to a 
plurality in his favor of two hundred and twenty-seven, the head of his ticket 
being defeated by two hundred and nineteen. His official career was marked 
by business abilitv of a high order and during his administration much was 
done in the way of public improvement and develo|jment of the count\-. As 



DKKA1.15 COL'NTV, INDIANA. ()4_^ 

a pioneer citizen of the county and a protjressivc man in his \ie\\s and 
attitude toward |)ublic affairs he was one of the most influential factors in 
advancing the ])ul)lic interests and in tjixinu; ]>r()minence to tiiis section of 
the state. 

.\rchie S. ili)\\nian was learcd on tlie iiome farm until he had attained 
his majorit)', his early years being spent in the arduous toil n\ clearing,' the 
land and putting it under cultivation. He distiuctl\ remembers when the 
cleared land was as scarce as the timbered part is now. In the fall after he 
had attained his twenty-hrst year he was married tn Alice Kell\ , the daugh- 
ter of Mr. and Mrs. b'reeman Kelly, b'reeman Kelly, who is now deceased, 
was born in 1833 in Hancock county, Ohio, a son of Isaac and Rebecca (De- 
Weese) Kelly. He was reared in bis nati\e state and at the age of eighteen 
years went to California, where he followed gold mining and other occupa- 
tions until 1857. He then located in the southeastern part of Smithfield 
township, DeKalb county. Indiana, wliere he bought one hundred and si.xty 
acres of land. In August, 1857, he married Martha J. Marvin, a native of 
Hancock county, Ohio, and the daughter of \\'illiam and Mabel (Roberts) 
Mar\in. I-'reeman I\ell\- was a successful farmer and a prominent citizen 
of liis locality, ba\-ing serxed two terms as justice of the peace, two terms 
as a member of the Legislatme. and in other ways working for the lienefit 
of his fellow^ men. Fraternally, he was a member i}f the Free and .\ccepted 
Masons and the Independent Order of Odd l-'ellows, and in religion was ,• 
member of the I'nixersalist church. He was acti\e in the support of tlk- 
Democratic party, being an efficient and forceful cam])aign orator, and at- 
tained to a marked popularity throughout this .section of the state. His widow 
survived him and now lives on the old farm in Snu'thfield township with her 
son-in-law, Archie Bowman. 

Immediately after his marriage Vrchie I'lowiuan mo\ed to Cass counl\. 
Michigan, where be engaged in the timlier business and farming. He bougln 
ninety-three acres r)f land there, on which he made his ])L-rmanent home until 
IQOO, when he retmned to FieKalb comity, locating again on the farm where 
he was 1 orn and reared, living there a year. He then went to the Chapman 
farm, which he rented for three years, but finally bought the Freeman Kelly 
farm of one hundred and eighty-six acres, which was well imnroved and 
up-to-date in its ap])ointments, and there he now resides. He is the father 
of seven children : Clarence A.. Ray, Mildred, Delbert, Marv, Ruth and 
Russell. Clarence A. married Dora Lutz, daughter of Jacob Lutz. and tbe\ 
have a daughter. Thelma. He lives on the old Bowman homestead, where 



644 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

the subject of this sketch was born. Mildred is the wife of Arthur Grogg 
and li\es twn miles west of Waterloo. Alary is the wife of Charles Bell, 
and lives in iiarry county, Michigan, and has one daughter. Mr. Bowman 
is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Waterloo, which 
he joined while living in Michigan in 1882, and is an appreciative participant 
in its work. Socially, Mr. Bowman enjoys to a marked degree the confidence 
and regard of all who know liim, for his life here has been controlled by 
l^roper motives and his actions ha\e e\er been such as to win the commenda- 
tion and approval of his fellow citizens. 



JAMKS ROHKUT NISBKT. 

.Mthou^b not ail old man in \e;ir-, tlu- gvnlleman w !io-e life record is 
herein oullnud ha- -.lani].i: hi~ ind.i\ idiialitx' m no uncertain manner upon 
the localities v. here be lia- rr>idcd. l.eiut; an excellent rei)re-~entalive of thai 
tyi)e of the nuich heralded American l)UMnes> man, — the type that does things. 
—Mr. Xishcl bcim;^ a wortbv descendaiU of a long line of honorable and in- 
fluential ancotiirs. 

lames Knlien Xisbel. tormcrh a well known and honored resident of 
Waterloo, Dekalb countv. Indiana, but now living in Chicago, Illinois, was 
born in the latter city on .Xugust 2. 1876. and is a sdii of Richard and josie 
(O'Mara) Nisbet. The father wa- a native of Thorn Hill, Ontario. Canada, 
while the mother was born "U the Atlantic ocean while her parents were en 
route to this countrv from Ireland. The subject's father came to Chicago 
when but fourteen vears old and there spent the remainder of his life, his 
death occurring on June 16, 1890. His widow still resides in that city. Mrs. 
Josie Nisbet's parents located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, after their arrival in 
this country and there lived the remainder of their lives, Mrs. Nisbet living 
there until sixteen years of age, when she went to Chicago, and there met 
and married Richard iNisbet. Richard Nisbet was employed in a machine 
shop, and in early days was an expert molder. At the time of the Chicago 
fire in 1871 he lost practically all his possessions and was compelled to start 
life anew, in which he was fairly successful. He was not only industrious 
and energetic, but, because of his upright life, he commanded the universal 
respect and esteem of all who knew him. 

James Robert Nisbet was reared at Chicago and after receiving his edu- 
cation in the public schools he became a student at the I'niversity of Michi- 



DEKALB COUNTV. INDIANA. 645 

gan, Ann Arlwr. where he was ijradualed in i8()6. witli the detjree of Phar- 
maceutical Chemist. 'I'hen. after reeeiviiiL; snme practical experience in a 
drug store, he came to Waterloo and in the sprin<,^ of 1897 he hecame a 
member of the firm of t'ass X Xisliet. druggists, in which he was successfully 
engaged for about a year. He then returned to Chicago, hut later went to 
New Mexico, where he was again engaged in the drug business. Three years 
later he removed to Hot Springs, Arkansas, and also spent a year in DetrcJit 
and a period at Port Huron, Michigan, and St. Louis, Missouri, after which 
he returned to Chicago, where he has since resided. His business pertains to 
surgical instruments and hospital and surgeon's supplies, with auxiliary lines. 
He understands e\ery detail of the business, being considered an expert. 

On June 11, 1902, Mr. Nisbet returned to DeKalb county ;ind was mar- 
ried to Bessie Kelley. daughter of .\lfred Kelle\-. he having met his future 
wife while engaged in busmess at Waterloo. To them have been born two 
children, Richard Kellev. born .\]iril 1. 1005, and .\<la l^lanchc. born May 7. 
1907. 

Fraternall\-, Mr. Nisbet is an appreciatve member of the hVee and .\c- 
cepted Masons. He is companionable and genial, though unostentatiously 
quiet in his demeanor, and has earned the high regard in which he is held by 
tbo<e who know liini. 



HARRY BROWN. 



It is proper to jiulge of the success and status of ;i man's lift- by tlie esti- 
mation in wbicii be is held by his fellow citizens. Tlie\- sec liini at In's work. 
in his famil\- circle, in his church, at his (le\(itions. hear his \ie\\s on public 
questions, obseive tlie outcome of liis code of morals, witnes- bow lie con- 
ducts himself in all the relati-'ii^ of M.cietv and civilization and thus become 
campeteiU to judge "i lii- nieriK an<' demerit^ .\fter ;i JonL,'' cmn-se of yrars 
of such dailv oliscrvation n wmdd be out (,f the (|uesiion for his neighbors 
not to know his worth, l)ecanse, a- has been said, "Actions sprak louder than 
words." In this county tiiere is nothing iH-.inl concerning the sul>iect i<i tliis 
sketch but good words. He has passed so manv )ears here that his worth 
is well known, Init it will be of intercut to run over the busy events of bis life 
I •'-■se pa,ges. 

Harrv P.rown \\;is born at Hartsville, Bartholomew comity. Indiana, on 
October 5, 1871, and is a son of William M.arion Brown, Jr.. and Clara 



646 DEKAI.R COUNTY. INDIANA. 

I WDmack ) ilrown. William M. Brown, Jr., was born in PVanklin couiuy. 
Ohio, tin- M,n of William .\lan,,n r'.rown. Sr.. and Sarah (Wiley) l^-rown. 
At the a,L;f of two years ht- \va> hroui^dit hv hi- partMsls to 1 lartsvilk-, liidi.-ina. 
where he spent the reiiiaiii(iei- of his life, hei'ii; for a nuinlier of \ears the 
oldest inhaliitant in point of years of residenee in thai li>wn. Mis wife, 
whose maiden name was Clara W'oinack. w;is horn .alon.i^ hdat Roclc ereek. 
Shelby county, Indiana. William Al. P.rown. Jr.. was a blacksmith h\ \ oc.i- 
tioii, fnllowin.^' that jiin-suit for fortx-five year< on tlie s.anie lot at Hartsx ille. 
He took ,a deep interest in local .affairs .and w;is , ,11 the school hoard for 
twenty-fix e \ears. bein.si' a member of that bodv at th.e linie (>> his death. He 
was elected a jnstice of the peace, but refused to oualifx. He was actixe in 
his support of the Republican partw .and assisted materially in the election of 
others to p;il lie oHice, 1 nt xvas nexer liimself an aspirant for any position at 
the h.ands of his fellow citizens. He died on Heceniber jn, i()ij. txvo days 
before the si.\t\-ei,yhth .annixersarx- of his birth, and Ins widow still resides 
at Hartsville. 

Harry Brown was reared at Hartsville, and after coin])leting' his studies 
in the common schools he attended the United Brethren College at Harts- 
x'ille five terms. After leaxing that institution he xvent into the butchering 
business at Huntington, Indian.a. and xxas snecessfnllx eni^.it^ed in the ret.ail 
trade there for eight years. At the end (jf that time he came to .\ubnrn. .and 
for five years xvas engagetl in buying timber for the U. W . \'aughn Handle 
Company. However, prior l(_i connng here he spent .a year in the st.ate of 
Washington with his familx-. tlieii- sojourn in that state being on account of 
Mr. Brown's health, xvhich w.as impaired xxhen he went there, biu xvhich \xas 
entirely restored on his return. .After five years' residence at .\uburn. Mr. 
Brown moved to Waterloo, where he has resided ever since and xvliere he is 
now engaged in farming, his beautiftd home being located at the south edge 
of the city. He is practical and ui)-to-date in his methods and has achieved a 
noteworthy success in this line. 

Politically. Harry Brown xxas an earnest supporter of the Ke|nibbcan 
party, and in the councils of that organization he was an actixe and ])romi- 
nent figure for many years. In igij he xvas one of the two delegates from 
the twelfth congressional district to the national conxention of the partv at 
Chicago, and since that time has been identified xvith the Progressive party. 
In the spring of that year he was nominated by the Republican i)arty for the 
office of county clerk, but, the party being hopelessly divided that xear. he 
went doxvn to defeat xvith the rest of the ticket. A m,an of kindlv and uvnial 



DKKAI.H (OUNTV, INDIANA. 647 

impulses and companionahk' nature, Mr. Brown has won a host of warm and 
loyal personal friends tlimuuliout DeKalh couiitv. and In-cause of hi- up- 
right life and earnest ehort and social nature he is di.-scr\ inv; of ilic rn\ iahji- 
standing which he now enjox's here. 

On September t8, 18(55, Harrv Brown was united in marriage with 
Jessie May Hiuies. .,t W asliiugton tnwushu". XnMe CMuntN, Inchana, die 
daughter of jae( .hand Kli/.a!.elh (Striehev) iiinies. \\n- former of whom was 
a successful farmer. l"o tlu's mu'dU were horn tlua-e cliijdren, .Marie. Dorolln 
and Harriett, wiio are now living with Mr. i'.rown at Waterloo, 'idie mother 
■.I these children died on October 25, 1005, and on November 7. uyiH. Alr 
Brown married Mrs. I'di/.aheth f T.raud 1 Shoemaker, liie widow of Scntt 
Shoemaker, deceased, who, during his -u'lixe life, was a successful farmer 
north of Waterloo in Smithfield township. Elizabeth Bra'ftl became the wife 
of Scott Shoemaker, the son of Emanuel Shoemaker, and who was born in 
Smithfield township in May, 1861. living in Smithfield township with his 
parents until his marriage. He was a lifelong farmer and enjoyed the regard 
of all who knew him because of liis \ocational success as well as his tipright 
life. His death occurred on June 8. 1898, leaving two daughters. Khena Mav 
and Maude Scott. For about a year after the death of her first husband .Mrs. 
Brown lived in Smithfield township and then moved iutu Waterloo, where a 
few years later she eutered the present l.eautiful home at tlie south edge of 
that city, which she now grace'^ with her presence. 



WORTH CORBIX. 



One of the successful and well known farmers of DeKalh cuunty. and 
' h.o richl)- merits the high e-teem in which he is lield owing to his In'e oi' 
integrity and industry, is the gentleman whose name forms die caption of 
this brief l)iogrnph\-. Me has done much to :id\ ance the material .ind gen- 
eral interests of his localil\- :nM\ has, hv his persi>ient laliors and excellent 
management. de\eloped oiu' of the lie-t farnis ui the coninumity. 

Worth ("orbin was Ixirn l-^eptember _' I , iS^o. :n Wilmington townshij). 
DeKalb county, the son oi .Xbsanr and Idora , .Xodiiie ) lV)rbin. he a native 
of Ohio, and she of (/onnecticut. .\bsaur (.'orbin was one of the earliest 
settlers of DeKalh county, and was a very '-llcce'^sful f;irmer, h;i\ing large 
interests. To them were b<ini fmir children, naii;el\-: .\m\. who married 



648 DEKAI.P, COIXTV. IXDI.WA. 

a -Mr. l-'isht-r and lives in Texas: Winnie Corliin lives in \\'ilmingtt)n town- 
ship; Nathan is deceased, and the remaininj,' child is the subjeect. 

The early education of the subject of this sketch was acquired in the 
common schools of the county. At the at^^e of fifteen years he cea>ed bis 
studies and began farming on the home place, which ccmtains twn Inmdred 
and ninety-three acres and which be now owns. His career as an agricul- 
turist has been crowned with brilliant success, fur he has adopted the most 
scientific and u])-tu-date metboiK. in hi- chosen \-ocation, conser\ing bis 
valuable land by a careful system of rotati 
class of farming, be is de\f)ting mucli time 
believes in l)reeding along tlie best blood 
reputation as a stockman. 

On the anniversary of our nation's birth, July 4, iSy^, the subject was 
married to Rosa, the daughter of William Topper, she having been born 
in DeKalb county. Indiana, her father being a native of the Keystone state. 
To Mr. Corbin and wife have been born five children, namelv: Orvil! ('... 
born April 16, 1896; Leroy, born Noxember 14, 1897: (iolda L., born June 
2.~. 1901 ; Dortha F., born March 29, ic^ori; Lloyd O.. Ijorn June 14. 1912. 

Mr. Corbin, while never having sought public office, has given to the 
Republican ])arty bis lifelong sujiport. He is well posted on current exents 
and always dis])lays a deep interest in any nio\enient for the betterment of 
of the communitx- in which he resides. 



in of cro 


Po- 


In addition t( 


. this 


(' the ra 


ising 


of fine stock. 


He 


ine- and 


ba,^ 


more than ;i 


local 



GEORCK W. GEDDF.S. 



In placing the subject of this sketch in the front r.mk of ilutler"s busi- 
ness men, sim])le justice is done to a l)iogr;ipbic;d f;ict. uni\ersalh- recogni/.e<l 
by men at all familial' with bis bisinrx, .\ m;ui of judgnieiU. sound discretion 
and business abilit\- of ,-i high Miiifr. lie li:'s niaiiaL'ed with tactful success 
important enterprises ;uid s, , impressed his iiidn idi);ilil\ upon the roniiiuui- 
ity as to gain recognition among its leading citizens and pubbc-s]iirile(l men 
of .affairs. 

(ieorge W. Geddes. who is numbered .among the leading liusiness men 
<.f r.utler. Indiana. Nv.as l„,rn in DeK.alb conntv , m October J(i, iSh;,. and is 
the son of Robert .and S.arab (Dunn) Ceddes. who were n.atives of Stark 
county, Ohio. Robert (ieddes was one of the earlv settlers of DeKalb conntv 
and here followed ftirming all bis active life. To him ,and bis wife w.as Ixn-n 




GEORGE W. GEDDES 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 641) 

one child, the subject of this sketch. I'lu- latlur is iidw deceased and i> stil! 
survived by his widow. 

George W. (ieddes received hi.s echuation in llie coniimm schools of 
DeKalb county and tiien t(ioi< up tiie sliidv of pharniacv ;it the a-e of si.xteeii 
years under the direction oi Dr. !\l. J. Ilolaii. cciniinuinu in the latter's 
employ for several years. Dr. I'olan tlien sdld [u-, stnre. the linn heeoniin^ 
Fanning & Shoub, with whom Mr. ( .eddes eontnuied for a time and then the 
firm name became consecutix ely Fo>dick & Son. then Kehrer iK: Stone, witii 
whom Mr. Geddes remained for twelve years. He then bought the store 
where he had first begun to work, the firm name being Geddes & Harding for 
about nine years. Mr. Geddes then bought Mr. Harding's interest and still 
continues the business under his own name. Tliat he has been successful 
goes without saying, for he possesses in an eminent degree those (|ualities 
wiiich insure success and which gain friends for tlie possessor. Mr. (ieddes 
carries a complete and well selected line of drug- and all sundries usually 
found in a modern and up-to-date drug sinre. and he has for a number of 
year enjoyed his full share of the local patronage. His courteous treatment 
of his customers insures their return to him \\hen in need of anything in 
his line. 

Mr. Geddes married Maggie S. .Meriierson, the daughter nf John S. 
McPherson, a native of New Jersey, and to Mr. and .Mrs, (.eddes has been 
bom one child, Leta. who is at home. 

Politically. Mr. ( ie.Ides has always given his support to the Republican 
party and has been honored hy his ])arty in official positions, in all of which 
he has discharged his duties to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. He 
served as city treasurer of Butler five years, it being at the time when the 
town was bonded for public improvements, including the water ami electric 
lighting plants. He also served as a member of the school board for four- 
teen years, lia\iiig a dee]) and intelli.gent interest in educational affairs. Fra- 
ternally, he is a member of the Free and .Xccepied .Masons and of Knights of 
Pythias Lodge No. 158. In the latter hodv he has ])a.ssefl ihrongh all the 
chairs and for twenty-three years ser\ ed a- master of finance. Religiouslw 
he is a supporter of tiie Methodist F]iisco]ial chnreli. in the prosperitv nf 
which he is deeph- interested and to tin' heiunoK-nces df wiiich he contrib- 
utes of his means. He stands high in the esteem cif his fellow men, being 
public spirited and progressive, and at all limes willing ti. kiul his ,iid .md in- 
fluence in behalf of any measures for the material advancement of his local- 
ity for the intellectual, iuoral or social good of the j)eople. 



650 DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 



MELVIN SWARTZ. 



Among the enterprising and progressive citizens of DeKalb county none 
stands higher in the esteem of his fellow citizens than the gentleman whose 
name forms the caption of this sketch. He has long lieen actively engaged 
in agricultural pursuits in this county and the years of his residence here 
have but served to strengthen the feeling of admiration on the part of his 
fellow men owing to the honorable life he has led and the success he has 
attained. 

Alehin Swartz, une uf the enterprising farmers and [juldic-spirited citi- 
zens of Grant township, DeKalb county, was born on February 10, 1875, on 
the farm where he now lives, about a mile southwest of Waterloo. He is a 
.son of William antl Ivlizabeth (Welch) Swartz. William Swartz was born 
in Wayne county, ( )hio, on .March 11, 1830, and died at the home of the 
subject of this sketch on January 23, 191 1: his wife, Elizabeth (Welch) 
Swartz, died on October 5, kjio. William .Swartz came to Indiana in 1848 
with his parents and settled on the farm south of Waterloo, where he resided 
until about ten years prior to his death, when he removed to Waterloo. He 
was one of the pioneers of this comnnmit)- and expended his strength in 
clearing the heavy forests and ])re])aring his land for cultivation. In 1853 
he returned to Wayne count\', ()lno. and brought back w uli him b'.lizabeth 
Welch, to whom be was married on Xo\-ember dth of that \ear. and here 
they courageously entered upon the struggles of life in which, by their muted 
efforts, they attained to an eminent success. Mr. .Swartz w;is a man of large 
capacitv, and by earnest eft'ort and persistent ende.'ixor he earned the respect 
and confidence of the people, as well as material success. To him and his 
wife were born ten children, namely: Adeline, who lives in X'ova, .Ashland 
county, Ohio, and is the widow of Josiah Kosht : -\ngela is the wife of Xelson 
Shook, of Kendalhille. Indiana: Ida died at the age of four years; Izora. 
who was the wife of Samuel Ralcer, died at the age of t\\ent\-four \ears : 
Clement died at the age of two years: Tarring is engaged in the tueat business 
at .\uburn. Indiana : Emmett died at the age of eleven months : Lulu is the 
wife of William Batdorf, who is engaged in the meat business at .Vuburn 
with her brother. Tarring Swartz: the subject of this .sketch was next in 
order of birth: Jennie, who was the wife of \\'illiam Metcber, died at Water- 
loo in October, 1909. 

Melvin Swartz was reared on the paternal farmstead until nineteen 
\-ears of age, receiving his education in the district schools of the commu- 



J. 1 


n Kjdo 


. after s 


elhiig 


Uljn 


iniiiii tl 


10 liDme 


place 


'S'lt; 


y acres 


of the 


home 


prugressivt 


.• in his 


ideas 


'W 1 


iK-th(i(l> 


- when 


tlieir 


Ir'U 


vv Ihaii 


n\(\ methods. 



F)EKAl.r. fOUNT^', INDIANA. (13 I 

nity. In 1893 '^^ ^"'^me tu V\ aterloo, and, with Ins hruther. Tarring, engaged 

in the butchering business, to which he devoted his efforts for six years. He 

tiien sold his interest and returned to the home farm, to the cultivation of 

which he has dexotcd his attention continuously sine 

out to his brother, lie Ijouglit sixty-one acres of land 

on the east, and in January, KjoO. he bought the e 

place, where he now resides. He is methodical and 

relating to agriculture, hesitating not to adopt n 

feasibility has been demonstrated by experience to be 

In consequence of his attitude along this line, his oiieralmn nf the farm h;is 

been characterized by means and methods whicli lia\e enabled bini tn attain 

a maximum of returns at a minimum of effort and expense. 

On April 23. 1895, Mr. Swart/ married t'atbenne I'.ecker. the daughter 
of Frederick and Katherine ( I loft'man ) liecker. I'rederick ISecker was born 
in September, 1823, in Nassau. (iermaii\-. In August. 1834. he married 
Katherine Hoft'man, also a native of Nassau and born in the same house as 
was Mr. Becker. In September following their marriage the newly wedded 
couple and Mrs. liecker's brother, bVederick Hoft'man. came to .America, 
locating tir.st at ^lanstield, Ohio. Thev remained ten years longer at a little 
town south of Mansfield, where Mr. Becker followetl blacksmithing. In 
1864 he moved to Indiana, locating on a farm one and one-half miles east of 
Corunna. but later he bought tiftx' acres, on wb.icli he made his ])ermanenl 
home and spent the remainder of his life, his death (jcciirring on August 28. 
i8()4. ill the sixtv-ninth year of his ;ige. In addition to his farming opera- 
tions he also conducted a blacksmith shop, which was a great convenience to 
his neighbors and farmer^. Religiously he wa^ ;i member of the (German 
Reformed church and took a prominent part in tlie religious and civic life 
of the community. To him and his wife were l)orn ten children, all of whom 
grew to maturity, namely: John, who lives on a farm near Corunna; George, 
of Montpelier, Ohio; hVederick. who lives near C'orunna : Mary is the widow 
of Amos Seibert and lives near Concord; iMiinia is the wife of Ulysses M. 
Swaysgood. of Garrett. Indiana; Nettie is l!ie wife of l-'.d Kenyon, of Fort 
Wayne; Herman died on April J4. iS()i. aged twenty-one \ears. six months 
and nine davs; I'eter live^ ni Waterloo, where he i-. ;igent for the electric 
interurban line: Catherine is the wife of Melvin Sw.artz. who lives one mile 
south of Waterloo: Minnie i>- the wife of Herman Riley, of b'.lkhart. Indiana. 
The father of these children was a good citizen, an industrious worker and 
an affectionate father and faithful husband. His wife, who celebrated her 



652 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

seventy-eighth hirthday anniversary in November, 1913, has resided most 
of the time since her liusband's death at Waterloo, where she has buiU a 
comfortable and attractive residence on North Wayne street. She is a quiet, 
home-loving woman, whose greatest worldly interest is in her children and 
their welfare. She holds fast to the religious faith which she professed many 
years ago, one of her chief companions being an old and well-worn German 
Bible. 

-Mr. and Mrs. Swartz are members of the L'nitecl Brethren church, in 
which they take an active part. He is ])resident of the board of trustees. 
He was a member of the building committee, which erected the present fine 
edifice, costing tifleen thousand dollars, and which is an ornament and credit 
to the communitw Mr. Swartz is a whole-souled, genial and companionable 
man, up-to-date and progressive in his ideas, and because of his sterling 
qualities of character and the success which he has attained, he is deserving 
of the enviable position which he holds in the esteem of all who know him. 



WELLINGTON HLTBBARD H(^LL!STER. 

Among the well known an<l ])u):!k- >])iritcd citizens of Waterloo, Indi- 
ana, is Wellington llub!)ard Hollister. who was born on Decenilier 28. 1849. 
in Lucas county, Ohio, the son of Horace and Susan ( Hubbard ) Hollister. 
In 1857 the family moved to near Ligonier. Noble countw Indiana, and 
there the subject receixed his ]nil)lic school education. In liis youth he 
a])];lied himself to learning the calnnet maker's trade at Ligonier. and in 
1869 went to Baltimore, Maryland, where he was for awhile eniplox-ed at 
his trade. \Miile living at Ligonier he had l>een a prominent member of 
the brass band and his comrades wrote to him at Baltimore, urging him to 
return and offering to pa\' his transportation home. Howex'er, he did not 
wait for them to i)ay his way, as he was somewhat homesick and anxious 
to return, and he was soon again among his former companions. Remaining 
at Ligonier until 1874, Mr. Hollister went to .Angola, where he remained 
until about 1877, when he nio\ed to Butler. .\t .\iigola he had been em- 
])loyed in a jewelry store and had started to learn the trade, which he com- 
pleted after his remoxal to Butler. He was there in the employ of L. J. 
Diehl. jeweler, until r8()(). when he went to Goshen and again employed 
himself at cabinet-making, and afterwards was employed in a buggy factory. 
In 1803 he went to Pullman. Illinois, and for a few months was employed 



DKKAI.I! (.-orNTV, INDIANA, f)^:^ 

in the street car (le|)artiiient of tlie I'ullnian Cdinpany. luit a few (lavs l-efore 
tlie big strike tliere he returned to (loslien. Here he was employed in the 
Kelly Fonndry as cupola tender, and eventually became a pattern maker, 
working there until njo^. when lie went to Detroit and was emjiloved on 
the woodwork on automobiles until Kjoq. when he came to Waterloo, and 
has here since resided. He is now flevoting his attention to agricultural i)ur- 
suits. in which he is meeting with gratifying success. 

In 1879 Mr. Hollister married Ella Abbey, the daughter of (iiles T. 
.\bbe}-, who is referred to elsewhere at length in this work. To this union 
have been born four children, all daughters, namely: Erma. who married 
Carl Wolfe, by whom there was <ine ^on. Russell. She afterwards became 
the wife of Charles Clark, and they now live at Bryan, Ohio: Bernice is the 
wife of Edison Haskin, of Denver, Colorado, and they have two children, 
Harold and Kenneth: Winifrede is the wife of Elmer Greiser, of Detroit, and 
they have a daughter. Dorothy: Mildred is the wife of .\lwyn Prange, of 
Waterloo, and they have a daughter. Ethel. Mr. Hollister is a member of 
the Woodinen of the World and because of his many splendid personal 
qualities and his upright life he has won a host of warm peisonal friends 
since locating at his present residence. 



JOHX W. HENDERSON. 

The gentleman whosf life history is here taken under consideration is 
one of the strong, sturdy characters who has contributed largely to the 
welfare of the community where he lives, being a public-si)irited citizen and 
progressive in the largest meaning of the word. He ranks as one of the 
leaders in agricultural circles in DeKalb count) and one of the most repre- 
sentative citizens of Concord townshi]). and yet is a plain, unassuming, 
straightforward gentleman whom to know is to respect and admire. But 
when we consider the excellent (|uality of his Hoosier blood, drawn from 
sterling pioneer ancestry, it is not surprising that he has developed into a 
man that does things. 

John W. Henderson is the son of William and Matilda 1 Watson ) 
Henderson and was born close to his pre.sent residence on May 23, 1851. 
He was reared under the i)arental roof, and received his education in the 
district schools of his immediate neighborhood, his vacation periods being 
sjjcnt in labor on the home farm, in the cultivation and improvement of which 



•654 DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 

he was an important factor, being the only son and assistant of his father in 
the work. At the age of nineteen years, Mr. Henderson completed his school 
studies, and thereafter gave his undivided attention to farm work, in which 
he has acliie\-ed most profound success during the subsequent years. He ha> 
a splendid farm located in Concord township, and he has so conducted it as 
to make it one of the best farms of the township. He raises all the crops 
common to this locality, carrying on very extensive farming, and also 
gives some attention to live stock, in which he has also been successful. 
Up-to-date, progressi\e in his ideas, he does not hesitate to adopt new 
methods when their practicabilit\- and superiority o\er old methods have 
been demonstrated. 

(^n July 30, i<S7_'. .Mr. Henderson married .Mice .\usbaum. the daughter 
of Cjeorge and Mar}- Xusbaum, of Harlan, .\llen county, Indiana, and to this 
union have been born three sons, Charles, William and George. 

Politically, Mr. Henderson is affiliated with the Republican party, and 
in 1S92 he was elected trustee of Concord township, serving in that capacity 
for five years and three months. In 1904 Mr. Henderson was elected recorder 
of DeKalb county, discharging the duties of his office for four years, to the 
entire satisfaction of his fellow citizens. In 1908 he was the nominee of hi^i 
partv for representati\e to the Legislature, but. owing to peculiar local con- 
ditions, he met defeat witli the rest of his ticket. Mr. Henderson has in him 
manv of the elements that always win in the battle of life, no matter where 
fought out, and because of his upright life and commendable ha' its he er- 
ioys in its entirety the esteem and respect of the community. 



T. W. SHOWALTER 



The subject of this sketch is one of tho.se strong, self-reliant and deter- 
mined characters who an.- occasionally met with and who are of such a dis- 
tinct type as to seem to be born leaders of their fellow- men. .Xot that Mr, 
Show alter courts that distinction, for he is entirely unassuming, hut his great 
force of character and his zeal and energy in whatever he undertakes nat^ 
urallv place him at the bead of tlie crowd, and he has been a potent factor 
in the development of DeKalb county, where he has long maintained his 
home and where he is well known to all classes for his honorable and indus- 
trious life in both private and public. 

J. W. Showalter was born on March 27, 1846, in Ohio, and is the son 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 655 

of Noah and Klizalwtli (.Moore) Showalter, the former a native of Penn- 
sylvania and the latter of Ohio. These parents have three children, Emma, 
H. M. and J. W. Mr. Showalter came to DeKalli county in his early youth, 
having been reared under tlie parental roof and having secured a good edu- 
cation in the public scliools of his community. His first IcKation after com- 
ing to DeKalb county was in Wilmington township, where he secured one 
hundred and fort}- acres of good farm land, to the improvement and culti- 
vation of which he de\-oted himself through the years, and today lie is num- 
bered among the substantial nlder residents of his community. His farm 
near Butler comprises two hundred aiul eighty acres of as good land as can 
be found in the community, and he has for forty-live years, through wiiUcr's 
cold and smnmer's heat, persistently and courageously carried forward the 
work to which he set himself years ago, and by his earnest endea\or and 
persistent industry he has accumulated a handsome competency, thus render- 
ing his later years free from worry or embarrassment. Now, in the golden 
sunset of his life, he can look hack over the years and conscientiously feel 
that his life has been a consistent one, for he has, without ostentation or dis- 
play, carried forward his life work in a manner that has won for him the 
commendation of all wlio know him. Mr. Showalter has made many per- 
manent and substantial iiupro\-ements on his farm. He has carried on gen- 
eral agriculture, and has also been active in the breeding and raising of 
Shetland ponies and graded --tock. His residence, which is about a half 
mile north of Butler, is a substantial and attractive brick house, and he also 
owns town property, including eight lots in (iarrett. 

Soon after coming to DeKalb county. Mr. ."Showalter married Sarah 
Ball, the daughter of John R. and Sarah (I'lies) Ball, and to them were 
born three children: Mrs. Kha Copp, whose busliand is a farmer near But'ev. 
and thev have one child. Ruth; Mrs. Minnie 1'. Knisley. of Butler, where 
her husband is engaged in the clothing business, and Mrs. Xora Kudd, of 
Butler. The mother of tlic^e children died and subse(iuently ^Ir. Showalter 
married Laura Watkins, to which union were born two children. Carolin-j 
and Zelma, both of whom are at home with their parents. 

Politically, Mr. Showalter has given his lifelong su])porl to the Repub- 
lican partv, believing that its platfortn embodies those principles most con- 
ducive to the welfare of the people. Fraternally, he is a member of the 
Masonic order and Lodge No. 1 58, Knights of Pythias, at Butler. Mr. 
Showalter is an excellent neighbor, a praiseworthy citizen and keeps in touch 
with all matters of general interest to the com.munity. He stands for law and 



656 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

good government, uses his influence on the right side of every moral issue, 
and, though quiet and uncjstentatious in demeanor and always attending 
strictlv to his own business and affairs, his life has been fraught with good to 
all with whom he has come in contact. 



VVAL'J'ER J. MONDHANK. 

The gentleman wlicise name forms tlie caption of this sketch belongs to 
that class of men who win m life's liattles by sheer force of personality and 
determination, coupled with soundness of judgment and keen discernment, 
and in whatever he has undertaken he has shown himself to be a man of 
ability and bjuior, always ready lo lend his aid in defending principles af- 
fecting the public good. 

Walter J. Mondhank, a successful business man at Butler, Indiana, and 
present mayor of that thriving town, is a native of Lancaster, Ohio, where 
he was born on September 23. 187^1. He is the son of Frederick and Sarah 
( Kratzer) Mondhank, both of whom were also natives of the Buckeye 
state, where the father followed farming jmrsuits during all his active life. 
They were the parents of three children, Walter J.. Charles and Ethel. 

Walter J. Mondhank obtained his education in the public schools of his 
native community and then took up farming, which he followed for a year 
in Ohio and later in Colorado, subsequently engaging in the milling business 
at Platte City, Missouri, which he followed for about three years, and at the 
end of that period came to P)Ut]er, Intliaua. where he bought the mill owned 
by Dratz & Son, which he is operating at the present time. This is one of 
the best equipped mills in this section of the state and here Air. Mondhank 
does custom milling of all kinds, handling flour, feed and grain, and has met 
with a success commensurate with his efforts. 

Mr. Mondhank married Ellen Willock, the daughter of James T. and 
Betty Willock, natives of the state of Ohio, of which their forbears were 
early settlers. To Mr. and Mrs. Mondhank have been born two children, 
Elizabeth and Frederick. 

Politically. Mr. Mondhank :s an ardent supporter of the Democratic 
party, and in 1910 he was elected mayor of the city of Butler, which ofifice 
he is now filling with ability and to the entire satisfaction of his fellow citi- 
zens. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the 
Order of the Eastern Star and the Knights of Pythias, while his religious 



DF.KAI.P. COUNTY. INDIANA. 657 

faith is embodied in the creed of the German Lutheran church, of which 
he is a regular attendant and an earnest supporter. Mr. Mondhank is known 
as a man of energy, intellect and will, throwing his entire force of hodv and 
mind upon his work. He is frank, bold, honest, aggressive, acts and tliinks 
quickly, never evading but always meeting a situation squarely. He is a man 
of broad, humanitarian princii>les, earnest purpose and upriglit life anil b\ 
all is e.steemed for his courteous manner, genial disposition and genuine 
worth. 



HENRY HUSSELMAN. 



.Success in this life comes to the ileserving. It is an axiom tleiiinnstialed 
by all human experience- thai a man gets out of thi> life what he puts into it, 
plus a reasonable interest on the investment, 'i'he individual who inherits a 
large estate ami adds nothing to his fortune cannot he called a successful man. 
He that falls heir to a large fortiuie and increases its value is successful in 
pro])ortion to tju' amount he a(l<ls to his possession. But tlie man who starts 
in the world unaided antl by siieer force of will, controlled by correct i)rinci- 
ples, forges ahead and at length reaches a pl:ue of hoiioi- ;imong his fellow 
citizens achieves success .such as representaives of thi,- twc former classes can 
neither understand nor ai)])reciate. To a consideral le extent tlie late Ileury 
Husselman, of Grant townsiiip. DeKalb county. Indiana, was a credi-abje 
representative of the last named class, a mem1)er of that sterling type which 
has furnished much of the horn- and sinew of the country and added to the 
stability of our govemment and its institutions. Ik- was a man of many 
sterling characteristics of iiead and heart, and .among bis contem])oraries it 
would be hard to find a record as replete with toilsr.nie duty faith full\ and 
uncomplainingly performed in all the walks of bfe. while bis cart-er in the 
humble sf)here of private citizenship was such a-; to recommend bun to the 
favorable consideration of the liest people of the city and count v where be has 
long maintained his residence. 

The history of the Husselman family in America goes back to the Revo- 
lutionary war, when George Husselman. .i native of Hessia and a soldier in 
the Hessian army, came to America to lu-bi ibe I'.ritisb light the American 
colonists. He was taken. a prisoner by the .\mericans at the battle of Trenton 
and was sent to Lexington, New York, where he learned more completely the 
reasons whv the colonists were fighting the mother country. Becoming 
(42)' 



650 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

thoroughly convinced of the justice of their cause, he took the oath of alle- 
giance to the colonies, joined the American army and fought with General 
Washington until the end of the war. Hi'- name when he came to this coun- 
try was Yorrick Healshliman. w hich, liow e\ er, he changed to George Hussel- 
man, probably to hide his identity from the British, and' that spelling of the 
name has been retained until the present time. In 1786 George Husselman 
settled in northern V^irginia, where he remained until 1802, when he took his 
land warrant and located in Bullskin township, Westmoreland county, Penn- 
sylvania. Ten years later he moved to Baughman township, Wayne coimty, 
Ohio, locating at West Lebanon, where he spent his remaining days, dying 
there about 1814. Physically, he was a man of large frame, dark complexion, 
with heavv lower jaw anrl as brave and courageous as a lion. His wife was 
li(irn on hoaril a German ship along the west coast of Ireland. To them were 
born three sons. John, (jcorge and Samuel. John Husselman was horn in 
northern Virginia in 1783 and accompanied his father upon his removal to 
West Lebanon, Ohio, where he married Catherine Miser. He began life in 
verv moderate circumstances, but liy hard wurk, good management and rigid 
economy he was enabled to accumulatt.' one hundred and sixty acres of land 
there, which he cleared up and created into a fine farm, on which he erected a 
substantial frame residence and ham. In 184J he ^old ihat place and. loading 
his household effects on w.-i^on^, he made ihe lou'^ journev of f.vn hundred 
and fortv milev u< DeKal!) count\. Indiana, '-ertling lietween .Viiiurn an<l the 
present town of Waterloo. This was then all wild cotuitr>-. alnios; nntouched 
l)y white hands, and where now stands the thrivin.g citv of .\ubnrn were onlv 
six houses, the most numerous inhabitant^ if the country being the Pottawa- 
tomie Indians. Here Mr. Husselman iiought more than a thovis-md acres of 
land and two vears later he built the largest bank barn in the county, a struc- 
tm-e that was a landmark in directing travelers along the way from Fort 
\\ .ivne to Coldwater, Michigan. Here he spent the balance of his life, his 
death occurring on March iS. 1:^65. at the age of seventy-t\v<i ye;irs. His 
wife survived him I nit a few months, dving on September 10. 1H63. ;it the 
age of seventv vears. Their children were ( '.eorge. Mrs. .Sallie Stroh. |ohn j., 
Samuel B.. Polly. Henry and Daniel. Of these. Samuel i-^ now the only sur- 
vivor. 

Henrv Husselman was born in Wayne county. Ohio, on Noyember 24. 
1833. and died in Grant township. HeKalb county. Indiana, on January 8. 
I.)i3. He was but nine verirs ,.1<1 when his parents i,„,ve.l to this l,,calitv and 
here he was reared amid the pioneer surroundings. On September ig. 1861, 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 659 

he married Margaret hllen Kickel, who was born about two miles soiitli ot 
Waterloo in 1845. a dauj^hter of Daniel and Mars,'aret (Fiilk) Rickel. Daniel 
Rickel was a native of Pennsylvania, and his father came from Hamburj^, 
Germany. Daniel Rickel was married in Wayne countyj Ohio, to Margaret 
Fulk, the daughter of Joseph and Sarah (McKinley) Fulk, and about 1843 he 
and his wife cann- to DeKalb county, Indiana, settling two and one-half 
miles south of Waterloo, where he entered ;i tnici <if government land. This 
land was all covered with the iirinieval gnjwtb of timber and lal;or nf the 
most strenuous type was re(|uii-ed in ordei' In get it in shape foi- cultivation. 
his first active effort being the erection of a log cabin. Here they lived until 
1863. when they moved to the town of Waterloo, where Mr. Rickel engaged 
in the boot and shoe business for a time. In \H(}j be moved to Brimfield, 
Indiana, and engaged in the general merchandise imsiness, but five years later 
he returned to Waterloo and here his death occurred in i87(). his wife having 
died the year prior. In 1862 Henry Hussehn.ui ni(j\ed to what became his 
permanent family home in sections 8 and o in < bam township, this county. 
which was at that time a dense forest and to the sul)duing of the primeval con- 
ditions he applied himself with vigor and persistency until at length his efforts 
were rewarded In- tb'- development of an ideal home and splendid farm where 
his children si)ent many bappv and pleasint dav^. In 1864 Air. Hus<elman 
was converted and united with the old Hu^^elman b'.v angelical cburcb. Tbeie- 

recled a fann'lv altar 

ni. lb' vas an m1,1- 

ntegruv of bis ebar- 

lie was a valuable 

wronged any man. 

.>avor was to aid her 
and manhood, .^be 

,bn .\dam. who died 
on M.arch jS. 18^,3, 
1 in l-rankhn. l.ena- 
.rn March J5, i8(.7. 
married Cora l^lierlv. April \j. 1803. who was born i ebruarv (>. 1S73. in 
DeKalb county. Indiana. 'I.i them was born one son. Karnest .\lfred. .\o- 
vember 7. i8{)8: W. H. and C. A. Hussehnan are now residing in Butler. 
Thev began dealing in pianos and organs in 1881). I>y their tact and business 



after he lived a 


dev 


oted ( 


liristi: 


m life 


and 


in his boi 


lie 


which was nevi 


.T al 


)andon 


e.l un 


til sul. 


;ness 


came upc 


"11 


school gentlem; 


ui ai 


n<l in 1 


be si,, 


ipbchv 


- of 1 


n's friiih : 


UK 


acter he was a 


n e.\ 


,an,ple 


for tl 


,o-e w 


bo f 


oil,, wed 1 


lin 


citizen to the c 


(luni 


iiunitv 


and i 


t was 


said 


that be . 


lev 


His wife was 


to b 


im a 1 


iel]im; 


ite in 


the t 


rn.est sen 


se 


faithful wife ai 


id 1. 


iving n 


lotber 


and . 


me w 


hose l:esl 


ei 


husband and re 


ar her cbli: 


(b-. n t 


bon. 


M-abh 


.■ wiMuanl 


101 


has lived in onl 


V tw 


oplac. 


■s sine 


e her I 


)irtb, 


her fatb. 


■r'' 


home. To her 


bav( 


■ been 


born f 


ive ch 


ildren. nanielv 




m 1865. at the 


age 


of tw 


\eai 


■s: W. 


L'slev 


lleurv. 1 


)or 


married Minnie P.. 


Davis 


on M; 


IV 7. 1 


[80;. 


who was 


b 


wee county. Mi 


chig; 


an. Ma 


i-cb _'. 


lS'13 


: C'ba 


.lies Alfri 


.•<1. 



66o DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

ciiialities and their energy they ha\e continuously fnllmved tins vocation of 
life as successful dealers; James A., l)orn March 2^. 18(17; Jennie Alpliarette. 
horn January to. 1870. now the wife of I'raiik S. ('aniphell, of .\uhnrn. Ta 
llieni was horn one son. C'liarles James, Xovenilier 13, 1805. 

James A. Husselman is o))eratin,<;' the liome farm and caring for his 
mother. Afiei' securing a g(_)od puhhc sclioo! ethication he attended tlie Tri- 
State Normal School at .\ngola, and also :it Auhurn, and for twenty-five 
years he has heen engaged ;is a teacher in the puhlic schools df DeKalb 
countv, spending his summer \-acations in work on the- farm. 

On December 30, 1011, Mr. Husselman married l^aura C'lum, who was 
horn January 25, 1876, near llicksville. Defiance county. Ohio, a daughter 
of Haman and Cordelia ( Dilworth 1 Clum. The family came to this county 
about 1887, and Mrs. Husselman's ]iarents have lived in Auburn since that 
time. James A Husselman is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees. .\ 
quiet and unassuming man, he is genial in his intercourse with his fellows and 
has made many warm ;md lo^al friends in this communit}-. fie has had a 
splendid career as an educator and has had the no\el ex])(,rience of teaching 
the children of those whom he taught a i|narter of a century ago. Because 
of his strength of character and genuine worth, he is deserving of the s|)len- 
did standing which he enjoys m the coninnmity where his life has been spent. 



ALBERT L. SHUL.TZ. 



It was once remarked b> a celel rated moralist and biographer that 
"there has scarcely passed a life of which a judicious and faithful narrative 
would not have been useful." Iklieving in the truth ot this opinion, ex- 
pres.sed by one of the greatest and be^t of men. the writer of this re\iew 
takes pleasure in presenting a few facts in the career of a gentleman who. h\- 
industry, perseverance, temperance and integrity, has worked himself from 
an humble station to a. successful place in life and won an honorable posi- 
tion among the well known and highly esteemed men of the localittv ni 
which he resides. 

Albert L. Shultz, who for many years was known as one of tlu most 
successful teachers in DeKalb county, Indiana, and who is now the own-r of 
a fine farm in I'ranklin township, was born in 1870. on the old homestead 
about a (fuarter of a mile from where he now resides, and is a son ot C . S. 



DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 66 1 

;uid Christena ( Lyboll i Shultz. The father, w hu was born in .\shlaiul 
county. Ohio, in 1845, was a Hte-long farmer, and on December 25, 1868, 
was married to Christena Lyholt, who was a native of Germany, having 
come to this county when but six years old. In the spring of 1869, Mr. and 
Mrs. Shultz came to DeKalh omnly and here he was employed at day labor. 
Though his employment was but huniitle. be was a man of sterliiij; (|ualities 
of character, sober, steady and industrious, and by persistent energy he 
accumulated thirty acres of good land and two valuable residenee properties 
in Waterloo, one of which he resides in. He is also a stockholder in the 
First National Bank of Butkr. He was ne\er active in ))olitics and is inclined 
to be reserved in disposition. To jiini and his wife were born three children: 
.\lberl L. and .Alice and Alonzo. who are deceased. The subject received 
his elementary education in the common schools and remained at home help- 
ing his father up until the time of hi', m.irriage. lie is entirely self made 
and upon attaining young manhood's years be determined to follow the pro- 
fession of teaching and tn this end. in the sjiring of 1 SSo ;md i8()(). he at- 
tended the normal school at Angola. Indiana. Having received a license to 
teach, he then became so engaged in the schools (.f I'r;uiklin township, this 
county, where he was employed continuously for a period of twentv-two 
years, having taught in every district in the tow nshi]) save one. .All that he 
has accomplished in life has been done entirely by his own efforts, for when 
he began attending the normal school, he was compelled to borrow money 
with which to pay his expenses. However, during the period in which he 
was engaged as a teacher he carefulh- conserved his financial resources and 
eventually purchased forty acres of good land across from where he now 
lives and in 1903 bought an additional forty acres where he now lives, making 
altogether ei.ghty acres of splendid land, none of which is worth less than one 
hundred dollars per acre. To the improvement of this land Mr. Sludtz has 
given strict attention and todav few places in this section of the state are 
better improved or more calculated to attract the attention of the passerby. 
The splendid and attractive house, the large and commodious barn arid well 
kept fences reflect great credit on the owner, while the other modern and uj)- 
to-date conveniences around the place indicate Mr. Shultz to be a man of mod- 
em ideas and determined to be behind no one as far as his ability will permit. 
The house is heated by a furnace and lighted by an acetylene .L,^-ts ])lant and 
in other ways he has shown a progressive spirit commeiidablc in him. He i^ 
a stockholder in the First National Rank" of Butler, and in many ways has 
shown a dtspositiou to take an interest in and helj) to adva'riee the hest inter- 



662 DEKAI.B COINTV. INDIANA. 

i-sts cif the CdiiinnmitN in whicli lu- i-csi<le'-. Mr. Shultz is atjent for the 
DfKall) CciiDitv Mutual Insurance (. nini)any fur Frankhn township and also 
storm inspector for the Indiana Mutual Insurance Company. 

On June 24, 1903, at the home of the bride's parents near Hamilton, Mr. 
Shultz was married to Efhe Lautzenlu-iser. the dau,i,diter nf ]'>.ra F",. Laut/.en- 
heiser, her birth having occurred in iSjcj in DeKalb county. They are the 
jjarcnts of one child. Ruby, who w;is born on nctol>er .26, 1004. Religiously, 
Mr. and Mrs. Sbult/, are earnest .-ind faithftd nieiiibers of the Methodist 
r-'pi.scopal church, to the success of which tlie\ contrihnle of their means. 
Mr. Shultz's industry and eiier«;\- b;i\ e become proverliial and though deeply 
immersed in his own affairs he fnids time to discharge the duties of citizen- 
ship and m;i\- properh' be termed the leader in the circles in which he mo\ es. 



SAMI'P:T. WOLFF. 



It is with a great degree of satisfaction to the l)i.)grai)her when he adverts 
to the life of one who h;is ni;ule the rough path of life smooth bv bis luuirmg 

of puri^.-e .md determined acliou. Such a life, vhetber it be one of calm, 
consecuti\e endc;i\-or, or of -nddeii mjlmric accomiib-hnKnt-, mu^l ;ibound 
in 1)1 'til lesion and inceiitixe and i)ro\e a giude to the \dung men whose for- 
tunes are still luatters for the future to determine. I'or a lumiber of years 
the subject of this sketch has directed his el'l'orls toward the goal of success 
in DeKalb county and by patient contimiance has won pronounced success. 

Samuel Wolfe, who owns ;i .splendid farm in Franklin township, DeKalb 
countv, Indiana, was born at the old homestead near Franklin Center, tiiis 
county, on January i, 1857. His parents were in very moderate circum- 
stances, his father having a large f.imilx , and tlie •-ubieci of tliis sketch spent 
the most of his boyhood days awav from home working at such emi)lo\inent 
as he could find. However, after the death of an older brother he retm-ned 
home and engaged in the cultivation of forty acres lielonging t(i his brother. 
He kept up the payment of taxes and other expenses on the place, by reason 
of which the ownership eventually came to him. and he sold it and bought 
another forty-acre tract, which still later was sold and Mr. Wolfe i)ur- 
chased a tract of eighty acres, his present attractive farm in Franklin town- 
ship. There is probably not another farm of like character in DeKalb county 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 665 

to which more painstaking attention is i;i\ en and which is prnxini; a gi'faK-r 
success than tiiis. Tliere is not a foot <<\ \vaste lanil 011 the tarni and Air. 
Wolfe, being a careful and conservative man in liis operations, has succeeded 
in raising more than the average crop on his place, owing to his proper atten- 
tion to such details as the fertilization of the ^oil, tlie proper rotation of 
cro]is, etc. W'iien he sccurecl the place it was in fair >hape and he iia> nol 
only maintained hut lias inipro\e(l tiie fertihty of the soil, his eiglUeeu vears 
of residence here having heen characten/.ed hv sirennous iahor and persistenl 
energy, whicii have met vvitii tlieir deserved revv.ird. in adihtion to tin- 
cultivation of his farm .Mr. Wolfe has durin- the winters \\,,rked at his 
trade of carpenter, at which he is an expert. With his brother, William, he 
also runs a clover huller, grinder and other farm machinery^ such as is needed 
among the farmers of the commnnitv, and they have met with well de- 
served success in this line. 

On May 30, 18H1, at Waterloo. Mr. Wolfe niarricHl Harnett Crowl, 
the daughter of lohn and Margaret (Link) Crowl. the father a native of 
(^hio and the mother horn in (ierm.any. She came to this country with her 
parents at the age of eight vears, settling first in lleL-iware, later moving to 
Ohio. There she met and married Mr. Link. They later came to Indiana, 
settling in DeKalh coiuU\- where they spent tlie balance of their lives, both 
being now deceased. Thev were farming folk and the parents of si.\ children, 
all living, namely: Isaac. Lli, Ldward, (jeorge, Samuel and Harriett. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe have been born the following children: b'.dn.i. wh,. be- 
came the wife of l-:arl King, who resides near P.utler, this co(nUv: .Mabel (',.. 
.\lta, Ha/.el and Charles, who are all :it home and attendnig the public 
schools. 

Politicallv, .Mr. Wolfe is an earnest suppurter of the Democratic party, 
while, fraternally, he is ;m enthusiastic member of the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows, belonging to the local lodge at Mamilton, of which be has 
passed through all the chairs l\eIigiously, he is a member of the Cnited 
lirethren church, which he attends regularlw 

Mr, Wolfe has given his particular attention to the \velf;ire of b's chil- 
dren, to whom he has given good educations, rearing them to upritrbt man- 
hood and womanhood. He finds his greatest satisfaction in the (|uiet life 
he leads as a prosperous ruid contented tiller of the soil and in the mutually 
agreeable domestic ties which make home the happie.st and most attractive spot 
on earth to one of his tastes and ideals. Personally, he is genial and un- 
assumin.g, possessing those qualities which win friends and he enjoys a 
marked popularity among his acquaintances. 



664 DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 



THOMAS W. HARWOOD. 



It is a pleasure to investigate the career <<{ a successful self-made man. 
Peculiar hondr attaches to that individual who, jjeginning the great struggle 
of life alone and unaided, gradually overcomes unfavorable environment, re- 
mo\es (}ne ij\ one the obstacles from the pathway of success and bv the master 
strokes of his own force and \-itality succeeds in forging his way to the front 
and winning for himself a competency and a position of esteem and iuHuence 
among his fellow men. Such is the record of the popular citizen of Wil- 
mington township to a brief s\no])sis of whose life and character the follow- 
ing pages are devoted. 

Thomas \\". Harwooil, a substantial and inHuenti.al citizen of Wilming- 
ton township, a veteran of the great Ci\il war, and a man whf> enjoys the 
confidence and respect of all who know him. was born on Februarv 24, 1841. 
in Rockridge, \ ermont, and is the son of .\sa and Cvnthia ( Stockwell I Har- 
wood, the former a native of Massachusetts and the latter of \'ermont. 
These parents moved from the New England states to Ohio in 1842 and in 
1857 came to DeKalb county, settling in Franklin township, where they spent 
the remainder of their days. They were the parents of five children, namely: 
Henry, a farmer in Michigan: Thomas W.. the subject of this sketch; Mrs. 
Ellen Ball, deceased: Mrs. Clarinda P.arnhart, deceased, and Fmniett. who 
lives in Montana. 

The subject received his education in the public schools of DeKalb 
•county. ha\ing been brought here in his \-out!i by his parents. He was reared 
to the life of a farmer, which \dcation he has consistently and successfulU- 
followed throughout his life He is nf)W^ the owner of a fine farm of ninety- 
three acres, on which he has li\ed for more th.-m a (|uarter of a century an<l 
which he lias improxed and de\-eloped into one of the best agricultural estates 
in this locality. 

During the troublous da\'s of the early si.xtie"-. when the integrit\- of the 
nationial Union hung in the lialance, Mr Harwood \dlunteered his services in 
defen.se of his country, enlisting as a private in Company B, Fifty-third Regi- 
ment Indiana X'olunteer Infantry, in which he served for about ten months, 
taking part in all campaigns, marches and battles in which the regiment par- 
ticijtated. He proved a \aliant and faithful soldier and at the end of hi? 
service received an honorable discharge. 

■In 1866 Mr. Harwood married Julia .'\ Sniurr. the daughter of (i. N. 
and Rebecca (Kinslev) Smurr. natives of Ohio. To this union were born 



DKKAI.H COINTV. INDIANA. 665 

six children, iianiels : Albert, who li\t's in (iarrett, this cnuiity; Cieorge, of 
Aulnini. this county: Mrs. Isaljcl I'ifer, of Butler, this county; Clement, de- 
ceased: L'ecil. who li\es on the home farm, and Mrs. Ona Treman, who lives 
on a farm in this county. I'olitically, Mr. Harwood is an earnest supporter 
of the Republican party and takes pro])er interest in local afifairs, especially as 
affecting the welfare of the community. The record of testimony is ample 
that .\lr. Harwood is a gcxjd citizen in the full sense of the term, worthy of 
public trust, ever doing worthily and well all work to which he has applied 
him.self. In all that constitutes true manhootl and good citizenshii) he is a 
worthy example and none .stands higher than he in the esteem and confidence 
of the circles in which he moves. 



FRED P,UN(;E. 



It is not an easy task to describe adeiiuately ;i man who has led an 
eminently active and busy life and who has attainetl a position of relatixe 
distinction in the community with which his interests are allied. But biog- 
raphy finds its most complete justification, nevertheless, in the tracing and re- 
cording of such a life history. It is, then, with a full ajipreciation of all that 
is demanded and of the painstaking scrutiny that must be accorded each state- 
ment, and yet with a feeling of satisfaction, that the writer essays the task of 
touching briefly upon the details of such a rcconl as has been that of the 
honored subject whose life now comes under review. 

Fred Bunge is a .son of the fatherland, having been born on May 4. 
1832, in Germany, and is the son of John and Fllizaheth (Frost) Bunge, both 
of whom also were natives of (iermany, where they spent their entire lives 
anrl died. They were the ])arents of. five children, the subject of this sketch, 
a brother. Louis, and three other children who died in iheir native land. .\t 
the age of twentv-two \ear^ the -nlijecl of this sketch left home, embarking 
on the i()lli day of Mav, 1X54, and landed in \eu ^■oIk on the 1 st dav of 
the following |ul\-. The ])rincipal ca])iial with which his parents had 
endowed him w.-i-- a Tugged constitution, a <'ont heart and a determination 
to succeed, which, no tloubt. has proven a more desirable capital than would 
have almost any amount of money, unless the latter could have been ac- 
companied with the same traits of character. Thus born to environment none 
ibo aiispicious, Mr. Bunge has forced himself to the front and made for 



666 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

himself a proud position among the foremost citizens of DeKalb county. Dur- 
ing his first years in this country lie was employed at anything which he could 
find t(i do which would earn him an honest dollar, hut. carefully husbanding 
his resources antl working e\ery da\- possible, he was at hist enaliled to forge 
ahead and now is nnnil)ereil aniou'^' the substantial ;unl influential citizens of 
W ilniington township, DeKalb count}', Indiana. Me i'; the owner of a splen- 
did farm of eighty acres, on which are substantial and up-to-date buildings, 
and here he carries on general farming and .stock raising in a manner that has 
stamped him to be a man of more thnn ordinary discernment and sound judg- 
ment. 

On October 30. i86j, .Mr. I'.unge was married to Caroline Sharp, and 
to them have been born eight children, namely: bisiali. deceasetl; John, who 
Ii\-es cju a farm in this county; Airs, .\ettie \\'icker; .^Irs. Kllen Pomeroy, of 
.\ul)nrn: Willi.am. ;i farmer of this county: Joseph: Mrs. Dora Ridge, of this 
countv. and Nora, who li\-es at home with her ])arents. Religiou.sly, .Mr. 
lUmge ;md liis family are memliers of the Reformed Lntlieran cluu-ch, to 
which they ccintrilnUe liberally and to the i.;irions acti\ities nf which they give 
earnest support. PoliticalK, Mr. I'lmge is a Democrat, and takes an intelli- 
gent interest in the affairs of bis community, giving his earnest support to 
evcr-\- moxement which proniis,-s to pi-o\ e beneficial to his fellfiw men, ma- 
teri;dl\, e<lucatioirillv. nior;ill\- or sorialh, I'.ecause ijf -Ids earnest life, sturdy 
haliits ami his uiiswerxing integrity, he enjoys to a notable degree the con- 
fidence and regard of the entire commnnit\- where so many of his acti\e years 
ha\e been spent. 



WILLIAM HLXRV GRLBK. 

Another of the enter|)rising and successful farmers of DeKalb county, 
who traces his ancestry liack to the fatherland, is the gentleman whose name 
initiates this sketch, a man who has succeeded in his life work for no other 
cause than that he has work-d persistently and abni^ proper lines, and he has 
not onl\' succeeded in his chosen vocation of agriculture, but has also won ;i 
reputation for honesty and fair dealing. 

Wliliam Henry Grube was born November 25, 1842, in Massillon, Stark 
county, Ohio. His parents were of German descent, and his father, Peter 
Grube, was married to Elizabeth May in 1835. They came to America in 
1836 from LTlmet, a town in P.avaria. On the vovage across the Atlantic 



hern V v 


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DEKAIJ! COUNTY, INDIANA. (167 

sailiniL;- vcssui aion.^ the coast of Africa, but after 
rv made. thc\ a.^ain lu-adcil for the "new world." 
llv iipcn ihe winds, ihc \(i\;n;e tcidk alnmst three 
hich time tliey sailed into New \ ork harhor. They 
V tor about a year and a halt, and then started to the 
then West. They tra\eled by stage coach to Massillnn. Ohio, whicli was then 
a small villa.i^e. Here they li\ed until 1843, and while living there three 
children were horn. Kalherine. Jacob and llenrv. The little sister di.ed be- 
fore they left Massillnii. k'rom their Imme in the I'.uckeye state they again 
tiiiik \i|) the Western trail, tin-- time b\- wagcms dr.awn b\- oxen, through woods 
and swamps, imtil the\ arrixed at what is now Stafford township, DeKalb 
county. ' )n this i(jurney 1 lenr\- was but ,1 bab\ . s, , tlu-y had wrapped him 
uj) in a little bundle, anil when they came to a nrngh stretch of corduroy road 
tliis preciou.s bundle fell out of the ^v.igon, l)ut tliey fortimatelv happened to 
look down in time to rescue tlie bab\ finm unckr tlie wagon wheels. This 
was only one of the many n;irrow escapes .Mr. ( irube has had during his suc- 
cessful career. 

.\ clearing was soon made in the wilderness and a lo<^ cabin was built ou 
the sevent\-four-acre tr.act of forest land bought from the government. Then 
came the laborious work of clearing, that cultixatioii nnglit be instituted. In 
those (lavs Mr. (irube's father would walk ten nules to flicksville, the nearest 
villa,ge, with wheat and would c.arr\- l>ack l:ig sacks of flo\u- to his home. 
His mother was bus\ from morning until night helpin.g roll log> and grub 
U]) the roots, briars and brush. While they were lixing here Iwn other chil- 
dren were l)orn, a girl, Elizabeth, and later a bo\'. IV-ter. While lixing in 
.Staffortl, |ac(!l), one of Mr. (irube's brothers, died, which left but three of the 
children, bdizabetb. Henry and I'eter. to hel]) in the arduous la1)or. 

The subject lived in Stafford townshi]) on the old homestead until he was 
ei.ghteen years old. He si)ent his time helping his father in the farm work, 
.and in the winter he took his slate and co])\bo(jk and trudged through the 
woods to school. He was thus engaged until he w.as about fifteen \-ears of 
age, when he went up into the pine woods i,i .Michii;;m. where he worked for 
three years, cutting logs and breaking rollways on the Muskegon river. This 
was a dangerous occupation, and the subject's life was threatened many times 
while he was working there, .\fter returning home from the pine woods, 
he worked by the month on different farms in Illinois, Mis.souri and Kansas 
for several years, and finally, returning home, Ixnight a horsepower threshing- 
machine and worked almost the entire year round, threshing for his neigh- 
liorhood for thirteen years. 



668 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

In 1880 Mr. (inihc was married to Mary Haas, a Canadian girl, who 
had come with her parents U> the United States and lived on a farm sonth of 
Bntler. They moved <in to an eighty-acre farm three miles east of 1 Sutler and 
lived in a little log cahin during the summer nmnths. later Inning the old 
Henry Shoub place across the creek. Here two children were born, Charles 
in 1882 and Cleve in 1888. Cleve is now twenty-five years of age, and is 
iictively identified with the Democratic party, following his father's example 
in the bestowing of his franchise. At present he is farming one hundred and 
ten acres of his own land, together with one hundred and sixty acres of his 
father's farm. He was married. January _>. kji 3, to Carnet P.rink. daugh- 
ter of Mr. and Airs. F. .\. IVink. of Butler. Indiana. 

The subject and wife lived on the Shoub place until 1897, when they 
moved on to a farm one nule and a half east of P.utler. where the\- still reside. 
Two years later the youngest boy. .Andrew, was bim. He is now fourteen 
years old and is attending the Butler high school. In kkio Cliarles attended 
the Ohio Northern University for one year, and then went to Lafayette to at- 
tend school with the intention of becoming a ci\il engineer. In 1003 he was 
on the train going to Indianapolis to play on the Purdue football team, when 
the train was wrecked, and he, together with twenty other Purdue boys, was 
killed. His death was ;i great shock to the famil\- and friends. 

The following summer Mr. ( Irube took a trip through the \\'esl with the 
Knights Templar in .1 -pecial car. He is also a Shriner and has been a mem- 
her of the Odd Fellows for fort\-three vear'-. Mr. drube dis])la\-s a deep 
interest in everything wbicb helps to de^'elop his town, and is at present aiding 
in the building of a iieAv 1. O. O. F. hall. He is one of the directors of the 
Thirst National P>ank. 



S, H. NUGEX. 



Among the progressive men of Jackson township, DeKalb county, iden- 
tified long with educational interests, whose rare liusiness acumen, public 
spirit and unquestioned integrity render him eligible to rank as one of the 
representative citizens of his community, is the gentleman whose name aj)- 
pears above, the present etificient trustee of his township. He is essentially a 
man of the people, broad-minded, capable and possessing an equipoise of at- 
tributes that stamp him as a natural leader of his fellows, but, being entirely 
unassuming, he would neveu consent to such a title or believe that he, in anv 
way, mefited the plaudits of any one. -'•'•■- 



)F.K.\1.I! COUNTY 



66(> 



S. H. Nugen was lioni ..ii l-Vlnuarv _>. 1857. in Jackson township, Dc- 
Kalb county, the son of John ;iiul Kcliccca (Hughes) Xuijen, he a native nf 
Ireland and she of Miami county, Ohio. He was anionic the early settler-- in 
DeKalh county, haing settled in its almost unbroken wilderness in the early 
forties. He located on section 4 in Jackson town.ship and was iiere mar- 
ried. To John and Rebecca Nugen were born si.\ children, as follows: Mrs. 
Mary K. Bolinger is deceased ; Christopher died while serving in the army ; 
Mrs. Sarah A. Harris is deceased; Jamie is deceased: Jnhn, who was still 
living at last accounts; S. H. 

.S. H. Nugen laid the foundation of a good educuion in the common 
schools of those days and then engaged in agricultural pursuits, working tor 
others until he reached the age of twenty-three vears. when he was enabled 
to purchase eighty acres in his own right, his jjreseui splendid farm l;eing 
the same land that he bought when a young man. He immediately proceeded 
about the strenuous task of clearing the land and building a iKune. and on 
October 1. 1885, be was married to Emma Bartel.s, daughter of Augustus 
,-md .Mmnie ( Kruse) Bartels, natives of the fatherland. 

To the subject and wife have been born eight children, namely: Ivoy C. 
is now teaching in one of the graded schools of the city of Auburn : Dorcie R. 
is attending school in \'al])araiso. where he is prejiai ing to enter the medical 
profession; John A. is a graduate of the .\uburn high school and has taught 
one term ; Harry is deceased ; Lelah is an alumna of the Auburn high school, 
from which she graduated in 19 13; Frank attended the high school and is 
now farming for his father; Hazel is in her second year in the Auburn high 
school; Harold is attending the tlislrict school. 

In 1892 Mr. Nugen was elected assessor for hi 
ti\e years, after which he was chosen 1)\- the \oters 
responsible position of trustee, his iiKiimbtnc}' in th 
He has brought to the position a nati\e ability vuv 
edticational matters, this interest seemingly being 
members of his famih . 

Mr. Nugen is now engaged in general farming, being tlie owner of two 
hundred and sixty-eight acres of good land, which he h:is brought to a high 
state of citltivation, making all of the improvements on the place. He was 
for fifteen years a stock shipper and buyer, dealing in bogs, cattle and sheep. 
and also threshed for several years in his early life. 

Politically, the .subject has always gi\en bis \ciie to the Democratic 
l)arty, while, fraternally, he affiliates with the Knights of I'vthias Lodge No. 
91, of Auburn. He is also a meinher of the Grangers. 



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670 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

SOLO-MOX S. C.XSEBERE. 

One of the ])rugres.sive farmers and lii,<:;hly respected citi^^ens of DeKall> 
county. Indiana, is Solomon S. Casehere. wlio has ever taken high rank. 
Possessing energy and determination, he has Ijeen very successful in making 
everything he undertakes result to his advantage, and his success in liis chosen 
calling is attested hy the fact of his ha\'ing started in an humble manner and 
is now the owner of \ahial)le real estate. ha\'ing accumulated the same hy 
liis own efforts. 

Solomon S. Casehere is a native son of DeKalb county, having been 
Ix^rn in Troy township on January 22. i860, and is a son of George W. and 
Elizal;eth (Kniseley) Casehere, both of whom were natives of Ohio. George 
W. Casehere came to DeKalb county in an early day, locating near Fish 
creek, where he spent the remainder of his life, enjoying the respect and con- 
lidence of the community in which he li\cd. To him and his wife were born 
the following children: I.eander Tl.. of I'.ryan. Ohio; Solomon S.. the im- 
mediate subject of ihi- -ketch; Marshall, who mo\ed to Wisconsin and there 
died: Airs, .\leta lUirkhart. who lives on the old homestead in Williams 
county, Ohio. 

Solomon S. Casehere received his education in the common schools of 
liis community and also attended the schools of Liutler. He was reared ttj 
tile life of ;i farmer. ;i vocation which he has consistently followed to the 
lircvcnt tiiue. and in which he has achieved a most pronounced success. His 
farm conijjrises one hundred and hfty acres of as good land as can be found 
in Staft'ord township, and. here he carries on a general line of work, iticliiding 
stock raising. He gives liis attention to e\ery detail of his farm w<irk and 
has realized gratifying returns for his lahor. He raises all the cro])s com- 
mon to this localit}' and also gives some attention to the raising of li\e stock, 
in which he is also \ erv successful. At one time .Mr. Casehere investigated 
Western country and with his wife moved to the northern jiart of South Da- 
kota, where the\- remained about two years, at the end of that ])eriod return- 
ing to their old home in DeKalli countv. 

On January 2i^. 1883, Mr. Casehere was married to I'lora 1 )unkle. the 
daughter of John and Elizabeth ( Lobschear ) Dunkle. the former ;i native of 
Germany and the latter of Ohio. To this union were Iiorn three children: 
Lester. _ who is a tanner in Stafford township, is the father of three children. 
Donahi. Raym.Mul and Hellen ; Mrs. Mabel Lyon, who lives on a farm in 
Wilmington township, is the mother of a son. Russell: Homer H.. a farmer 



IJEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 67 1 

in Stafford township, married I'rincess Thomas, the dauRlitt-r of l-'red A. 
and Blanche Thomas, and tliey have one danghter, ^ Label, 

Politically, the subject of this .sketch is allied with the Uepuijlican party, 
while his religious relations are with the Christian church, to which his chil- 
dren al.so belong. He has served as tru.stee of Stafford townshi]) for four 
vears to the entire .satisfaction nf his fellow citizens, and his record throui^h- 
out his life's history has been one of wliicli he has just reason to lie pmud. 
Successful in his own affairs, be has also taken an intelligent and conmund- 
able interest in the affairs of bis community, snjiporting all mo\ement> for 
the public welfare and standing always for that wbich he believes to be right. 
He and his wife move in the best social circles of the communit\- and are 
popular among their acquaintances. 



\\ILLI.\.\1 C". AIILLKR. 



In the course of an bonorai)lc career, that ba^ been .-Utended b\ abund- 
ant success, the gentleman wbo^e name bead"; this paragraph, one of the best 
known and representati\-e citizens of lieKalb county, has slmwu wliat an 
earnestness of purpose and right principles properl\ ;L])plic(l can acconi])lisb. 
Realizing early in life that tlie idler and dreamer ne\er attain the goal sought. 
he went to work wUh a will and by ijcrsisicul efforts rose graduall\ to an 
honorable place in the comnuinity. lia\ing gained a splendid reputation as ;m 
educator and later making an adnn'rable record as an agriculturist. 

William C. .Miber w;is l„,rn Ajiril 2(k :SSj. in Stafford township. De- 
Kalb county. Indiana, the s, ,n of j,,s^.pb 11, .nnd Ida ( Wyckoff ) Miller. 
Jo.sepb -Miller was born m the Kcv-t.iUe siai,- , -.^ March 1. 1X50. and came 
to Indiana in 1875. locatins.; on a farm in r.,'Kalb counlv. lie married Ida 
Wyckoff in [881. she having brm born .\ia\- jo. 1,^00. in DeKalb coiuUy. 
They are at present living on the old tarm. To them li,i\ e been born three 
children, the suljject. .-md ( ;ieu .and R.aw wb... are living at home. 

I )n necember _'(). \nns. William C. .Miller was united in the bonds of 
matrimiiuy to Ida L. Kramer, daughter ot Michael and Katbreue 1 ( 'brist, ,ffel ) 
Kramer. The father of the subject's wife was born in ( .erm.anv and her 
mother was a natiw of the lloosier st.atc. To the subject ;uid wife has 
been born one ebild. Cb.arles Russrll. v. hose bn-tb occurred on Sei.tember 8, 
i<)()6. 

The subject of this sketch received a good education in the common 



6/-' DKKAI.Il C'OrXTV, INDIANA. 

>chi)nls (if Delvalb count}', tliis ]k-']u;j; sui)i)lt'menteil by a cnurse in tlie lUitler 
hii^h scIkhiI. During the ten years from 1900 to iqio Mr. Miller taught in 
Uie iiul)lic scJKKils of Stafford tnwn.-hip and one year in the P.utler schools. 
He ])urchase<l his farm nf se\ enty-se\en acre> in i<)05. and i- nnw \ cr\- suc- 
cessfully engaged in general farming. He has a nice home and ha- erected 
Mihstantia! duthuildings, making liis place one of the \-er\- best in the ciiunt\-. 
The Democratic ])arty has been the reciiiient of Mr. Miller's support 
and franchise, while, fraternally, he is a memlier of the Independent ( )rder 
<,f Odd bellows. Lodge Xo. _>8j, ni Butler, and b.ncampment No. iho, als.- 
of Butler. 



WILLIAM P. ENDIC'OTT. 

The career of William P. L.iwlicott happily illustrates the fact that if a 
\-oung man possesses the proi)er attributes of mind and heart, with the ability 
to direct the same in proper channels, he can attain for himself not only 
material success but gain an honcired place among the factors that shape the 
destinies of communities. His life proves that true success in this world 
depends upon personal efforts and consecutive industry in the ])msuil of 
some specific and honorable purpose; it also demonstrates that the road to 
positions of affluence among men, whatever the relation of life ma\' be, is 
open to all who may possess the ctmrage to tread its pathway, besides ser\ ing 
as an incentive to the young of the present generation, teaching by incon- 
trovertible facts that true excellence in anv worth^■ undertaking is ambition's 
legitimate answer. 

William P. Endicott, a successful lawyer at Butler, Indiana, w;is born 
on March 28, 1881, near (ialveston. Cass counlv. Indiana, and is a son of 
.\bner M. and Orlie A. (Odell) Endicott, both of whom are natives of In- 
diana, and who are respected farming people in the community where they 
live. The subject on the paternal side is descended from sterling old Eng- 
lish ancestry and in him are exhibited the characteristics which have made 
his progenitors respected and e.^teemed in their respective communitie's. To 
the subject's parents were born the following children: Mrs. Nellie McCool, 
Mrs. Lida Hyatt, Mrs. Grace Kepner, Ernest. William P. and Thomas H. 

William P. Endicott secured his education in the public schools, being a 
graduate of the Galveston h''gh school, and he then entered the law depart- 
ment of the Indiana State LTniversity at Bloomington, where he took the 
full legal course. In January, iqto, he was admitted to the bar of Cass 




WILLIAM P. KXI)KX)TT 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 673 

county, and in the following April was admitted to the DeKalb cminty bar 
and at once located at Butler, and engaged in the practice of his i)r(itession. 
As a lawyer Mr. Endicott has evinced a familiarity with legal principles and 
a ready perception of facts, togetlier with the ability to apply one to the 
other which has won him the reputation of a sound, safe practitioner. His 
zeal for a client has never led him to urge argument not in harmony with the 
law, and in all the imptjrtaiil litigatif)n with wItjcIi lie lias been connected, 
no one has ever charged bini with anything that wmild bring tliscredit 
upon himself or cast a reflection upon liis profession, and today he is an able 
representative of the legal fraternity in his county. 

Politically, the subject of this sketch gives his support to the Progressive 
party, vvhile fraternally he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, in 
which he has attained to the Royal Arch degree, and to Lodge No. 158. 
Knights of Pythias, of Butler, of vvhicn he is vice-chancellor. Pie is also 
first vice-president of the Commercial Club of Butler and has been a potent 
factor in advancing the material and civic interests of this enterprising com- 
munity. 

On August 2, 1909, Mr. lindicott married Nellie Davisson, of Miami 
county, Indiana, and they have one daughter, .A^nna May. Mr. Endicott is a 
most genial and companionable gentleman and has a host of warm and 
admiring friends among the residents of his adopted city. All who come- 
within the range of his influence ar^ profuse in their praise of his admirable 
qualities, and the high regard in w.liicli he is held, not only professionally but 
socially, indicates the possession of attributes and characten'stic> that fully 
entitle him to the respect and admiration of his fellow men. 



EDWARD M. BRITMBACK. 

.\griculture has been an honored xcjcatioii from the earliest ages and as 
a usual thing men of honorable and humane impulses, as well as those of 
energy and thrift, have been patrons of husbandry. The free, out-door life 
of the farm has a decided tendency to foster and develop that independence of 
mind and self-reliance which characterize true manhood, and no truer bless- 
ing can befall a boy than to be reared in close touch with nature in the health- 
ful, life-inspiring labor of the fields. It has always been the fruitful soil from 
which have sprung the moral bone and sinew of the country, and the majority 
(43) 



674 DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 

of the nation's great warriors, renowned statesmen and distinginshed men of 
letters were born on the farm and were indebted largely to its early influence 
for the distinction which they have attained. 

Edward M. Brumback was born on April 5. 1853. in Fairtield township. 
DeKaib county. Indiana, and is the son of Jesse U. and Jane (Showers) 
Brumback. Jesse M. Brumback was born in Huron county. Ohio, on April 
2. 1823, a son of Daniel and Sarah (Culp) Brumback. He remained with 
his parents until his majority, when he engaged in farming in his native coun- 
ty, w^here he remained until Octoter, 1846, when he came to DeKaib county. 
Indiana, locating in Fairfield township, where he began the clearing of one 
hundred and sixty acres of heavily timbered land. His means were limited, 
but by industry and good management he was successful and eventually ac- 
quired the ownership of o\er three hundred acres of land, a part of which 
he gave to his son, the subject of this sketch. Mr. Brumback was married on 
April 7. 1850, to Melissa J. Showers, the daughter of Solomon Showers, of 
Richland township, DeKaib county, though she was born in Michigan. To 
them were born three children, namely: Celia R.. the wife of John F.. Wal- 
ters, of Kendallville. Indiana; Edward M., the immediate subject of this 
sketch, and Cornelia J., who died in infancy. The mother of these children 
died on March 9, 1855, and on November 2, 1856, Mr. Brumback married 
Lucinda Gloid, a native of Richland county, Ohio, and the daughter of Sam- 
uel and Rebecca (Smith) Gloid. In politics Mr. Brumback was a Democrat 
and served his fellow citizens in public capacity. ha\ing been a justice of the 
peace for a short time, and in 1862 was elected county clerk, in which ])()siti(in 
he served three years. 

The subject of this sketch attended the common schools of his home 
\ icinity and also attended the high school at .\uburn. He was reared to the 
life of a fanner, a vocation to which he has devoted himself throughout his 
active life. He is the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres 
in Richland townshi]). on which he resides and on which he is engaged in 
general farming and stock raising, and he also has an interest in the old 
home place. He carries on a general line of farming and his home ]ilace em- 
braces some of the best improvements in the locality, his buildings of all 
kinds being first class and in excellent repair,, everything about the premises 
indicating the close attention and progressive spirit manifested by the proT 
])rietor inthe proM.cution of his labors. .Mr. I'.runjback is a good busines:;; 
man and is well read and widely inforrned, keppin^ in touch with the Jeajd- 
i'ng questions of the day and abreast of the times on all matters \]-\ which the 



DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 675 

public is likely to be interested. Personally, he is held in high esteem by his 
neighbors and fellow citizens, his character and integrity having ever been 
above criticism, while his relations with liis fellow men are such as to win for 
him the friendship of all who kn,,w him. Politically, he gives his support to 
the Democratic party, though he is too busy a man to aspire to public office. 

On March 5, 1891, Mr. Brumback was united in marriage to Lottie 
Smith, a lady of charming personality, who is held in the highest esteem by 
all who know her. She is a daughter of Thomas and .Mary (McLain) Smith, 
he a native of Carroll county. Ohio, and she from Columbiana county, Ohio. 
They moved from eastern Ohio to western Ohio, and then, in 1870, came to 
Sedan, DeKalb county, Indiana. Later they went to Nebraska, where he died. 



DANIF.L THOMAS. 



The specific history of the tjTeat Middk- West was made tjy tlie pioneers; 
it was emblazoned on the forest trees by the strenjjjth of sturdy arms and a 
gleaming a.x, and written on the surface of the earth liy the track of the 
primitive plow. There were stroii,i^ men and true \\ ho came to found the 
empire of the West — those hardy settlers who huilded their rude domiciles, 
grappled with the giants of the forest, and from the sylvan wilds evolved the 
fertile and productive fields which have these many years been furrowed and 
refurrowed by the plowshare. The trackless prairie vvas made to yield its 
tribute under the effective endeavors of the pioneer, and slowly but surely 
were laid the steadfast foundations upon which has been builded the mag- 
nificent superstructure of an o|)ulent and enlightened commonwealth. To 
establish a home :imitl such surroundings, and to cope with the many priva- 
tions and hardships which were the inevitable concomitants, demanded an in- 
vincible courage and fortitude, strong hearts and willing hands. .Ml those 
were characteristics of the pioneers, whose names and deeds should be held 
in ])erpetual.rev,erence by those who enjoy the fruits of tlieir toil. an<I among 
that number is the gen,tleman whose name appears :it the head of this sketcli 
and who for many years has been nun,ihered among tiie most i)rominem 
citizens of DeKalb county. _. , . ■ ■ ~ 

„ p, , Daniel Thomas was burn in Stark couutv, ( >hio, on October' 30. 1831. 
th^.son of Daviil and .Vmi.i i IJachay ) 'l-liomas. The fatlier was a native of 
Pfnn^ylyai));)), while hij, ni(it]KT,\\>(S)lioniin^tlie litt^le repuhlic , if S\vit/erlaiull 
from whence she came to this country with her parents at llie age 0/ twenty- 



676 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

one years. They settled first in Stark county, Ohio, where they remained 
until 1849, when they came to DeKalb county, Indiana, where they followed 
farming. David Thomas, who was reared in Pennsylvania, came to Stark 
county in young manhood, was there married and then came with his family 
to DeKalb county, settling in Richland township, where he remained until his 
death, after which his widow moved to Auburn, where she died. They were 
the parents of the following children: jobn, Sarah, Daniel, Levi, Susan. 
.Vnna, David and Solomon, of whom tlie only survivors are Daniel and 
Solomon. 

Daniel Thomas received his education in the district schools of DeKalb 
county, and was reared to the life of a farmer, which vocation he never for- 
sook, following it with great energy and considerable success up to the time 
of his retirement from active pursuits in 1892, when he moved to the town 
of Corunna, where he now resides. 

Mr Thomas was thrice married, first on Octol)er 14, 185S. to Elizabeth 
Rectenvvalt, the daughter of Jacob and Anna ( Koontz ) Rectenwalt, both of 
whom were natives of (iennany. Init wlm on tiieir emigration to America 
located first in Ohio, and later came to DeKalb county, of which they were 
earlv and prominent settlers. 'I'o this lirst union of the subject of this sketch 
vyere born two children: Almir;i. deceased, and Alilo J., who is represented 
elsewhere in this work. Mr. Thomas' first wife died in 1901, at the age of 
sixty-two vears, and in fQ02 he married Kmnieline King, the daughter of 
John and Katherine (Rebber) King. Her parents were natives of Mary- 
land, but became early settlers of DeKalb county, settling in Vernon town- 
ship. Mrs. Emmeline Thomas died in 1905, at the age of sixty-two years, 
and subsecjuentlv Mr. Thomas married Sarah Rodenbaugh, the daughter of 
Adam Rodenbaugh, who was a native of Pennsylvania, whence he moved 
to Stark county. Ohio, and then to Fort Wayne. Indiana, where his daughter, 
Mrs. Thomas, was a successful nurse for eighteen years. Her death oc- 
curred on Tune 30, [913, at the age of seventy years. 

Politically, Daniel Thomas has been a life-long supporter of the Demo- 
cratic partv, but has not been a seeker .after jmblic office, his 'only official 
.service being as supervisor of his township, in which he rendered efficient 
service. Religiouslv, he is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church, 
to the support of which he contributes liberally. During the long period of 
his residence in DeKalb county, Mr. Thomas has been an eye witness of and a 
participant in the wonderful development which has characterized this section 
of the state, iind in everything affecting the general welfare of the people he 



DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 677 

has been deeply interested, giving his support to lliose movements which have 
promised to advance the interests of his fellnw men educationally, morally, 
socially or materially. His life has ever been characterized by the strictest 
integrity of word and action and among those who have known him long 
and intimately he is held in the most affectionate regard, because of his high 
personal character and liis genial qualities. 



THO]\L'\.S C. STAFFORD. 

Success- is only .ichieved by the exercise of certain distinguishing qualities 
and it cannot be retained witliout effort. Those by whom great epoch changes 
have been made in the political and industrial world began early in life to pre- 
pare themselves for their peculiar duties and responsibilities and it was only 
by the most persevering and continuous endeavor that they succeeded in rising 
superior to the obstacles in their way and reaching the goal of their aml)ition. 
Sucli li\es are an iiis])iralion to otliers who are less courageous ;ind more 
prone to give u]) the tight before tlieir idea! is reached or definite success in 
any chosen field lias been attained In the life history of the honorable gen- 
tleman whose name forms the ca[)tion of this article we find evidence of a 
peculiar characteristic that always makes for achievement — persistency, 
coupled with fortitude and lofty traits, and as a result of such a life is one 
of the best known and most highly respected men. 

The subject was born in DeKallj county on June 8. 1854. his parents 
being James and Anna ( McCiure) Stafford, natixes of yVshland county, ( )liio. 
who came to Del\.all) count\' ten xears liefore the subject's birth, in 1844, rmd 
settled in Jackson township, entering land from the government. The sub- 
ject still has the original deed to this land. si<rned l)y President John Tyler. 
Nine children were born to James and Anna Stafford, as follows: Samuel, 
deceased; John, deceased; J. K., Fmanuel, Jane, Rebecca. Thomas C, Ella, 
deceased, and Melinda. Both parents have long since passed to their reward. 

Thomas C. Stafford, after receiving a good common school education 
in the DeKalb countv schools, took up the vocation of tilling the soil, which 
he has followed all his life. lie now owns tlie old iiome farm of eighty 
acres. On June 15. 187J. lie was uniteil in marriage to Celia Miller, daughter 
of Thomas and Mary (McCn.ry) Miller. This marriage was blessed by no 
children and the wife died on June 15. 1874. Subse(|uentl\-. on March 6, 
1878. the subject was again married to Ida A. Moore, daughter of John P. 



078 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA, 

and Rachel (Likens) Moore, wlio were natives of the Buckeye state, he of 
Ashland county and slie of Sciuca county. The)- came with tlieir parents 
to DeKall) county and settled in Jackson townshi]) in 1842. The suhject's 
second wife was born on November 12, i8C)i. she being one of three children, 
the others being Sarah, who married Lucien Provines, and Ella J., who mar- 
ried Joseph E. Kester. Her parents are both deceased. To the subject and 
wife have been born three children: James E.. deceased in infancy, and 
John E. and Xellie E.. who ;ire still under the parental roof tree, both edu- 
cated in home schools. Mr. Stafford has served \ erv acceptablv as a member 
of the advisory board four years and as supervisor of Jackson township for 
six years. Politically, he is allied with the Democratic party, and religiously. 
Mrs. Stafford is a member of the Methodist Protestant church. Mrs. Stafford 
tauirht school fi\-e years in Jackson township. 



ISAAC MILLER JACKMAX. 

A review of the life oi the honored subject of this sketch must of neces- 
sity be brief and general in its character. To enter fully into the interesting 
details of his career touching the struggles of his early manhood and suc- 
cesses of later tlays would far transcend the limits of this article. He filled 
a large place in the ranks of the enterprising and public-spirited men of his 
day and generation and the memories which attach to his name and character 
form no inconsiderable chapter in the history of the community where he did 
his work and achieved his success. Sufficient is submitted, however, to prove 
him entitled to the honorable position he long occupied among the brave and 
energetic self-made men of Indiana, who by enterjjrise and unswerving in- 
tegrity forged to the front despite all obstacles and helped win for the grand 
old Hoosier commonwealth a place second to none other in the bright con- 
stellation of American states. 

Isaac Miller Jackman was born in Carroll county, Ohio, on June 21. 
182 1, and was a son of Adam and Mary (Miller) Jackman. Adam Jackman 
was born in what is now West \' irginia during the latter part of the eighteenth- 
century and when about fourteen years of age ran away from home, coming 
to Carroll county. Ohio, about the beginning of the nineteenth century. He 
lived about seven years with the Indians, hunting and trapping, and when he 
attained his majority he entered one hundred and sixt}- acres of land in Car- 
roll county. When about twentv-two vears old he returned to his bovhoocf 



home^ 


•lead and 


111 


1847 he 


racl n 


■ f land in 


luriK-d 


tu Oh id 


luiily. 


and they 


May 


10. 1850. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 679 

home and there gave a good account of tlie new country in which he had set- 
tled. The result was that a numher of his old neighbors moved to Carroll 
county, among whom was the Miller faniilv, a memlier of which. Mary, aft- 
erwards became his wife. He was a typical ficiniiersnian. more ot a hunter 
and fisherman than farmer. 

Isaac Miller Jackman was reared on the Carroll couiil) 
secured his education in the district schools of that localii 
walked all the way to DeKalh county. Indiana, and bought a 
the northwest corner of Wilmington to\\ii>hii). Later he r 
and married Jane \^'hitla, who also was a nati\e of Carroll i 
returned to DeKalb county, arriving at their new home on Ma\- 
The trip was a long and tiresome one, tkpre being jjractically no roads or 
bridges. Mr. Jackman had, during his former visits here, cleared a small 
portion of his land, but he later mo\ed to what if;, now the eastern edge of 
Grant township, where he bought a good farm and there spent the remainder 
of his life, dying February 9, 1899. 

Jane Whitla Jackman was born in Carroll ctnint)-. Ohio, on I'ebinary 
23, 1830. the daughter of William and .Margaret (Steele) Whitla, and her 
death occurred near Waterloo, Indiana, on July 24. 11)03, at the age of se\- 
enty-three \ears. Her marriage to Mr. Jackman occurred on Januarx' 29, 
1850. She possessed to a remarkable degree those (pialities which character- 
ized the pioneers of this locality, and she was to her husband a helpmate in 
the truest sense of the word. Their early experiences here were fraught with 
many incidents which seem strangely primitive to the present generation. 
Their first cabin home had no floor and during the first summer Mrs. Jack- 
man cooked their meals over a stumpside tire. Howe\er. they enjoyed tlieir 
life, being filled with energ\-, ambition and hope. She was ,1 faithful wife, a 
devoted mother and a kind and generous neighbor, and her children scarcely 
remember a time when their home was not a refuge for sdhic homeless niu-. 
She was always called on in sickness and death by her neighbors, sometimes 
walking a distance of five miles to jjerfo'iii her ministrations of lo\e. In 
early life she joined the Presbxterian church and was e\er afterwards a 
faithful and earnest member of that society. 

\Mlliam Whitla. Mrs. Jackman's father, was born in Ohio. Inil his 
father, William, was born near r.elfast. Ireland. The tami!\- ii;iiiie was 
originally Whilelaw, later abbreviated to Whitla. The family was descended 
from a Scottish chief named William the White, who was very large and tall 
above all his fellows. His law was so just and equitable as to be called White 
law, from which term the family name was formed. The Whitlas went 



68o DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 

from Scotland to Ireland, and eventually to America. Margaret Steele also 
was a native of Ireland, and came to America with her parents and a number 
of other families, including those of Whitla and Snodgrass. 

To Isaac M. and Jane Jackman were born the following children : Mrs. 
Mary Kiplinger, of Smithfield town.ship, this county ; J. W., of Grant town- 
ship; I. M.. of Wilmington township: .'\mos. of Wilmington township, and 
John, of Grant township, all of whom have in their own lives perpetuated the 
sterling qualities which cliaracterized their honored parents. 



CLARENCE BLAINE HAMILTON. 

There is no positive rule for achieving success, and yet in the life of the 
successful man there are always lessons which might well be followed. The 
man who gains prosperity is he who can see and utilize the opportunities that 
come in his path. The essential conditions of human life are ever the .same, 
the surroundings of individuals differing but slightly, and when one man 
passes another on the highway of life to reach the goal of prosjierity before 
others who perhaps started out before him. it is because he lias the power 
to use advantages which proltably encompass the whole human race. Today 
among the prominent citizens and successful business men of (larrett .stands 
Clarence Blaine Hamilton. The ([ualities of keen discrimination, sound 
judgment and executive aliility enter ver\ largely into his make-up and have 
been contributing clenienls lo tiie material success which has come to him. 

Clarence Blaine Hamilton, publisher of the Garvcil ]\'cckl\ Clipper, and 
one of the mo.st jniblic-spirited citizens of lliis community, wa'^ born in Wood 
county. Ohio, on February 7. 1S87, and is the sou of S. V.. Hamilton. 
He accompanied his parents on their removal to Fostoria. Ohio, in 1899, 
and there secured his education in the iniblic schools. .\t the early age of 
sixteen years the subject, ambitious to make a start in life. I)ecame a 
reporter for the fostoria Daily Times, in which he made good to such a 
degree that he was soon given the title of city editor and retained the position 
five years, or until December 16, 1907. He then came to Garrett and entered 
the employ of the late Tracy C. Little, publisher of the Garrett Clipper, and 
on June i, 1908, Mr. Hamilton became editor and manager of this paper, 
which he now publishes and whicli has now become, under his management 
and direction, one Of the influential and prosi)erous newspapers of DeKalb 
county. Mr. Hamilton is a graceful and forceful writer, having the genuine 




CLARENCE B. HAMILTON 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 68l 

journalistic instinct for news, and lie has made his paper indispensable in 
hundreds of homes in his locality. Through the columns of the Clipper 
earnest support is given to every worthy movement for the upbuilding of 
the best interests of the community, and Mr. Hamilton's personal influence 
is given to the highest standard of living, so that he has earned the respect 
and confidence of the people with whom he mingles. The Clipper office is 
well equipped, not only for successful newspaper printing, but also for com- 
mercial job printing, in which Mr. Hamilton has enjoyed a large and profit- 
able patronage. 

On December 23, 1910. Mr. Hamilton was uniteil in marriage to Mar- 
garet May Hatchet, of Fostoria. and to them ha\e been born two daughters, 
Thais Hatchet and Gretchen. 

Fraternally, Mr. Hamilton is a member of the Free and Accepted 
Masons, the Knights of Pythias, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Tribe of 
Ben-Hur, the Knights of the Maccabees and the (".reek-letter liigh schoi)! 
fraternity, Phi Delta Kappa. He enjoys a large acquaintance, among whom 
are many warm and loyal friends, and throughout the community with which 
he has identified himself he enjoys that standing which can l>e gained only by 
those who possess qualities and attrilnites of a high order. 



JACOB N. OLlN(^.ER. 



To write the personal record of men who raised themselves from hum- 
ble circumstances to a position of respoiisibilit)- and trust in a community is 
no ordinary pleasure. Self-made men, men who have achieved success by 
reason of their personal qualities, and left the impress of their individuality 
upon the business and growth of their place of residence, and afifect for good 
such institutions as are eniliraced in the si)here of their usefulness, unwittingly, 
perhaps, built monuments uiore enduring than marble obelisk or granite 
shaft. Of such we have the unquestionable right to say lielonged the gentle- 
man whose name appears al)o\e. 

Jacob N. Olinger. who during his lifetime was one ol the resjjected and 
influential citizens of Keyser township, DeKalb county. Indiana, was torn on 
November 18, 1839. in Stark county. Ohio, the son of John and Annie ( Nico- 
demus) Olinger, the father a native of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Jacob 
N. Olinger was reare<l in his Ohio home, securing his education in its public 
schools, and at about the time he attained his majority in 1861. be came to 



682 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

DeKalb county, Indiana, where he obtained employment at farm work. In 
1863 he began farming operations for himself about a mile north of where 
the town of Garrett is now located, where he bought twenty acres, the ground 
on which Garrett now stands being then a dense woodland. \\'hen this now 
prosperous town was started Mr. dinger had an old shanty of a house there, 
in which he kept boarders, caring for the workmen engaged in the building 
of the yuung town. By persistent and sturd_\- industry and rigid economy 
Mr. Olinger was enabled to get a start, and, though intent on the ac(|uisition 
of material means on his own account, he was generous in his assistance to 
others equally limited in their resources. He first bought twciU\- acres df land 
on the south side of the road, thus making forty acres of gdml land, and 
eventually he bought forty acres more adjoining the former tract, thus mak- 
ing sixty acres at the cross roads where the Keyser centralized school is now 
located. Here he lived during the remainder of his life and by his intelli- 
gently directed efforts he was enabled to live comfortably during his latter 
years. He was a man of stanch integrity of character, whose actions were 
governed by right moti\es and among those w ho knew him best he was held 
in high regard because of his sterling qualities and liis evident desire to live 
right among his fellow men. 

In 1863 Jacob N. Olinger married Lovina Shull, and to them was born 
a daughter, Addie, who became the wife of Peter Handle, and they now live 
three miles north of Butler. Mrs. Lovina Olinger died on December 7, 1884, 
and on August 31, 1886, Mr. Olinger married Sarah Deihl, who was born in 
Indiana county, Pennsylvania, and is a sister of John Deihl. who is repre- 
sented by a personal sketch elsewhere in this work. Mrs. Olinger was reared 
in Pennsylvania and came to Indiana on a visit to relatives, with whom she 
spent two years. She then returned to Pennsylvania, and was there mar- 
ried to Mr. Olinger. To them was born one son, Ja)- 1""., who first saw the light 
of day on January 22, 1889, and after attending the common schools, grad- 
uated from the Garrett high school in igo8, and subsequently attended the 
Tri-State Normal School at Angola. In the fall of 1909 Mr. Olinger began 
teaching, being engaged in that work one year at Dutchtown, and ever since 
has taught in the schools of Keyser township, being numbered among the suc- 
cessful educators of his county. He is still making his home with his mother, 
for whom he Iiears the closest affection and for whom he is caring with the 
utmost solicitude. Intelligent and well educated. Jay F. Olinger has an 
agreeable and companionable manner that wins for him friends, and througli- 
out the community where he is known he is held in high regard. 

Jacob N. Olinger died on May 21, 1910, in the seventy-first year of his 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 683 

age, and his death was siiicerelv- mourned thnnii^lmut tlie C(miinuiiit\ . where 
his loss was deeply felt. lie was a faithful and ^•a^lle^l ineuilier of the 
Methodist Episcopal ehurch at (larretl, to the ^upixirl df which he eonlrihuted 
freely of his means. Mrs. Olinger and her son, jav, are also nieiuhers of the 
Methodist church. The famil\- have for many years heen numhered among 
the best citizens of the section of the county in which they live, aiid are highly 
esteemed because of their honorable record and the acti\e i)ti,rt they, have taken 
in the ad\ancenient oi the coniinunil}- along legitimate lines. . , 



TASOX r,. CHILDS. 



Through struggles to triumph seems to be the maxim which holds swa\' 
for the majority of our citizens, and though it is undeniably true that many 
a one falls exhausted in the conflict, a few, by their inherent force of charac- 
ter and strong mentality, rise above their en\ironments until they reach the 
plane oi prosperity. Such has been the record of the gentleman whose name 
appears as the caption of this sketch and who is today numbered among the 
representative citizens of Fairfield township, DeKalb county, Indiana. 

Jason B. Childs was born on August 27, 1859, in Fairfield township, 
DeKalb county, Indiana, and is the son of Willard and .\manda (Buchanan) 
Childs. Willard Childs, who was born near Utica, New York, on February 
15, 1811, was the son of Phineas and Theodosia (Phillips) Childs, the for- 
mer a native of New Haven, Connecticut, and of English descent, and the lat- 
ter also a native of Connecticut, but of Welsh descent. In 1813 these parents 
mo\ed to Jefferson countw New ^'ork, and in iS2(^ to (Onondaga county. 
When he was fifteen years of age he began to work by the month for farm- 
ers. In 1837 ^^ came to DeKalb county, Indiana, and bought one hundred 
and twenty acres of land, and after paying for it had but seventy-three cents 
left. He then went to Fort Wayne and there earned the money with which 
to return to New York. In 1846 he mo\ed his famil\- to DeKalb county. 
landing in Fairfield townshij) on .August _'4th. He moved into a log cabin 
belonging to B. H. Chaffee, and a short time afterwards bought the land on 
which it stood. There were but fourteen families in this township when he 
settled there and the land was mostly heavily timbered. He added to his first 
l)urchase until he became the owner r,f two hundred and eighty-six acres of 
land comprising one of the best farms in the townshi]). In his native state he 
married Cornelia Steves, by whom were born two children, Emma and 



684 IJEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Phineas G. His first wife died in 1856, just after he had completed the erec- 
tion of a new home, and he afterwards married Amanda Buchanan, who was 
born in Hohnes county, Ohio, the daughter of Alexander Buchanan. She 
was reared in her native state and became a school teacher and, coming to 
DeKalb county, made her home with relatives and engaged in teaching school 
until she married. To this union were born two children, Jason B., the im- 
mediate subject of this sketch, and Mary E., the wife of Wilber Haller, of 
Kendallville, this state. Willard Childs died in 1890, at which time he was 
the owner of two hundred and sixty acres of land, and his wife passed away 
in 1892. They were both members of the Methodist Episcopal church. 

Jason B. Childs was reared on the home farm and after completing his 
common school studies attended the high school at Waterloo, and later the 
Methodist College at Fort Wayne, Indiana. He then resumed agricultural 
operations on the home farm, but after his marriage in 1880 he located on a 
tract of one hundred and twenty acres in section 27, Fairfield town- 
ship, where he has remained continuously since. By the most persistent en- 
ergy and wisely directed efforts he has attained an eminent success in this 
effort and is numbered among the successful farmers of that locality. In 1883 
he built a nice residence, and a splendid l)arn in 1908, in connection with 
which is a good sik), and in other ways he has shown a dis]K)sition to keep up 
with the times in every department of his farm work. He raises all the crops 
common to this locality and also gives a ijroper share of his attention to the 
raising of live stock, in which line also he is successful. In Decemjjer, 1880. 
Mr. Childs was married to Anna E. Haller. who was born in Xoble county. 
Indiana, tlie daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Bolenbaugh) Haller. The 
latter, who was born in Seneca county, Ohio, was the daughter of John and 
Susan (Bixler) Bolenbaugh. Daniel Haller was a native of Germany, the 
son of Jacob and Catherine ( \\'eller ) Haller. and came to America when 
about three vears old with his parents, who located first in Pennsylvania. 
subsequentlv moving to Ohio. He c;ire to Xoble countw Indiana, where he 
made his permanent home and here married Elizabeth Bok-nbaugh. Jacob 
Haller was a soldier in the army of Napoleon Bonaparte for nine years, tak- 
ing part in the historic battles of Austerlitz and Waterloo. Elizabeth Bolen- 
baugh came to Noble county. Indiana, with her parents at the age of twelve 
vears, at which time Kendallville was a hamlet of but two houses. Her par- 
ents lived in that locality six or seven years, and in that \icinity until ad- 
vanced age. when they moved to Wisconsin, where their deaths occurred. 
Elizabeth Bolenbaugh was reared and married in Noble county, and when her 
daughter, .Anna, was three or four years old. the Haller family moved to 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. ()8^ 

Fairfield township on a farm of ninety-six acres, and lived there the rest of 
their lives, the father dying in 1891 and the mother on June 20, 1907. Tlie 
father was a cooper by trade and b\- that means made money with which to 
Ijuy his farm. The mother was first a Methodist in her religious views, but 
later joined the Evangelical church. To Mr. and Mrs. Childs have been born 
four children: Efiie became the wife of W. W. Lower, who was killed in a 
railroad accident, leaving two children, Ethel and Elizabeth, .\fter his death 
she became the wife of James Vogtman, of Hudson, and they have one child, 
Anna; Willard married Daisy Walker, the daughter of Rli Walker, and 
li\-es in Smithfield townshi]), and they ha\-e one son. Ralph ; Curtis L. is un- 
married and lives in Fort Wayne, and Herbert, who is twelve years of age, 
remains at home. 

Fraternally, Jason B. Childs is a meniher of the Knights of I'ythias, hav- 
ing been one of the charter members of the Corunna lodge, and he and his 
wife and children, Efiie and Willard, are members of the Pythian Sisters, 
Mr, Childs is a man of public spirit and progressive ideas and is numbered 
among the strong and infiuential citizens of hi< conimunit\-. and as such i*; 
eminently entitled to representation in a work of this character. 



ANK W. NIMMON5. 



The record of the subject of this review is that of an enterpnsmg gen- 
tleman who worthily upholds an honorable family name and whose life has 
been verv intimately associated with the material prosperity and moral ad- 
vancement of Wilmington township, DeKalb county, Indiana, during the 
most progressive period of its history, and he has always been found on the 
right side of questions looking to the development of his community in any 
way. and while he has been prominent in the agricultural affairs of the county, 
he has at the same time won an enviable reputation for honesty and whole- 
some living. 

Frank W. Ximmons. trustee of Wilmington township and a prominent 
and successful farmer, is a native of DeKalb county, Indiana, born on De- 
cember 17, 1863, and is a son of Philip and Mary S. (Westfall) Nimmons. 
The father was a native of Boone county, New York, and his mother of Rich- 
land county, Ohio. Philip Nimmons, who was a farmer during all his active 
life, left his native state and located in Ohio, where he was married and sub- 
sequently came to Indiana, locating in 1844 in Wilmington township, DeKalb 



686 DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 

■county, where he spent the remainder of his days. He was not only actively 
and successfully engaged in farming, but was also successful in gaining and 
retaining the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens to a notable degree. 
He was twice married and to the first union were born five children : Emblem 
B., Mary E., Allie, Katherine and Laura, while to his second union was born 
one child, the subject of this sketch. The subject's mother is still living and 
makes her home in Butler, this county. 

Frank W. Nimmons received his education in the public schools of Wil- 
mington township and in the Butler high school, after which he took up the 
vocation of a school teacher, which he followed with splendid success for six 
years, at the end of which time he returned to the pursuit of agriculture, to 
which vocation he had been reared in boyhood, and he has shown the wisdom 
of his decision through the splendid success which has attended his efforts. 
He is the owner of one hundred and ten acres of fine land in Wilmington 
township, practically all of which is under cultivation and well fenced, while 
the pleasant and attractive residence, the commodious and well-arranged 
barns and the up-to-date farming machinery employed testify to the progres- 
sive spirit, good judgment and excellent discrimination of the owner. Mr. 
Nimmons carries on a diversified system of farming, raising all the crops 
common to this locality and also giving some attention to the raising of live 
stock, in which he has met with pronounced success. 

Mr. Nimmons was married on November 4, 188.;, to Elnora \'arlott, 
the daughter of David and Sarah ( Whitcomb) Yarlott, who were natives of 
Defiance county. Ohio, but who early became located in Wilmington town- 
ship, this county, where the father became a successful farmer. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Nimmons have l>een born three children, Carl W., George R. and Ethel. 

In his political views Mr. Nimmons has always lieen in thorough har- 
mony with the platforms of the Republican party and has contributed to the 
■extent of his ability to the success of this ticket. He is at present serving ef- 
ficiently and satisfactorily as trustee of Wilmington township. ha\ing Jjeen 
elected to his second term in this office, and because of his able administration 
of the affairs of tlie township and his upright personal life he commands the 
fullest measure of i)ul)lic conlidence and esteem. Religiously, he is an earnest 
and faithful member .dl tlie Methodist Episcojial church, in the acti\ities of 
which-he is deeply -interested. Persdnally. ^Ir. NiniiiKnis i- knnwn t.. all as 
an. honest,, -upright,, industrious , man -and is a highly respected citi/en nt tlnj 
coun tjji',,. where, M?i has, always resided aiid. where he h^s ,been eminently^ suc- 
■CJSa&iull . ...u. .i ....:.,.;,,,;:■■■- ..r ,.^r,, .,■ v.;,*.,, ; ,. ;;..:t .a j ,.., . . . 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 68/ 

N. O. GRIFl-IN. 

It is the progressive, wide-awake man of affairs that makes the real his- 
tory of a community, and his influence as a ptjteutial factor in the body poHtic 
is difficuk to estimate. The examples of such men strongly illustrate what 
is in the power of each to accomplish, and there is always a full measure of 
satisfaction in adverting, even in a casual way, to their achievements in ad- 
vancing their own interests and those of their fellow men and giving strength 
and solidity to the institutions which make for the prosperity of the com- 
munity. Such a man is X. O. Guffin. the subject of this brief review, and it 
is eminently proj^er that a sketch of liis interesting career be accorded a place 
in a work of this character. 

N. O. Griffin, the youngest of a family of ten children, was horn julv 
25, 1856, the son of Eli B. and Eliza (Rundy) (irifhn. EU I'., (iriffin was 
born in the northeastern part of the state of New ^'ork on .\pril 21, 1802, 
and on August 4, 1829, was united in marriage with Eliza Bundy, they both 
being of pure English stock. The wedding took place in Steuben countv. 
New York, and some time afterward they moved to Erie county, Pennsyl- 
vania, and after living in the Keystone .state for a few years they came on 
farther west, this time locating in Licking county, Ohio, arriving there in the 
year 1836. Here they remained for twelve years, and in 1848 again took up 
their journey towartl the then great West, .stopping in DeKalb county. Indi- 
ana, settling on land south of Auburn. 

To Eli and Eliza Griffin were born ten cliiidren. who grew to manhood 
and womanhood, namely: Thomas, horn June 25. 1830. died February 23. 
1857: Susan, born Se]itember 15. 1831. died May t6. 1854; Charles, born 
January 12. 1834, died January 25. 1904: George, born February 27. 1839, 
died May 30. i860; Polly, born February 6. 1841. died April 8. i860; Will- 
iam, born January 20, 1845, died November 2, 1871 ; Edward, lx)rn February 
16. 1847. lives in Iowa and is a minister of the gospel; Mariah'. born Decem- 
ber 19. 1848. died April 6, 1874; Nathaniel, born July 15, 1852, lives in 
Steuben county. Indiana; N. ().. born Juh' 25, 1856. The father of these 
children died on .\ugust 24, 1899. and the mother lias since made her home 
with her son. the subject of this review. '' 

N.O. Griffin first saw the" light ()f day on the' old homes'tea'd" south of 
Auburn. DeKalb ccSunty. 'aiid moved with his parehfs'txi Wilmi'ngtbn 'mi86cf; 
having resided on' the SaTne farm since' then. On May'24, T883,'h{? {<ras nijff- 
ried to eia^rissa- A: -Keller ,-iaTiH f^is'tirrfort-fias beT;n-bh>'5'scd wit^'two'chtldTt^rt; 



688 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Charles C)., who is Hving on the home farm with his parents, and Zona A., 
who, with her husband, hves on the south farm known as the ShilHng place. 
Highly successful in the pursuit of agriculture, N. O. Griffin has found 
time in his busy life to take an active and earnest part in the community and 
church life of his county, and his well-rounded life is a striking example of 
intelligently applied energy. Tic has purchased the interests df the other 
heirs to his father's estate and has added more land to it, until he now 
possesses one hundred and si.xty acres, all being cultivated by strictly modern 
methods. A comfortrd)le home and good farm buildings embellish his hold- 
ings. A unique feature of ^Ir. (Iriffin's land is that it lies in four sections, in 
a .square body, with the ro;ul on the east side. 



FRED L. FEICK. 



Indiana has been especially honored in the character and career of her 
active men of public service and the professions. In every section have been 
found men born to leadership in the various vocations, men who have domi- 
nated because of their superior intelligence, natural endowment and force of 
character. It is always profitable to study such lives, weigh their motives 
and hold up their achievements as incentives to greater activity and higher 
excellence on the part of others. These reflections are suggested by the 
career of one who has forged his way to the front ranks and who. by a 
strong inherent force and superior ability, controlled by intelligence and 
judgment of a high order, stands today as one of the leading men of his 
state. No citizen in northern Indiana has achieved more honorable mention 
or occupies a more consjiicuous place in the public eye than Fred L. Feick, 
of Garrett, who, though just at the threshold of the prime of life, has already 
an enviable reputation as a lawyer in a community noted for the high order 
of its legal talent. Success is methodical and consecutive, and Mr. Fieck's 
success has been attained by normal methods and mean,s — the determined 
application of mental and physical resources along a rightly defined line. A 
self-made man in the truest sense of the term, Mr. Feick is eminently deserv- 
ing of representation in the annals of DeKalb county. 

Fred L. Feick was born on March 8, 1878, at Chicago Junction, Ohio, 
and is a son of Jacob and Catharine (Zuelch) Feick, natives respectively of 
Ohio and Germany. Jacob Feick was the son of Adam and Catherine Feick, 
who were natives of Germany. Jacob Feick became a successful architect 





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DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. ()H^) 

contractor ami liuiV.kT, heconiintr \fry prdniiiieiit in his ])riitVs-;ion. I io and 
his brothers built the cajiitnl Imihlin^ at C'hevcnno, W yoniinii-, ami lia\e 
erected large and costly structures in all parts i.t the country. He is now- 
living at Crestline, Ohio, at the age of seventy-one years, his wife being sixty- 
nine years of age. Mrs. Feick, who was w-ell educated, and who engaged 
in teaching school in Germany liefore coming to this country, landed here 
when twenty-three years of age, joining relatives in .Sandusky, Ohio, where 
she UK-t -Mr. h'eick. Her parents were l-'rederick ami C'liristina Zuelch. To 
jacol) and Catharine l-\'ick were burn eleven children, namely: Mrs. l.ibby 
I'erman. deceased; Katy. deceased: Catherine, deceased ; (ieorge. who was 
em])loyed as trainiuan on the .\kron di\i>ion ot the ISaltiniorL' & Ohio 
railroad, was killed in icji i : John, employed as trainman, vvas killed on the 
Baltimore & Ohio railroad at Defiance. Ohio, in 1907: Mrs. John Berk, of 
(Chicago Junction, Ohio : Philip is a professional baseball player and a mem- 
ber of the Memphis club of the Southern League: Jacob, of Crestline, Ohio: 
Frank, of Crestline, and .\nna and Tillie, who reside with their parents. 

Fred L. Feick recei\ed his elementary education in the common schools 
of Chicago Junction, taught li\ .Miss Stella (iregory. fie left school at the 
age of twelve j'ears and became call boy for the Baltimoie iK: Ohio railroad 
in the transportation department, under J. I', bitzgerald, brother to (General 
Manager Thomas Fitzgerald, later president of the lialtimore & Ohjo. Nine- 
teen months later he was transferred to the machinery department, where 
he learned the machinist's trade under William Taylor, son-in-law of the 
sn]3erintendent of motixe ].ower under (General Harrison, wiiere he served 
an apprenticeship of four years. !n Septemlier. iNi)(). be came to Garrett, 
entered the service of the I'altimore i^- (^hio railroad as a brakeman, and 
two years later was i)romoled to train conductor, being at that time the 
yoimgest conductor on the Baltimore & ( )hio system. In June, ii)Oi, Mr. 
Feick was injured in a collision at (havelton. Indiana, where >e\eral persons 
were killed, bis le.gs being broken and he being otherwise badly crip])led. The 
railroad compan\- >ent him to \arious ho,-])ilal- tm- treatment, and. while 
trying to recu])erate. and at tb.il time having a wife and t'amily to support, 
he realized that he bad to turn bis attention to another method of gaining 
a livelihood. .He decidetl to stud\ law and economic and public questions. 
In September, 1903, while still on crutches, he was elected to represent the 
C. X. Bell Lodge of Railroad Trainmen as local delegate to the state con- 
vention at lndianai)oli>. and at that election he was elected \ ice-chairman of 
(44) 



•690 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

the state association. During 1905 he wrote a book entitled "The Life of a 
Railway Trainman," whicii was copyrighted, and many tliousands were sold in 
America and Europe, it proving a very popular book and givmg him a sub- 
stantial start. In 1907 Mr. Feick was re-elected as a delegate and was 
eventually elected president of the Railroad Trainmen at the state conven- 
tion in 1907. In that same year he wrote and had introduced into the Leg- 
islature the "full freight crew law" and the "full passenger crew law," which 
bills were passed by that Legislature, and which were the first laws of the 
kind in America. He also succeeded in having passed the bills entitled "six- 
teen hours of service law," the "trainmen's caboose law" and the "medical 
•case law," the latter providing for the carrying of medical cases on pas- 
senger trains. In 1908 Mr. Feick spoke at the Jefferson banquet at Lafayette, 
where he received the personal compliments of William Jennings Bryan, 
and was asked by Mr. Bryan to stump the country for him in the event of 
his nomination. During that campaign Mr. Feick made three hundred and 
■eighty-seven effective speeches, traveling with John W. Kern, William Jen- 
nings Bryan and other prominent men, and also made a three-day tour with 
Samuel Gompers over the state of Indiana. In 1907 Mr. Feick was a 
Democratic candidate for congressman in the twelfth district. In 1909 he 
was re-elected president of the State Association of Railroad Trainmen, and 
during the legislative session of that year he secured the passage of the 
"safety appliance law," the "full switching crew law" for yards," the "anti- 
loan shark bill," and various other measures of vital interest to laboring men. 
Mr. Feick had no personal interest in advancing these laws which he had 
introduced, but worked for them solely through his interest in humanity 
and to advance the welfare of his fellow; lalwring men, whose dangers and 
difficulties he fully understood, for he had risen through the ranks, pass- 
ing through every gradation of labor from boy to man, and was thus 
able to speak and write with authority on those subjects which he discussed. 
In 1909 Mr. Feick was admitted to the practice of law in the circuit court, 
and two years later was admitted to the supreme court. He assisted the 
attorneys who had charge of all the railway litigation in the Indiana courts 
and the I'nited States supreme court. In 191 1 Mr. Feick was again re- 
elected unanimously as president of the State Association of Railway Train- 
men, and during the session of the Legislature in that year had several other 
beneficent labor laws enacted. In 1912 he took an active part as speaker in 
the campaign, and was later nominated for joint senator from DeKalb 
county, which nomination he declined in order that he might serve the 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 69! 

national Democratic committee and his fellow railway men to the best 
advantage. Mr. Feick was a delegate to the national Democratic convention 
at Baltimore and took a very active part in the insertion of the labor plank 
in the national platform. He was also a delegate to the Democratic state 
convention, where he had a plank placed in the platform providing for 
semi-monthly pay-days. During the last national campaign he was attached 
to the western headquarters of the Democratic party at Chicago, and to him 
was assigned the ta.sk of writing the railroad campaign literature, giving 
the records of Wilson and Marshall in relation to railroads and laboring men. 
He also delivered three hundred speeches. During that same year he was 
prominently mentioned for the nomination of lieutenant-governor of Indiana, 
and could have probably secured the nomination had he not emphatically 
declined. In 191 3 Mr. Feick was again elected president of the Railroad 
Trainmen's Association and secured the enactment of the semi-monthly pay- 
da}- bill and other bills of a like nature. He has been frequently called into 
consultation with national leaders at Washington, and his advice sought on 
labor legislation and other vital questions of the day. He is now closely 
applying himself to his law practice, which has assumed large proportions, 
and is giving his attention ])ractically entirely to ])ersonal injury cases, having 
taken over eight}- thousand dollars' worth of claims during the past two 
vears. Keenly alixc to the great issues of the day. and especially those per- 
taining to capital and labor, and the laws of the country and state relating 
to the protection and welfare of the laboring classes, Mr. Feick has gained 
a place in the hearts of the common people which could not have been attained 
had he not possessed those qualities which merited the confidence bestowed 
in him. Mr. Feick is a well-read man on general subjects, especially those 
pertaining to national questions of politics and economics, and is a fluent 
and forceful speaker at all times. 

In 1899 Mr. Feick was married to Lena Stoner. daughter of George F. 
and Rosa Stoner, her father being a successful druggist at Angola, Indiana. 
They have a son. Dale Frederick, horn on .'\pril 22, 1900. 

Politically, Mr. Feick is an ardent supporter of the Democratic party, 
of which his father and grandfather were adherents, while on the maternal 
side his ancestors were all Repulilicans. Religiously, he and his wife are 
earnest and faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which 
he gives an earnest support. Fraternally, he is a niember of the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows, tlie Tribe of Ben-Hur and the Brotherhood of Rail- 
wav Trainmen. 



6g2 DEKAI.B' COfA'TY, INDIANA. 

GEORGE DEEMS. 

The name of George Deems will be one of the best remembered in the 
history of DeKalb county of the present' generation, for it was long very 
closely associated wifhher agricultural interests, and although he is today 
numbered among the silent inhabitants of "God's acre," the good he did, his 
many little acts of kindness and the influence of his wholesome life still live 
and are potent in the lives of many who were associated with him. 

George Deems was born on June 7, 1S40, in DeKalb county. Indiana. 
and was a son of George and Hannah (Dudgeon) Deems, both of wh(jm 
were natives of Pennsylvania and descended from some of the sturdy stock 
of that old commonwealth. They were the jjarents of h\c children. John, 
Eli, Mrs. Eliza Kepler, the subject of this sketch, all of whom arc deceased. 
and William, who now lives on a farm in DeKalb county. 

(icorge Deems recei\-ed \ps education in the cnninmn schools, and his 
early life was dex'oted to assisting in the work nf im])ro\ ing and culti\'ating 
their pioneer farm, for they were nun.ibered among the early settlers of this 
locality. He grew to strong and sturdy nianbond and liecame one of the 
substantial and influential citizens of DeKalb ci>unt\. enioying a wide ac- 
quaintance and being held in high esteem b\" all who knew him. He was an 
eye-witness of the wonderful transformation which took place here from the 
.days when the land was largely covered with a dense growth of timber and 
wild animals infested the forests, adding anxiety to the other hardships of 
the pioneers. He never forsook the basic art of agriculture, to which he was 
reared arid eventually became the owner of a good farm of ninety acres in 
Franklin township, to the management of which he dexoted himself until 
the time of his death, which occurred on June S, 1807. Such had been his 
life in the communit\- that his death v\as considered a distinct hiss b\- all who 
knew him. .Mthdugh his life was a busy one. hi^ everyday affairs making 
large demands upon his time, lie never shrank from his <hities as a citizen 
and his obligations to his church, his neiglibors and hi-; friends. He was re- 
membered as a man of great energy and rare judgment, which he carried into 
all affairs in whidh he was interested. He was indeed a manly man and the 
honor and' esteem in which he was held 1)\- all who came into contact with 
him was but a just tribute to his worth. 

On' August 5. i86fi. Mr. Deems was united in marriage to Louisa Rude. 
the daughter of -\riel and Sophia (Stoddard) Rude, the fatlier a na- 
tive of Massachusetts and the mother of Xew >'ork state. To tin's union 



DEKAL^ COUNtV, INblANA. 693 

were born eight children, namely: Mrs. Dora Richard, ui I'.utler. this county; 
Oran, who lives with his motlTCr; Mrs. Minnie Thomas, who also lives with 
her mother; Mrs. Hannah Hifiiting, of this county: Mrs. tiara Allwood, of 
DeKalh county: Mrs. Ida Mnughler. also of thi.s county: William .\.. a 
farmer in Dcd\all) count)-, and lunma'. who died at the age of seven years. 
'The tuother of these children, who was horn on .Xpril 11, i<S47. is still re- 
siding on the old home farm and enjoys the respect and esteem of all who 
know her. George Deems was not only successful in his own private afifairs 
and a good neighbor and loyal to his own familw but in the time of his coun- 
try's distress gave practical evidence of his patriotism by enhsting as a pri- 
vate in Company H. Eighty-eighth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, 
with which he \aliantly ser\ed three years, giving his coinitry faithful and 
earnest service in the suiiiiression. of the rebellion. 



PHINKV.'^ D. (Hll.nS. 



It is a well authenti 


cated 


fact 


that ^ 


-uc 


ces^ 


mate and well applied en 


lervy. 


unH; 


[igging (1 


etei 


a course of action when 


< >nce 


deci 


(led u 


pol 


11. 


upon the idler or dreame 


r. ;nii 


:\ onl 


A the 


me 


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favor are crowned with 1 


:er bl. 


.■ssings. In 


tr; 


iciii 


farmer and reiireseiitati 


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ti/.en 


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Indiana, whose name for 


Uls tl 


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ition ( 


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ibi- 


the prosperity which he 


enjoy 


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> been 


^v 


on 


it is also his personal woi 


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at b;i 


s gain 


e<l 


fol 


who know him. 












Phineas 1). Cbilds. 


who 


was 


born 


on 


.ia 


Williard and Cornelia 


1 Stev 


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Cbilds 




W'i 


Utica. New York, on 1-c 


bru;u" 


y 1 5. 


iSi 1 


. w 


•as 



comes ;is the result of legiti- 
niination and perseverance in 
She is never known to smile 

bo liave diligently sought her 
U the history of the influential 
d lown-bip. neKalb county. 

rexiew. it is plaiidy seen that 
bv commendable (|ualities and 

him the high esteem of those 



3. 1840. is tlK 


.son of 


ChiUK was bor 


n near 


1 of I'bineas and 


1 Theo- 



dosia (Phillips) Childs, the former a native of New Haven. Connecticut, and 
of English descent, and the latter also a native of Connecticut, but of Welsh 
descent. In 1813 these parents moved to Jefferson county. New York, and 
in 1826 to Onondaga county, that state. When be was tifteen years of age, 
Williard Childs began tT, work by the month f<ir farmers. In 1837 he came 
to DeKalh county. Indiana, a)id bought one luuidred aiid twenty .acres of )and. 
and after paving for it bad but se\ entv-tbree cents left. He then \\\\n to 



694 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Fort Wayne, where he earned money with which to return to New York. 
In 1846 he moved his family to DeKalb county, landing in Fairfield town- 
ship on August 24th, moving into a log cabin and a short time afterward 
bought the land on which it stood. There were but fourteen families in this 
township when he settled there, the land being heavily covered by timber. 
Eventually he became the owner of two hundred and eighty-six acres of land, 
comprising one of the best farms in the township. In New York state he 
married Cornelia Steves, by whom were born two children, Emma and 
Phineas D. His first wife died in 1856, and he afterwards married Amanda 
Buclianan. a native of Holmes county, Ohio, and a daughter of Alexander 
liuchaiian. She was a school teacher and after coming to DeKalb county 
made her home with relatives and engaged in teaching school here until her 
marriage. To this union were born two children, Jason B. and Mary E., the 
latter being the wife of Wilbur Hallcr, of Kendallville, Indiana. Williard 
Childs died in 1890 and his wife in 1892. They were both members of the 
Methodist Episcopal church. 

Phineas D. Childs was educated in the common schools of DeKalb 
county and in the high schools at .\uhurn aiul Waterloo. .After comjileting 
his public school education he took up tlie vocation of teaching in Ray county, 
Missouri, where he was engaged for one and one-half years, then returned to 
DeKalb county and engaged in farming on the old home [ilace, where lie now 
resides, he now owning the land which liis father originally entered here. 
Up-to-date in his methods and persevering in his intlustry, he has been enabled 
to reap gratifying returns as reward for his labor and is regarded as among 
the representative farmers in his locality. 

In 1873 Mr. Childs married Rosa (1. I'.owman. the daughter of Cyrus 
and Rachel (Waterman) Bowman, and to this union ha\e been born five chil- 
dren, namely: Reuben C, Frank K., Emma R.. Theron A. and Edward L. 
Politicallv, Mr. Childs has given his earnest support to the Republican party, 
and has taken an active interest in local affairs, being the present supervisor. 
He is a man of sound judgment and good business ability and is performing 
his official duties to the entire satisfaction of his fellow citizens. Fraternally, 
he is a member of the subordinate lodge of Knights of Pythias at Corunna. 
Mr. Childs and his family stand high in the social circles of the community, 
being ready at all times to countenance and encourage every enterprise for 
the advancement of those with whom they mingle, and they enjoy the favor 
of their acquaintances who speak in high terms of them and their sterling 
worth. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 695 

J. HARVEY KNAUER. 

The subject of this brief sketch has been largely dependent upon his own 
resources from his boyhood, and as one of the leading business men of the 
thriving village of Corunna, he exemplifies what is possible of accomplish- 
ment on the part of one who establishes a definite aim in life and is willing 
to apply his energies and abilities toward the gaining of the same. He now 
has one of the leading general stores in the town, and by energy and good 
management has gained a position of marked prosperity in temporal affairs, 
while he has so ordered his course in the various relations of life as to gain 
and retain the confidence and esteem of those with whom he has come in 
contact. 

J. Harvey Knauer was born in Greentown, Stark county, Ohio, and is 
a son of Euramel and Alary G. (Kreighbaum) Knauer, tlie former a native 
of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. Euramel Knauer left his native 
state and moved to Ohio, settling in Stark count}-, where he was married, and 
in 1863 came to DeKalb county. Indiana, settling in Richland township. He 
clerked in a store until 1865, when he went to Eddyville, Iowa, and engaged 
in the mercantile business for two years, at the end of which period he re- 
turned to Corunna and was similarly engaged for a like period. He then lo- 
cated in Kendallville. Indiana, where for se\en years he clerked in a mercan- 
tile establishment, but in 1874 again returned to Corunna, and engaged in 
the mercantile business under the firm name of J. W. Helmer & Company, 
and later engaged in business for himself, and here he remained until liis 
(It-ath. wliich occurred on January 15, 1902. After selling out to Mr. Helmer. 
he had bought a stock of goods at Fairfield Center, which was conducted by 
his son Harvey for two years. This stock was destroyed by fire and in 1886 
he established the present business, which later became the firm of E. Knauer 
& Son. Since his death the business has been continued under the name of 
J. Harvey Knauer. Euramel Knauer was a man of good business qualities 
and was eminent! v respected in the various communities where he lived. His 
wife also is deceased, her death occurring in January, 1887. To them were 
born the following children: Hattie. Katy. George, Jennie, J. Har\ey, Mil- 
lie and Frankie. of wliom the first two and last two are deceased. 

The subject of this sketch was reared by his parents, securing his educa- 
tion in the public schools. He has for a number of years been successfully 
engaged in the mercantile business at Corunna. and is numbered among the 
substantial men and public-spirited citizens of this thriving comnuniity. bis 



696 DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 

efforts having met w ith ;i success commensurate with his activity, energy and 
correct methods. 

On October 5, i8yo, Mr. Knauer married Alary Calkins, the daughter 
of Paulus and , Matilda (Brown) Calkins, both of whom were natives of 
Ohio, but who came to DeKalb county when j-oung and were married here. 
They settled in Richland township, where Mr. Calkins engaged in the manu- 
facture of tiling and in the operation of a saw mill, in both of which lines he 
was actively engaged u]) td the time of his death. To him and his wife were 
horn the f(jllowing children: Horace X.. Miio. l-'rank, Lindel. Adney, 
Charles ( deceased ) , Mary and Rose. 

Politically, Mr. Knauer gi\es his support to the Progressive party, be- 
lieving that the old political parties ha\e failed to meet the necessities of the 
American people. Fraternally, he l^elongs to the lodge of Free and Accepted 
Masons at Kendallville and the lodge of Knights of P\'thias at Corunna, 
while his religious memhershij) is with the Church of Christ. Genial in man- 
ner and untiring in his efforts to please his customers, Mr. Knauer has long 
enjoyed his full share of local patronage and carries a large and well selected 
line of goods to meet the demands of his customers. He is deserx'edly pop- 
ular among those who knon him and is numbered among the representatixe 
anen of the comnnniit\'. 



ALBFRT A. KRAMER. M. D. 

Concentration of pur])ose and persistently a])plied energy rarely fail of 
success in the accomplishment of any task. howe\er great, and in tracing 
the career of Dr. Albert .\. Kramer, of Hutler. DeKall) county. Indiana, 
it is plainly seen that these qualities have been the secret of his rise to a 
position of prominence and respectability. Moreover, he possesses genuine 
love for his work and regards it as a pri\-ilege to carry comfort and aid 
to the sick and suffering. 

.Albert A. Kramer was born in the state of Ohio on October 27. 1879, 
the son of Michael E. and Kathryn (Christoffel) Kramer. The father, who 
was a native of Germany, came to .America with his parents, wlio first set- 
tled in Ohio in an early day. and there spent the remainder of their lives. 
The .subject's mother, aho was a nati\e of the Hoosier state, was tlie daugh- 
ter of Jacob and Mary Christoft'el, who were natives of Germany, and upon 
their emigration to this country settled in Indiana, where they spent their 
lives. To Alichael and Kathryn Kramer were born seven children, namely: 
Anna. William, P.ertha, .Albert .A.. John, Ida and Clara. 




AT>HERT A. KRAMER. M, D. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 697 

Albert A. Kramer attended the ciminion school'- of his nali\i' coninin- 
nity in Ohio, completing his elenieiUarv studies in the high school at Edger- 
ton, that state. He then spent twn years in the Normal School at Angola, 
Indiana, and one year as a student in Northwestern University at Chicago. 
Having determined to make the jjractice of medicine his life work, he then 
entered the medical department uf the Indiana State University, where he 
prosecuted his studies and was graduated in [907 with the degree of Doctor 
of Medicine. He then served a year as interne at the dispensary of the 
State College of Physicians and Surgeons and later at the Indiana University 
hospital at Indianapolis, and at the end of that period came to Butler in 1907 
and engaged in tiie active practice of his profession, in which lie has continued 
to the present time with a gratifying degree of success. Possessing an 
ardent devotion to his chosen calling, with a splendid technical training, he 
has handled successfully many difficult cases and has frequentlx- heen called 
into consultation 1)\- his professional colleagues, among whom he is held in 
the highest esteem. He has built up a large medical practice in ibis locality 
and has earned a marked degree of iiojiularity among those with whom he 
has become acquainted. 

On November 14. 1907. Dr. Kramer was married to 1 )or;i .\. Snyder, 
daughter of Jacob Snyder, of Indianapolis, and to this union has been liorn 
one child, Hal C. who is at home. 

Politically, Dr. Kramer gives iiis allegiance to the Re])ublican party, 
while in his religious belief he is a Methodist. Fraternally be is a member 
of Lodge No. 158, Knights of Pythias, at Butler, of which be is chancellor 
commander. He is also a member and president of the lUitler Commercial 
Club and a member of the DeKalb C.uinty Medical .\ssociation. Dr. Kramer 
has been a hard and consi.stent worker all his life. Indeed, his efforts on his 
own account commenced at the early age of seventeen years, when he began 
teaching in the schools in Ohio, following this vocation for four years. 
Wide awake, energetic and entenirising, be has not confined bis interests 
entirely to his profession, but has given his support unreservedly to every 
movement or interest having for its object the welfare of the people. He 
possesses a well-selected library of splendid works, is a deep reader and 
keen observer of men and events and is considered a well-informed man, 
being a pleasing companion and interesting conversationalist. Cordial in 
manner, be easily makes acquaintances, among whom be enjoys a large cij-- 
cle of warm and loyal friends. 

The subject was elected mayor of lUitler on the Citizens' ticket for the 
term of four vears. from 1914 to 1918.. 



698 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

CHARLES W. WEBSTER. 

The gentleman to whom the reader's attention is now directed was not 
favored by inherited wealth or the assistance of influential friends, but in 
spite of this, by perseverance, industry and a wise economy, he has attained 
a comfortable station in life and is well and favorably known throughout 
DeKalb county as a result of the industrious life he has lived here for many 
years, being regarded by all who know him as a man of sound business prin- 
ciples, thoroughly up-to-date in all phases of agriculture and stock raising and 
as a man who, while advancing all individual interests, does not neglect his 
general duties as a citizen. 

Charles W. Webster, an enterprising farmer and present trustee of 
Stafford township, was born on October 14, 1872, in this county, and is the 
son of George and Elsie ( W'anamaker) Webster, both natives also of Stafiford 
township, this county. The father was born July 13, 1846, and died February 
10. 191 1, and the mother was born November 24, 1S52. George Webster 
served efficiently as assessor and trustee of Stafford township. To the par- 
ents were born the following children: Charles W., the subject of this sketch; 
Mrs. Vertie L. Emanuel, of Edgerton, Ohio, and Mrs. Helen Nihart. also 
of Edgerton. 

Charles W. Webster attended the ct)mnion schools of DeKalb ccjunty, 
and then spent two years in tlie normal school at Wauseon, Ohio. He was 
reared to the life of a farmer and followed this vocation for a number of 
years, though he was for some time a traveling salesman, chiefly of stock 
foods of various kind, in which field of effort he was eminently successful. 
He is residing on the old lionie place, and is realizing a handsome profit from 
its operation. At the present time he is devoting himself to the breeding and 
raising of thoroughbred li\cstock, especially of Duroc-Jersey hogs, though 
for the past fifteen years he has been interested in the breeding of sows. In 
1904 he was elected the assessor of his township, and in 1908 was elected 
trustee, serving with such .satisfaction that he was elected to succeed himself, 
and is the present incumbent of the office. 

On November i, 1899, Mr. Webster was married to Ona Fusselman, the 
daughter of Nelson and Kate f Cotril) Fusselman, both of whom were natives 
of the state of Ohio, the father born in Trumbull county and the mother in 
Hancock county. To the subject and wife has been born one son, Gerry L., 
whose birth occurred on August 10, 1901. 

Politically, Mr. Webster has been a life-long supporter of the Republican 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 699 

party and has taken a deep interest in the success of that organization,, 
especially in local affairs. Fraternally, he is a member of Lodge No. 282^ 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Butler. His life-long residence in 
DeKalb county, his upright life and mature judgment and the many services 
which he has rendered ha\i- luadi- his name a synonym for character and 
worth. He is imbued witli tlic di-cpest and most helpful spirit, and is well 
fortified in his opinion as to matters of public policy, and has given his best to 
the furthering of good government, being neglectful of no civic duty. Because 
of his high character and genial disposition, he has won a host of warm 
personal friends throughout tiu- comnumitv, who esteem him for liis genuine 
worth. 



JACKSON A. LONG. 



The student interested in DeKalb county. Indiana, does not have to carry 
his investigation far before learning that Jackson A. Long has been an active 
and leading representative of its agricultural interests and that his labors have 
proven a potent factor in making this a rich farming region. Through 
several decades the subject has carried on farming, gradually improving his 
valuable place, and while he has prosjicred in this, lu has also found amjile 
opportunity to assist in the material development of the county, his co- 
operation having been of value for the general good. 

Tackson A. Long is a native son of DeKalb county, Indiana, having lieen 
born one mile north of Clarrett on December 30, 1868, and is a son of Har- 
rison and Marietta (VVvant) Long. Samuel Harrison Long was born in 
Summit county, Ohio, on Octr>ber 3, 1842, and is the son of parents who 
probablv were natives of Pennsylvania. Their marriage had occurred in 
Summit county about 1840 after their removal to that state, the mother's 
maiden name having been Barbary Ann Pike. They moved from Ohio to 
Noble county, Indiana, about 1844, settling two miles northwest of Kendall- 
ville, and about [852 the fatlier bought forty acres of land where the town 
of Garrett is now situated, where he lived until the Garrett Land Company 
bought his land. Harrison Long spent his boyhood days in DeKalb county, 
working on a farm near Auburn, and at the outbreak of the Civil war he was 
employed at the carpenter's trade. In response to his country's call for de- 
fenders, he lay down his vocational tools and enlisted on the Qth of August, 
1862, for three vears, or during the war, as a member of Company A, One 



700 DEKAta COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Hundredth Regiment Indiana N'olunteer Infantry. The company's officers 
at this time were: Captain Khoades, l''irst Lieutenant Schwartz and Second 
Lieutenant Hartman. The regiment took part in a number of the most 
hotly contested engagements of the (Jivil war. and acquitted itself with great 
credit, winning the commendation of its superior officers. Mr. Long proved 
a valiant and faithful soldier and was fortun;^te in that he went through- 
out his period of enlistment without receiving a wound. At the time of the 
final surrender of the two great Southern armies, Mr. Long was at Raleigh, 
North Carolina, and from there marched to ^Vashington, where he took part 
in the Grand Review, being mustered out of tlie L'nited States service on tlie 
8th dav of (une, 1863. From \\;i-liington the troops were shipped to Indi- 
anapolis in freight c;ir^, and were lliere jiaid off and .sent to their respective 
homes. Mr. Long came to Corunna, thi> county, where he met John ^'ar(le.. 
with wliom he obtainetl eniplovmeiil until the following spring. During the 
en.suing winter he met and formed tlie ;ici|uaintance of Marietta W yant. to 
whom he was married on the 3d of May. 1866. This union was a nio.st 
happy and congenial one, lasting o\ er forlv-two year>, Mrs. Long dying the 
12th day of September, igo8. She was born in Champaign county, Ohio, 
on March 10, 1838. the daughter of John and Lydia Wyant, who were mar- 
ried in Champaign county, and there spent their remaining days. To Mr. 
and Mr.s. Long were born si.x children, viz.: John Perry, .\ndrew Jackson. 
Lydia Rebecca, Ida Lena, Arta (Idelpha and Orville b:iester. On the 1 ith 
of April, 1804, Harrison Long left DeKalb county, locating in ilenz.onia, 
Benzie county, Michigan, where he rented a farm. Subsequently he bought 
one hundred and sixty acres of land, of which he still has one hundred and 
fifteen acres, having given to his son, Orville, forty-five acres after his wife's 
death. On the 28th of October, igoc), Mr. Long married Mrs. Mary Francis 
Stafford, who was born in Concord township, DeKalb county, Indiana, on 
May 2T^, 1838, the daughter of William and Eliza Reed Dra.goo. who were 
natives of Ohio. 

Jackson A. Long spent bis boyhood days m farming and attended the 
township schools ;is opportunity offered. He gave bis attention to the opera- 
tion of one hundred and si.xty acres of land, known as the Hayes farm, one 
and tliree-i|uarter miles northeast of C.arrelt. which place bis parents bad 
rented; and when bis father moved to Michigan in 1894 the suljject took over 
the care of the farm which he operated during the following ten years. Later 
he bought sixty acres known :is the Huffman farm, on which he is now 
located. This is a tract of fine land, and Mr. Long has achieved a splendid 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. '/Ql 

success in its operation. In the tall <>i kjij he built a splendid new liarn. 
remodeled the residence, and huilt a lar,i;e ham shed and made other permanent 
substantial improvements which ha\e added in a lan.!.;il)le \va\' to the \alue of 
his property. About twenty-five acres id' this si.\t\- acres of this tract is in 
timber, which is of itself a valuable part of the estate. The farm i- well 
drained and fenced, and in the l(jcality it is looked upon as one of tlu' best 
farms of the township. Mr. Long is progressi\e in his methird>, endeaxorin.^ 
at all times to keep nji to the twentieth-century standard of a.uricnllural knowl- 
edge, and by carefully rotatin<i- his crojis, .^'ivint; attmtion to the nuainlaiii- 
;incc of the fertility of the soil, and to other features of ])ractic;il farmin.t; 
he has been enabled to achieve ,a iioteworthv sueeess in hi^ vocation. Me is 
a hard worker .and a -ood m.ana-er, and is ably assisted !,v his wife, who takes 
a conmiendablc interest in the o|)eration of the farm. .\lr. Lou,;.;- is well 
acc{uainted throughout this locality and amiJiig those who know him he is 
held in hi,ghest esteem because of his acconiplishmenls .inil his high personal 
character. 

On November lO. 18(^3. .Mr. L,mg married Lillian ( oosli. the daughter 
of Samuel and Is.abell.a ( Opdyke ) Crosh. Samuel Cia.sh was born in Stark 
county. Ohio, and as ,a youth came to .\llen count\, Indiana, with his parents. 
who settled near Leo on what is now the old f.'irm in \llen countx'. Subse- 
quently he left Leo for Cincinnati, ( )hio. where he followed the miller'^ trade 
for a number of }-ears, but eventually returned and located near .\lbion where 
he still follows the same trade. He entered into partnership wuh I'isher 
West, but about a year later sold his interest aiul came to .Xuliurn. Soon 
after coming to Indiana from Cincinnati. .Mr. (irosh married Is.ibell.i ( )])dyke. 
who was a native of .Mien county, born ne.ir I'ort Wayne. I lis (je.ath occurred 
in 1889, in Auburn, where he enjoyi'd the respect of ,ill who know him. To 
Mr. and Mrs. (in,sh were born four children- Lilli;m. wife of the subject 
of this sketch; Leonard, Perry and .Mrs. Xellie Kratt. all of wh.mi live in 
Auburn. .After moving to .\uburn, .Mr. (irosh pnrch,i-ed a grist mill, also 
residence property, and for about five years i)rio|- to his death he was .active 
in the milling business, but sliortl\- prior to his decease he sold his interest. 

Politically, Jackson \. Long gave his interested allegi.ance to the Demo- 
cratic party, and is active in its su|)port, being ,an influenti.al factor in .all 
matters affecting the pulilic welfare. .Mrs. Long is a niemt'er of the l.uther.an 
church at Auburn and gives her earnest support to th.at soeietv. Mr. Long is 
interested in the welfare of the coiunnmity and gives .m i-.irne-t supi>ort to 
everything that jironn'ses to advance the imhlic vvelt';ire matiri.allv. -oci.ally. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 



morally or educationally, and is deserving the high standing which he now 
enjoys throughout the locality where so many active years of his life have 
been spent. 



ERVIN W. WIGENT. 



A man deserving of mention in this history of DeKalb county is the 
subject of this sketch, for he was born in Butler township, this county, and 
during his life has Ijeen actively engaged in a progressive and enterprising 
manner in furthering tlie interests of the community, for it is a well recog- 
nized principle that where a man does well with his own interests, the public 
as well as himself is benefited. 

Ervin W. Wigent, who has for several years ser\ed efficiently as post- 
master at Corunna, where he is also engaged in the mercantile business, was 
born in DeKalb county, Indiana, on July 2, 1858, and is a son of Urial and 
Reuhamah (Clark) Wigent, both of whom were natives of New York 
state. These parents were reared to manbood and womanhood in their na- 
tive community and after tlieir marriage there tliey came to DeKalb county, 
Indiana, locating on a farm near Butler Center in Butler township. When 
Ervin Wigent was si.\ years old his father moved to Whitley county. In- 
diana, where the parents remained until their deaths. Urial Wigent had 
been a boat man during the earlier years of his active life, and in whatever 
enterprise he engaged he was marked by industry, perseverance and integrity 
of word and deed. To him and his wife were born the following children: 
^lartha. John C. Chauncy (i., Burris Edward, Byron D.. Lucina, Sarah and 
Ervin W. The parents of these children are now botli deceased. 

The subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools 
of Whitley county, Indiana, and upon attaining the years of manhood he took 
up the vocation of farming. Eventually he and his brother, Byron D., 
turned their attention to the lumber business, finally coming to Corunna, 
where, on Noveml>er i, 1893, they became identified with the milling inter- 
ests. They remained actively identified with this business for eight years, 
when the subject met with an accident in the mill which incapacitated him 
for further active physical labor, and also meeting with a heavy loss in the 
wheat market, they were compelled to retire from business. On .\pril i. 
1904, the subject was apix)inted postmaster of Corunna by President Roose- 
velt and he still is the occupant of that ofifice. discharging his duties to the en- 
tire satisfaction of the public and the patrons of the ofifice. He is an earnest 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 7O3 

Republican in his political views and is active in his support of the principles 
which he advocates. As a business man and private citizen Mr. Wigent has 
ever been guided by the highest principles of integrity and honor and is best 
liked by those who know him best, his sterling qualities of character com- 
mending him to the sincere regard of everyone. He is genial and companion- 
able and is a welcome visitor in any circle which he chooses to enter. The 
community is honored by his citizenship, and because of his representative 
character he is entitled to specific mention in this work. 



C. A. HOUGHTON. 



To a great extent the prosperity of the agricultural sections of our coun- 
try is due to the honest industry, the sturdy perseverance, the unswerving 
persistence and wise economy which so prominently characterize the farm- 
ing element of DeKalb county. Among this class may be mentioned the 
gentleman whose name heads this re\iew, who, by reason of years of inde- 
fatigable labor and honest effort, has not only acquired a well merited ma- 
terial prosperity, but has also richly earned the highest esteem of all with 
whom he has associated, and he is one of the leading agriculturists of the 
community in which he resides. 

C. A. Houghton was liorn April u, 18O3, in Auburn, DeKalb county, 
the son of O. C and Mary ( Twining) Houghton. The father was a native 
of the Empire state, while the mother was born in Ohio. They came to In- 
diana in May. 1847, and settled in I'nion township, at .\uburn. 'i"o them 
were Iwrn eight children, namely: Samantha: l,eland is deceased: D. K., 
who lives in Illinois, was the first male child born in the town of .Auburn; 
Mrs. Phelina Johnson lives in Oregon; Mrs. Etta Otto lives in California: 
Hiram, Ella and .A^nna are deceased; C. A. 

The subject of this review was educated in the common schools of 
DeKalb county, attending the .short winter terms of the primitive schools, 
and devoting the remainder of his time to working on the farm. On Sep- 
tember I, 1892. he was married to Anna E. Rann, daughter of John Rann. a 
native of Pennsylvania, and Mary Rann, who was born in this state. This 
union has resulted in the birth of five children . Vera. Roscoe, Paul. Ruth and 
Lela, all of whom are at present living under the parental rooftree. 

The subject is still actively engaged in carrying on general farming, 
and has made a success of his chosen vocation because of his thorough knowl- 



)EKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 



edge of the subject and his determination formed early in Hfe to do well what 
was worth doing at all. His landed estate comprises eighty acres of good 
land; his buildings and other improvements are substantial, and no better 
place can be found to enjoy the benefits of true Hoosier hosj>itality. In the 
course of his bu.sy and praiseworthy career he has found no time to seek the 
honors of public life, lieing content to exercise his suiTragc in behalf nf the 
Republican party, with which be has always been affiliated. 



DANIFL LOL^IS LEAS. 

The gentleman wlmse name a])i)ears at tlie head of tbi^ liingraiihica! 
review needs no intniductinn to the people of HeKalh couut\'. since bis entire 
active life has been >pent m this >ecti(.n of the state, a life devoted not only 
to tiie fostering nf bis own interests, but also In the i\elfare of the commun- 
ity at large. .\n honorable represtntati\e of one of the esteemed families 
of his section and a gentleman of high character and worthy ambitions, he 
has filled no small place in the public \iew. Fie i> ;i sjilendid tyjje of the 
intelligent, up-to-date, self-made \niericaii in the full sense of the term, a 
man of the people, with their interi-'ls ;it heart. .Vs a citizen be is progressive 
and abreast of the times in all that concerns the common weal, .\lthough a 
partisan, with strong convictions and well defined opinions on (|uestions on 
which men and jjarties divide, he has the esteem and confidence of the peo])le 
of the community and bis jjersonal friends are in numtier as his acrpiaintances, 
regardless of party ties. 

Daniel Louis Leas is a n;iti\e of tlie old Hoosier state and was born 
in Steuben county on October 17, 1865, and is a son of John Leas. The latter 
is represented at length elsewhere in this work, therefore further detailed 
mention of the subject's ancestral bistor\- will not be made at this point. 
When Daniel L. Leas was about three years old, the family moved to a farm 
immediately north of Waterloo, where he was rearetl to manhood. He at- 
tended the common schools and Later the high school at Waterloo, where he 
was graduated in 1SS4. He then took a commercial course at the Tri- 
State Normal School, finishing the complete course, after which he assisted 
his father on the home farm and in the latter's bank until his marriage in 
1889, after which he formed a jiartnership with J- C. Boyer and engaged in the 
general merchandise business .it Waterloo. Thev were prospered in this 
business, but about six and a half \-ears after their start tbe\- were burned 




gC)^ tCcc^ 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 705 

out, suffering a total loss of store building and stock. Mr. Leas then bought, 
Mr. Boyer's interest in the lot and erected a two-story brick business block,., 
which he now occupies and there is engaged in the dry goods business, 
handling ladies' and gents' furnishings, hats, ca|)s, shoes, carpets, draperies, 
clothing and other auxiliary lines. When Mr. Leas became a partner with 
Mr. B(jyer they also conducted a feed and grain business in connection with 
the general mercantile work, and this line Mr. Leas has continued with 
splendid success. About i()<)4 lie erected the elevator at Waterloo antl con- 
tinued also to run this and witii tills, as witii his other enterprises, he has been 
eminently successful. In i^>05 Mr. Leas embarked in one of the most im- 
portant lines with which be has Ijeen connected during his l)usiness career. 
that of hay, in which he has achieved a big success and acquired a widespread 
reputation. He erected large hay barns at Waterloo and was in that busi- 
ness for about sixteen years. He at one time shipped about five hundred 
car loads of hay a year, but in 1 910 he sold this business to his nephew, Earl 
Leas. About 1905 Mr. Leas Ijouglit the defunct DeKaH) I'.ank at Waterloo. 
moved the fixtures to Hudson and organized what is now known as tlie 
Hudson Rank, which was ,1 pronounced success from the -t;irt. Alxiut two 
vears after the (jrgani/.ation of this institution he s, ijd his interests there to 
his nepliew, Lemv Walerniaii, and invested heavily in the ( iernian-.Vmerican 
National Hank at h'ort Wavne. He has also been in \arious other enter- 
prises and owns a farm of one hundred and sixtv-tive acres west of Water- 
loo, and also has projierty at .\ngola, .\shle\- and Toledo, lie is one of the 
organizers of the National Hay Company, of Cleveland. Oliio. whose object 
was to establish national inspection of bar. and is also a stockholder in the 
Fink Shoe Com])anv, ot Sjiringfield, Ohio, and one of tlie three stockholders 
in the Waterloo Broom Company. He has always been a \ ery active worker 
in the National Hay Association and has tilled nearly all the important offices. 
never missing a meeting of the association, lie is a nienilier of the .Xational 
Grain Dealers' Association, in the workings of wliicb be has l>eeii an iniiiort- 
ant factor. The hay business was his most prominent line until be s(/ld out 
to his nephew, and in many ways he has given a cjisliiut impetus to l)usiness 
affairs in this locality, being entitled to noteworthy distinction on this ac- 
count. He has been essentially a man among men, ha\ ing ever moved as 
one who has commanded resjiect by innate force as well as by superior ability. 
As a citizen he easily ranks with the most influential of his compeers 'in 
affairs which are for the betterment of his chosen county. While he has car- 
(45) 



7o6 DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 

ried on special lines of business in such a manner as to gain a comfonabte 
competence for himself, he has also belonged to that class of representative 
men of affairs who have promoted the public welfare while ativancinsj indi- 
vidual success. 

In 1889 Mr. Leas married Xellie Wickwire. w hfi was reared at Angola. 
Indiana, the daughter of George and Rebecca (Hanna) Wickwire. George 
Wickwire was born in Seneca county, New York, and died at Angola, In- 
diana, on October 3, 1883, at the age of sixty-seven years. He was a son of 
Seba Wickwire, and was of Scotch^Irish descent. He came to Steuben 
county, Indiana, among the first pioneers, locating about four miles east of 
Angola, and there t>ecame tlie owner of a section of land which has been 
kept in the possession of his family ever since. Rebecca Hanna was born 
probably in Steuben county, this state, and was the daughter of William 
Hanna. George Wickwire became a banker at Angola, also ow-ning flour 
mills at Nevada and saw mill and farming interests in other places. He 
■was twice married, having three children by his first marriage and se\ en by 
his marriage witli Rebecca Hanna, Mrs. Leas being ime of the latter. The 
mother died in 1875. jMrs. Leas lived most of her yt)unger life in Angola 
and completed her educational studies in the Tri-State Normal College at 
that place. To Mr. and Mrs. Leas has been born a daughter, Nellie Fern, 
who was born and reared in Waterloo, graduating from the high school in 
that city in 1908, and then becoming a student in Oxford Seminary at Ox- 
ford, Ohio, and also the European School of Music at Fort Wayne. She 
has also studied drawing and music at Ypsilanti, Michigan, and in the fall of 
1913 took charge of music and drawing in the schools of Waterloo, and is an 
enthusiastic devotee of lier work. 

In local public affairs Mr. Leas has taken a connnendable interest and 
has been a prominent factor in the advancement of the highest interests in 
this locality. He was a memljer of the Waterloo town board two years, and 
the Waterloo school board six years, his last term expiring in August, 1913. 
He was a charter member of Leonidas Lodge No. 205, Knights of Pythias, 
which was instituted in January, 1889, and has filled all the offices in this 
lod^e and twice been its representative in the grand lodge of the state. He 
was made a member of the I'rec and Accepted Masons in 1893. and Ijecame a 
thirty-second-degree menilier of the Scottish Rite l)rancii of that order at 
the time the Scottish Rite cathedral at Fort Wayne was dedicated, and also at 
that time he became a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. Mr. Leas has been a man 
\\ ho has looked on the sunny side of life, ever hopeful that the good will rule 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. JOJ 

instead of the bad, and as the result of such a fortunate disposition, he has 
made it pleasant for those- with wlunn lie conies in contact, either in a busi- 
ness or social way. Of kindly nature and sociable impulses, he is also a man 
of high moral character, and thus en joys the confidence, good will and friend- 
ship of all who know him. 



WALTER R. HOSE. 



It is an agreeable task for the biographer to contemplate the life record 
of a person who is making a success of life and who has won the confidence 
and respect of his fellow citizens. Such is the record, briefly stated, of the 
well known agriculturist whose name appears above, than whom a more 
highly respected or popular man it would be difficult to find within the limits 
of the locality where he has his home and where he is held in tiie highest 
esteem by a large circle of friends and admirers. 

Walter R. Hose was born in DeKalb county, Indiana, on September 3, 
1891, and is the son of Solomon and Ida (Swartz) Hose. The father was 
a native of Summit county, Ohio, and his father, also named Solomon, was 
a native of Maryland. The subject's father followed fanning all his life and 
came to DeKalb county in an early day, settling in Wilmington townsiiip, 
where the grandfather died a number of years ago. The subject's father, 
who died on May 30, 1908, gave practical evidence of his patriotism by en- 
listing during the war of the Rebellion in Company H, Eighty-eighth Regi- 
ment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which he served during most of that 
struggle, giving faithful and valiant .service to his country. He was after- 
ward a member of the Grand .\rmy of the Re]nib!ic, and in politics was a Re- 
publican. To him and his wife were born three children, George Ernest, 
Walter R. and Gladys Elizabeth. Walter i^. Hose was reared under the par- 
-ental roof and early gave his father assistance in the operation of the home 
farm. He received his education in the common schools of his Ideality and 
on attaining mature years applied himself to agricultural pursuits, in which 
he is still engaged. He now owns and operates the old home place, compris- 
ing eighty acres of land, practically all of which is cleared and under culti- 
vation, and he is giving due attention to the maintenance of the fertility of 
the soil, with the result that he is reaping abundant returns for his lalior. 

On December 28. 1912, Walter R. Hose was united in marriage with 
.\lta Earner, the daughter of Jacob and Roena (Treman) Earner, he a na- 
tive of Wvandot county. 01iii>, and she of DeKalb county, Indiana. Mr. 



708 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Farner, upon leaving his native state, first went to California, where he was 
for a time engaged in the lumber business, but eventually he returned to De- 
Kalb county, Indiana, where he has since made his permanent home. Po- 
litically, the subject of this sketch gives his support to the Republican party, 
in the success of which he is deeply interested, but he has ncjt aspired to pub- 
lic office of any nature. Though among the younger farmers of his com- 
munity, Mr. Huse has already earned the confidence and esteem of his fel- 
low agriculturists, for he has evinced those qualities which are bound to win 
success in any vocation. Personally, he is genial and imassuming, a splendid" 
companion and good conversationalist, and in the social circles in vvhicli he 
and his wife move they enjoy a well deserved popularity. 



SAMUP:I, WILLIAMS. 



Specific mention is made within the pages of this book of many of the- 
worthy citizens of DeKalb county, citizens who have figured in the growth 
and de\elo]iment of this favored locality and whose interests are identified 
with its e\ery phase ijf progress, each contributing in his sphere of action- 
to the well-being of the community in which lie resides and to the advance- 
ment of its moral and legitimate growth. Among this number was Samuel 
Williams, whose record as a public-spirited citizen, successful farmer and 
cajaable official gave him a standing in tiie community excelled by none 
of his fellow citizens. 

- Samuel WiUiams was born in Holmes county, Ohio, near Millersburg, 
on Septem])er 17. 1S41, and died at his liome two miles west of .Auburn, 
Indiana, on June 30, ic)i2. He was the son of David and Mary (Lupoid) 
Williams, who were natives of Pennsylvania, the mother having been born 
in Lancaster countv. In 1861, he came to Indiana with his brother, Cyrus, 
who located near Corunna. He was engaged in farming with his brother 
when, at the age of twenty-one years, he enlisted for service in defense of 
his country, becoming, on November 26, 1862, a member of Company G, 
Thirtieth Regiment Indiana \'olunteer Infantry, which was assigned to 
Johnson's division. He was promoted to first duty sergeant of the One 
Hundred Twenty-ninth Regiment Indiana Volunteers, and with this com- 
mand he underwent much severe and arduous service in defense of his 
country. For two months in 1863 he was confined to a hospital at Annap- 
olis, Maryland, and in 1864 he was furloughed for thirty days. He re- 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 7O9 

joined his regiment at Tullahoma, Tennessee, and at the battle of Stone River 
he was captured, being taken to Murfreesboro and sent to the notorious I-ibby 
prison, where he was detained until paroled, about six weeks later. He re- 
ceived an honorable discharge from his first enlistment in 1864. and then re- 
enlisted at Corunna in Company F, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Regi- 
ment, with which he completed his military service. He was in the battles of 
Stone River, Chickamauga, Kingston and many other engagements, and in 
August, 1865, was honorably discharged from the service with a record of 
which he had just reason to be proud. His brother, Cyrus, was a member of 
Company G, Thirtieth Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, and was a prisoner in 
Libby prison for two months, being finally paroled and returned to his com- 
mand, with which he served until the expiration of his service. His death 
occurred at Aul)urn in 1880. 

After the war Sanuiel Williams returned to DeKall) county and was 
employed as a farm hantl by Mr. Brumback for a time. He then worked for 
George Rufner, of Smithfield township, south of Hudson, where Levi Kessler 
now lives. About 1878, when Mr. Rufner moved to Fairfield township, Mr. 
Williams accompanied him and made his home there for a time. In 1890 
Mr. Williams was elected recorder of DeKalb county, holding the office from 
i8c)2 until 1896. and discharged his duties in a manner that earned the com- 
mendation of all who knew him. Upon entering his office as recorder, Mr. 
Williams moved to .\ul)urn, but at the expiration of his office he spent three 
years more on tlie Rufner farm, Mrs. Williams' fatiier li\ing witli them. Mr. 
Williams then bought a farm of one hundred acres in iQOo. two miles west 
of Auburn, where he li\etl until his death, Mrs. Williams' father li\ing with 
them and still making his home with his daughter. 

On September 4, 1892, Samuel Williams was united in nuirriage to Mrs. 
Eliza A. (Rufner) Ernest, who was l)orn in Stark couiU) . Ohio, near Can- 
ton, the daughter of George and Nancy (Boyer) Rufner. (ieorge Rufner 
was born in Stark county, Ohio, February 5, 1830, a son of John and Rachel 
(Smith) Rufner, natives of Pennsylvania, the former of Ikrks county, of 
German descent, and the latter of Adams county, of German and Irish 
descent. He remained with his parents until the spring of 1853, when he 
moved to DeKalb county and settled in Richland township. Three years later 
he sold his farm and bought another tract of wild land in the same tovvnshi]). 
where he lived nine years, and in the meantime got his land cleared and under 
good cultivation. He then moved to Smithfield township, where he lived for 
thirteen years, and in April, 1878, he moved to Fairfield township and bought 



y-tO^ DEKALB COl'NtV, INDIANA. 

a farm of -one lumdred and thirty acres. He wasniarried on November 27..- 
1851, to Nancy Boyer. the daughter df John and INIary (Thomas) Royer. 
natives of Pennsylvania and of German descent. To them were born four 
children, Eliza Ann, Mary Ann, Josiah and Jeremiah. Mrs. \\'illiams was but 
six months old when her parents brought her to DeKalb county and lived with 
them in their various locations until her marriage. Her mother died of par- 
alysis on October 31, 1885, and her father is still living witli lier. In 1871 
she was married to Henry M. Ernest, to which union were l)orn two cliil- 
dren, Mrs. George Ralston, of Fort Wayne, and Marion Ernest \\'ilH;ims. 
who lives in West Auburn and farms his motlier's farm. He married Mrs. 
Rosa Zimmerman Gushwa, the v.-idow of Frank Gushwa. deceased. Slie is 
the mother of one son bv her first marriage. Walter (iushwa. They also have 
a son, Harold C, eleven years old, and Kenneth, who was born May 10, 
1913, and di'ed September g. IQ13. Mrs. Ralston is the mother of two sons, 
Rodgers J., who is four vears old, and Hubert, who was two years old on 
January 30, 1914. To Mr. and Mrs. Williams no children were born. Mr. 
Williams was an active member of the German Baptist church, to which Mrs. 
Williams and her father also belong. Mr. Williams was, in every sense, a 
good citizen of his community and a credit to the county, his genial and 
companionable disposition giving him a good standing with all with whom he 
came in contact, while his career as a public official was honorable in every 
respect. Because of his earnest life, honorable record and splendid attain- 
ments, he is eminently entitled to perpetuation in the annals of his county and 
to be numbered among the representative men of the community which was so 
long honored by his citizenship. 



TOHN TACKMAN. 



Agriculture has been an honored vocation from the earliest ages and as 
a usual thing men of honorable and humane impulses, as well as those of 
energy and thrift, have teen patrons of husbandry. The free, out-of-door 
life of the farm has a decided tendency to foster and develop that independ- 
ence of mind and self-reliance which characterizes true manhood and no 
truer blessing can befall a boy than to be reared in close touch with nature 
in the healthful, life-inspiring labor of the fields. It has always been the 
fruitful soil from which have sprung the moral bone and sinew of the coun- 
try, and the majority of our nation's great warriors. ren(3wned statesmen 



DEKALB. COUNTY, INDIANA. 7II 

and distinguished men of letters were burn on the larm and were uidel)led 
largely to its early influence for the distinction which they have attained. 

John Jackman, one. of the best known farmers of Grant township, De- 
Kalb county, Indiana, who is successfully operating a splendid tract east of 
Waterloo, was born near that city on December 2, 1865, and is a son of Isaac 
M. and Jane (Whitla) Jackman, who are represented elsewhere in this work. 
John Jackman was reared on the home farm, where he remained until his 
marriage in 1899, when he transferred the base of his operations to the farm 
owned by his father-in-law, Mr. Wolfe, to the o])eration of which he has 
since devoted himself to the iiresent time. His place, wliicti is one (jf the 
best farmed in the township, has been maintained al its t( inner standard of 
fertility and improvement and because of his sturdy industi) and up-to-date 
methods he has achieved a prominent success as a fanner, enjoying a well-de- 
served position among his fellow agriculturists. , 

On April 2, 1899, Mr. Jackman married Aljce. Wolfe, wh(j was horn on 
the farm on which she now lives, the daughter of George and Sarah (Lutz) 
Wolfe. George Wolfe was Ixirn in Stark county, Ohio, on September 9, 
1821, a son of John and Elizabeth (Zahner) ^^dlfe, the father a native of 
Maryland and the mother of Pennsylvania. The\- were among the first set- 
tlers of Columbiana county, Ohio, where the\- were married. They subse- 
quently moved to Stark county, and there sjient the remainder of their lives. 
Nine children were born to them, all of whom li\ed to maturity, (ieorge 
Wolfe was reared in his native county and was there married, on March 16. 
1843. to Eliza Fisk, a native of New York. In 1847 they moved to DeKalb 
county, Indiana, where Mrs. Wolfe died in August, 1855. He was again 
married on Januar}' 18, 1857. to Sarah Lutz, and his own death occurred on 
February 27'. 1885, in his sixty-fourth year. He was a prosperous man in 
his business affairs, accumulating a fine farm and was ))rominent and influen- 
tial in the civic and pubh'c affairs of the tow nship, having served as justice of 
the peace for twenty-nine consecutive years, besides holding other local of- 
fices of trust and responsibility. Sarah Lutz Wolfe was born on August 11, 
1828, in Stark county, Ohio, and is the daughter of Michael and Magdalena 
(Crawford) Lutz. She came here in May, 1848. with her parents, who 
located in the northern part of what is now Grant townshi]), east of Water- 
loo. Her father, who died on Se|)tember 8, 1849, left to his widow the task 
of clearing and cultivating the farm, which was accomplished by her with the 
assistance of her children. She was an energetic and ambitious woman and 
worked hard to make a home and rear her' children, in which slie \\a< cini- 



712 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

nentlv successful. She died in 1882. after a long life of usefulness. Her 
children were John, Sarah, Margaret. Mary, Samuel and Jacob. Of these 
the only survivors are Mrs. Sarah Wolfe and Mrs. Mary Sawvel, of I^'rank- 
lin township, this county. Mrs. Wolfe now lives on the old farm west of 
Waterloo, and with her is her daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Jack- 
man. To George and Sarah Wolfe were born two children, Florence and 
Alice, the former of whom died at the age of three years. 

Politically, Mr. Jackman is an earnest supporter of the Democratic 
party, though he has been too busy a man to give much attention to public 
affairs. He maintains an abiding interest in the welfare of the community, 
his support being given without reserve to all movements toward the public 
welfare. He has been a successful farmer, following progressive and up-to- 
date methods, and has achieved a success that entitles him to recognition 
among the leading agriculturists of his township. He and his wife are among 
the most influential and popular citizens in their community, having long ago 
established reputations for uprightness, kindness and hospitality, and they 
are highly respected by all who know them. 



WILLIS .\KCHIBALD DANNELLS. 

The gentleman to a brief review of whose life and charruteristics the 
reader's attention is herewith directed is among tlie favorably kncnvn and 
representative citizens of Auburn, DeKalb county, Indiana. He has by his 
indomitable enterprise and progressive methods contributed in. a material 
way to thcadvanceipent of his locality and during the course of an honorable 
career has been successful in his business enterprises, having been a man of 
energy, sound judgment and honesty of purpose, and is thus well deserving 
of mention in this volume. 

Willis A. Dannells w-as born in Adams county, Indiana, on Fel)ruary 25, 
1859, and is a son of Archibald and Lucinda (Blunvelt) Dannells, the for- 
mer a native of the Hoosier state and the latter of Ohio. Willis A. Dannells 
came to this county in 1861 with his parents, who settled in section 7, Wil- 
mington township, where the father had bought a farm. The latter had been 
a soldier in the Civil war, serving practically throughout that conflict, and his 
death occurred on March 15, 1866. Subsequently his widow married Henry 
Funk and they remained on the home farm and in Butler, her death occurring 
on the old home place. She was born at Columbus, Ohio, on February 11, 




WILLIS A. DANXKI 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 7I3 

1825, and was there reared to wonianliood, being married in her eighteenth 
year to a Mr. Purdy. The latter died in 1846, leaving one son, Wilson 
Purdy. Eventually Mrs. Purdy became the wife of Archibald Dannells, 
whose death occurred in 1866, leaving to her care five sons and a daughter, 
of whom three sons and a daughter survive her. She removed to DeKalb 
county, Indiana, in 1861, settling on the farm where she died four miles west 
of Butler, in the seventy-seventh year of her age, her death occurring on Janu- 
ary 22, 1902. 

Willis A. Dannells was reared on the Wilmington township farm and 
after his marriage, which occurred in 1882, he remained in the operation of 
the farm for twenty-six years. In 1908 he moved to Auburn and bought the 
splendid residence property on East Ninth street, where he now resides. He 
still owns a fine farm in Wilmington township, situated on the main road west 
from Butler, the place being characterized by a high type of improvement in 
every particular, embracing a good and attractive house, large and well ar- 
ranged barn, with large stock barns and other necessary outbuildirtgs, all of 
which reflect credit on the owner and which have made the place one of the 
most valuable farms in this section of the county. Methodical and practical 
in all he does, Mr. Dannells during the years in which he gave personal at- 
tention to the operation of the farm, neglected no detail of its operation and 
achieved a splendid reputation among his fellow agriculturists as a progres- 
sive and enterprising farmer and Inisiness mar. 

On November iq. 1882. Mr. Dannells w.i> niarrii-d to Dora B. Collins, 
the (laughter of (ieorge and Klizabeth (Cravs) Collins. When Mrs. Dan- 
nells was not (|uite six years old her parents moved to I'Vanklin township. 
DeKalb countv, Indiana, where they bought a farm and there they lived 
until the last three years of the father's life. The latter was a lifelong far- 
mer and enjoyed the respect and esteem of all who knew him. His death 
occurred on April 10, 1906, at the age of seventy-eight years, his wife dying 
on November 19, 1904, at the age of seventy-two years. Both were mem- 
bers of the Evangelical church. Mr. .and Mrs. Dannells have no children of 
their own, but out of the kindness of their hearts they adopted a girl. Alice 
Lantz by name, who was left an orphan at the age of six years, and was 
thirteen years of age when she entered their home. She is now the wife of 
Clyde J- Snyder and they live on the Dannells farm, to the o]ieration of 
which they give their personal attention. Mrs. Snyder is the daughter of 
Arthur and Martha ( Faust ) Lantz. She is the mother of four children. 
Willis .'\rthnr. Lawrence Amos. \'era Naomi and Clenn Elber. 



714 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Politically, Willis Dannells is a stanch Democrat and has been active in 
the advancement ui the party interests in his county, being a familiar figure 
in the party councils and influential in the organization. In the fall of 
1908 Mr. Dannells was elected a member of the board of county commis- 
sioners, assuming the office on January 1, 1909, and so satisfactory was his- 
administration that in 1910 he was again elected for a three-year term, his 
present term expiring on January 1, 1915. To Mr. Dannells is due the 
credit and responsibility for the new court house just completed at Auburn, 
for when, during his first term, the (|ucstion of a new court house hail been 
agitated, and it was known that there was some opposition to it on account 
of the additional taxes which it would entail, and when the question of de- 
ciding the matter came up to the board, a retiring member of the board who 
had no political position at stake stood for the improvement, the other mem- 
ber of the board refused to vote either way and it was left for Mr. Dannells 
to decide. He met the issue fairly and stiuarely, and, true to his honest con- 
victions in the matter, voted for the new building, regardless of whether the 
act would prove popular or not. The court house has been built and is uni- 
versally pronounced an unusually fine building, one of which' the county 
should be justifiably proud, a special feature of this building being its natural 
lighting facilities, which are unusually excellent for so large a building. The 
decorations and interior finishings of the building are also in perfect harmony 
with the remainder of the structure, and the enterprise as a whole reflects 
great credit on the commissioners and particularly Mr. Dannells, who was 
closely in touch with the erection of the building throughout the work. He 
is a splendid example of the virile, progressive, self-made man who believes 
in doing well whatever is worth doing at all, a man of keen discernment and 
sound judgment, and therefore he enjoys the confidence and good will of the 
entire community in which he h.es. 



ELLSWORTH A. EAKRIGHT. 

TJhough nature affords excellent opportunities for the carrying on of 
certain.;lines of labor in every locality, there is yet demanded of any man great 
industry .and diligence if he succeeds in business. Competition makes him put 
forth his best efforts and it requires great care to conduct any business enter- 
prise along profitable lines. This is especially true in farming and from the 
time of earliest spring planting until the crops are harvested the farmer's life 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 7I c; 

IS a busy one. Even through the winter months he prepares for the labors ot 
the coming year and thus lays the foundation of his success. Ellsworth A.' 
Eakright is one of the wide-awake and progressive agriculturists of DeKalb- 
county, his home being in Wilmington township. He now owns the old Eak- 
right homestead, comprising one hundred and ten acres, and is numljered 
among the substantial, progressi\e and enterprising agriculturists of his com- 
munity. Air. Eakright was Ijorn in Wilmington township, DeKalb county, 
Indiana, on September 20, 1870, and is the son of Abraham and Susanna 
(Miller) Eakright, the former a native of Stark county, Ohio, and the latter 
of Pennsylvania. They were the parents of five children. John J., Sarah A., 
Edward W., deceased. Mary E. and I'.llswDrth A. Iloth parents are now- 
deceased. The subject's father came to Indiana from Ohio, settling in the 
woods in pioneer days when wild game was seen on e\ery hand and when 
his playmates were the Indian boys, the red men niit \et having left this sec- 
tion of the country. The subject's mother did not see a white woman's face 
for eighteen months after her arrival in this county. 

The subject of this sketch received his education in tiie common schools 
and was reared to the life of a farmer, to which pursuit he has given his at- 
tention during all of his active years with the exception of about twelve 
years when he spent his winters as a teacher. He was very successful in this 
vocation and his services were in great demand wherever a high standard of 
educational excellence was required. Mr. Eakright had attended the Tri- 
State Normal School at Angola, Indiana, a year and was thus well prepared 
for this.work. He is a man of wide general informatit)n, being a close reader 
and a keen observer and is a most companionable and entertaining gentleman 
to converse with. He carries on general farming and in connection with the 
tilling of the soil he gives some attention to the breeding and raising of 
Duroc-Jersey hogs and has a number of fine dairy cows, the product of which 
he sells. In everything to which he turns his attention Mr. Eakright has met 
with well-deserved success and for a number of years has enjoyed a high 
reputation among his fellow agriculturists in this section of the county. 

On June 27, 1897, Mr. Eakright married Etta Metcalf, the daughter of 
Daniel D. and Katherine (Seiljert) Metcalf. Mr. Metcalf was a resident 
of Ohio, where he followed farming and where he was a man of considerable 
prominence in his community. He eventually moved to Indiana, where he 
also followed agricultural pursuits. To Mr. and Mrs. Eakright have ]->cen 
born two children. \\'illiam Dorsey and Mary Ruth, both of whom are at 
home. Mr. Eakright has long been interested in local public affairs and in 



7l6 DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 

Kpo, and again in 1910, served as census enumerator, in Newville township 
the first time and Wihnington township at the last census. PoHticaliy, he is 
an earnest supporter of the Repubhcan partv. to the success of which he has 
contributed by his personal elYorts. and is also a faithful member of the 
United Brethren church, to the support of which he contributes. As a fanner 
Mr. Eakright has no particular fads, but is progressive and understands the 
value arising from feeding the products of his farm to stock instead of selling 
it oi¥, to the gradual impoverishment of the land. An alert business man and 
a progressive and discriminating farmer, it is scarcely necessary to say that 
he has attained a high degree of success in connection with the great basic in- 
dustry of agriculture, and he is eminently deserving of the enviable standing 
which he enjoys in the community w hich he honors w itii his citizenship. 



W. H. FOREST. 



In touching upon the life history of the subject of this sketch the writer 
aims to avoid fulsome encomium and extravagant praise; yet he desires to 
hold up for consideration those facts which have shown the distinction of a 
true, useful and honorable life — a life characterized by perseverance, energj'. 
broad charity and well defined purpose. To do this will be but to reiterate 
the dictum pronounced upon tiie man l>y the ])eople who have known him so 
long and well, for the su'iject |)resents in his career an interesting study of 
the inanner in which adherence to principle and sturdy endeavor may win 
worthy distinction. 

W. H. Forrest was born in Huntington county, Pennsyhania, on Oc- 
tober 5, 1849, the son of James and Margaret (Aston) Forrest, both of 
whom were also natives of the Keystone state. James Forrest came to Ohio 
from Pennsylvania, settling on the farm, where he remained until his death, 
at the age of eighty-two years. His wife also spent the remainder of her life 
in that state, dying at the age of seventy-six years. They were the parents of 
eight children, Maria, John. James. Margharetta, Joseph Benton, Owen. Wil- 
son and Wallace, all of whom are deceased except Joseph and the subject of 
this sketch. 

W. H. Forrest received his education in the common schools of Ohio 
and then took up the trade of a plasterer, which he followed during all his 
active years. He is now the owner of thirty acres of land and is living prac- 
tically a retired life. He came to Indiana in 1881. settling first at P.utler, 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 7I7 

where he followed his trade as a plasterer for two years, and then moved to 
his farm in Wilmington township, where for twelve years he devoted him- 
self to its operation, and in which he met with the most pronounced success, 
so that at the end of the period named he was justified in selling the property 
and in buying his present comfortable home at Moore, where he is now living 
retired from active affairs and enjoying that rest which liis former years of 
labor so richly entitle him to. 

On November 3, 18S1. Air. Forrest was married to Margaret -\. Aloore, 
who was born on Januar\ 1. 1S55, in DeKall) county, Indiana, the daughter 
of Aaron D. and Rebecca (Caldwell) Moore. Her father was a native of 
the state of Ohio, and the Moore famil\ history is given somewhat in detail 
in the sketch of John Moore, elsewhere in this work. To Mr. and Mrs. For- 
rest have been bom two children, namely : Rebecca, who married Otis W. 
Loutzenhiser, of Moore, Indiana, and they have one child, Violet; Ethel, 
who became the wife of Fred Oiler, of Moore, Indiana, and they ha\e one 
child. Forrest. 

Politically, the subject of this sketch is a supp<jrter of the Democratic 
party, to which he has e\'er been loyal, though he has been loo busy a man to 
gi\-e much attention to public affairs and has uexer held public office of an\- 
nature. Throughout an active and interesting career duty has ever been his 
motive of action and usefulness to his fellow men not by any means a sec- 
ondary consideration. He has performed well his part in life and it is a 
compliment worthily bestowed to say that DeKalb county is honored by his 
citi/;enship, for he has achieved success through his own efforts and is thor- 
oughly deserving of the proud American title of self-made man, the term 
being one that in its better sense can not but appeal to the loyal admiration of 
all who are ajjpreciative of our national institutions and the privileges afforded 
for individual accomplishment. 



TAMES PROVTNES. 



Fealty to facts in the analyzation of the character of a citizen of the 
type of James Provines is all that is required to make a biographical sketch 
interesting to those who have at heart the good name of the community, be- 
cause it is the honorable reputation of the man of standing and affairs, more 
than anv other consideration, that gives character and stability to the body 
])olitic and makes the true glory of a city or state revered at home and re- 



7l8 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

spected abroad. In the broad light which things of good repute ever invite, 
the name and character of Mr. Provines stand re\ealed and secure and, 
though of modest demeanor, with no ambition to distinguish himself in public 
position or as a leader of men, his career has been signally honorable and it 
may be studied with profit by the youth entering upon his life work. 

James Pro^•ines was born in Wayne county, now Ashland county. Ohio, 
on January 7, 1846, and is the son of Alexander and Dorcas (Adams) 
Provines, the former born in Pennsylvania on January 31, 1818, and the lat- 
ter in Ohio on January 15, 1820. On the maternal side the subject is of 
Scotch-Irish extraction, and his maternal grandfather, Hugh Adams, was a 
soldier in the war of 1812. Hugh Adams was born in county Down, Ire- 
land, about 1785, and when he was but three months old his parents 
brought their family to America. The subject's grandparents on the pa- 
ternal side were of good Scotch-lrisli stock and came to American late in 
eighteenth centur\-. 

The subject of this sketch received a good, practical education in the 
district schools of his home county and afterwards engaged in teaching for 
five terms. After completing his education he learned the carpenter's trade, 
at which he employed himself until he had, by the most rigid economy and 
good management, succeeded in saving enough money with which to buy 
a farm, since which time he has made agriculture his life work. He is 
now the owner of a tract of land of two hundred and seventy-seven acres 
in Jackson township, and also owns some good town property. Progres- 
sive and enterprising in his methods, he has steadily and persistently follow- 
ed out advanced ideas in relation to agriculture, with the result that he has 
been able to realize very gratifying returns for his labors. In April, 1864, 
Mr. Provines enlisted as a private in Company K, One Hundred and Thirty- 
ninth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until 
October. 1864, when he was given an honorable discharge and was mustered 
out. The greater part of his service was as nurse in hospitals, in which he 
rendered good service to his country. 

Politically, Mr. Provines has been identified with the Republican party 
ever since attaining his majority until the Chicago convention of 19 12, when 
he severed his connection with the old party and aligned himself with the 
Progressive party. He has never held public ofTice, though he has been 
honored by his party with the nomination for representative and county 
treasurer. He was appointed county ditch superintendent, holding the po- 
sition for several years. l)ut has never been ambitious for public office. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 7 K) 

On November ii, 1869, Mr. Provines married Helen Woolsey, the 
daughter of Joseph and Maria (Scudder) Woolsey, of Delaware county, 
New York, and who came to DeKalb county in 1848, locating on the farm 
that the subject now owns. To Mr. and Mrs. Provines have been bom 
three children, Frank A., Mary E. and Perry M., all of whom are married 
and living in DeKalb county. Mrs. Helen Provines died on February 24, 
1896. She was a lady of splendid qualities of character. Ijeloved by all 
who knew her. 

Fraternally, Mr. Provines belongs to the Free and Accepted Masons, 
the Knights of Pythias, the Grand Ami)- of the Republic and Patrons of 
Industry, and is deeply interested in the workings of these various or- 
ganizations. Mr. Provines possesses a social nature and by his genial and 
kindly attitude with those whom he has come in contact, he has won the 
confidence and respect of everyone. 



SAMUEL M. HIGH. 



The history of the Hoosier state is not an ancient one. It is the record 
of the steady growth of a community planted in the wilderness in the last 
century and reaching its magnitude of today without other aids than those 
of continued industry. Each county has its share in the story. After all, 
the history of a state is but a record of the doings of its people, among 
whom the pioneers and their sturdy descendants occupy places of no sec- 
ondar>- importance. The story of the plain, common people who constitute 
the bone and sinew of the state should ever, attract the attention and prove 
of interest to all true lovers of their kind. In the life story of the gentleman 
whose name heads this sketch there are no striking chapters or startling 
incidents, but it is merely the record of a life true to its highest ideals and 
fraught with much that should stimulate the youth just starting in the world 
as an independent factor. 

Samuel M. High was born August 24, 1853, in Jackson township, the 
son of Peter and Sarah A. (Henderson) High. The mother was a native 
of Ohio, while the father was born in the state of Pennsylvania and came to 
DeKalb county at the early date of 1846. The battle to subdue the wilder- 
ness then being fought in this section of the state was entered into by these 
worthy pioneers, and they, with others of that period, laid the foundations 
for the wonderful prosperity that has come to this section of the state. 



720 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

To Peter and Sarah High were born tliree children : Mrs. Letitia Shear 
lives in Auburn : Foletus A. is deceased ; Samuel M. The subject's father 
died December 26, 1888, and his mother on December 4, 1904. 

The early education of the subject of this sketch was acquired in the 
DeKalb county common schools. Subsequently he engaged in farming and 
taught school, his services as an educator extending over a period of almost 
twenty-five years. He made all the improvements on his place, including a 
good house, substantial barn. etc. He is now living on the old home place, 
and is the owner of one hundred and thirty acres of splendid land, on which 
he is doing general farming, at which vocation he has been more than usually 
successful. 

On July 30, 1897. the subject of this review was married to Rosa A. 
Phjlips, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Philips, he a native of Ohio and she 
of Pennsylvania. As a result of tliis union one cliild was born, Julius, who 
died at the age of seven years. 

Mr. High is a member of the Methodist Protestant church, to which 
he gives an active and generous support, having been trustee for many years, 
while the Democratic party etijoys his unswerving allegiance. He was trustee 
of Jackson township from 1900 until 1905. and is on the advisory hoard at 
the present time. 



TRUMAN W. GRAY 



Descended from honored ancestry and himself numbered among the 
leading citizens of DeKalb county, Indiana, the subject of this sketch is en- 
titled to specific recognition in a work of tliis character. A residence in this 
county of many years has but strengthened his hold on the hearts of the 
people with whom he has been associated, and today no one here enjoys a 
larger circle of warm friends and acquaintances, who esteem him liecause 
of his .sterling qualities of character and his business ability. 

Truman \\'. Gray, one of the most respected citizens and successful 
farmers in Fairfield townshijx was born March 18. 1824, not far from P.lack 
Rock. New York, and is a son of John and Julia (Rowland) Gray, the 
former a native of Ireland and the latter a native of Pennsylvania, the 
daughter of Luke Rowland, a native of Connecticut, and who lived to be 
one hundred years of age. John and Julia Gray moved from New York to 
.'\shland county, Ohio, when the subject was a young lad, and when the 
latter was but eleven years old his father died, leaving his widow the care of 




JOHN H. GRAY 
TRUMAX W. GRAY MRS. SUSAN GRAY 



DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. '21 

a son and six daughters. Because of the moderate hnancial circunistance>- 
ot the family, Truman was compelled to take a man's jjlace early in life, and 
was consequently denied the educational advantages for which he was am- 
bitious. His first work was as a farm hand and he was also employed 
for a time in a tannery. Eventually he moved to Mercer county, Ohio, and 
bought eighty acres of land, which at that time was totally unimproved. He 
erected the first house and liarn on the place. To the cultivation and im- 
provement of that farm he (le\ cited the best years of his early life and re- 
mained there until November, 1871, when he came to DeKalb county, arriv- 
ing here on November 14th. and locating on a farm lie had bought in section 
35, Fairfield township. He h;i<l tlius been a resident of .Mercer county, 
Ohio, for about twenty-four \ears, and lia'^ resided here fort}-two years. 
The trip from Ohio to Intliana was a long and tedious one, the familv driving 
through in wagons, four days being consumed on the road, during which it 
rained and on the last day snowed heavily, so that the members of the little 
party were well chilled before they reached a comfortable fireside. They 
first rented a house three-(|uarters of a mile from their farm on the Scpiires 
place, where they remained until they bought the farm later in the winter. 
Mr. Gray is the owner of one hundred and twenty- four acres of land, which 
is as well improved as any farm in th.e locality, there being two residence 
hou.ses on the farm, the one in wliicJi he now resides l)i.-ing built in 18S3. It 
is commodious and con\enient and was built aeciinling to .Mrs. firax-'s ideas. 
During the past two years the farm has been rented, though Mr. (iray still 
lives in the home btiilt by him. 

While a resident of .\shland county. Ohio, Truman dray was married 
to Susan Springer, wdio wa-^ Itorn in that countv, the daughter of Johann and 
Elizabeth Springer, who nere of good «)ld Penns\-1\ ania Dutch stock and 
respected residents of their commimity. Mrs. Gray ])ro\ed to her husband a 
true helpmate in the broadest sense of the term and lo her he attrib- 
utes nuich of the success wliich accompanied lii~ efforts in his new hnme. 
Mrs. Gray died on b"el)ruar\- 21. \t.)<)j. To tliesr parents were born six 
children, two of whom died in infancy, the others comprising two sons and 
two daughters. Herbert died at the age of three and one-half years; Ida 
Josephine died when about six months old ; lona married Douglas Dudgeon, 
and died some time during the seventies; John Henry, who was born on 
November 7, 1853, in Mercer county, Ohio, is the only one of the children 
now living. He never married, and has spent his entire life with his father 
(46) 



722 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

and is his companion now. He is a member of the United Brethren church. 
Truman Gray is a member of the Masonic order, in which he was raised to 
the degree of Master Mason at Willshire, Ohio, and in the workings of 
which he has always been an appreciative participant. His has been a long 
and well spent life, characterized by hard labor and persistent toil, and now, 
in the golden sunset of his years, he can look backward over a career over 
which there falls no shadow of wrong, and which, in the main, has loeen 
full of joy and happiness, for he is a man who sees the best in everything, and 
who has by his own influence and efifort contributed in a measure to the hap- 
piness and well being of those about him. In every relation of life he has 
been true to his highest ideals and his daily life has been such as to win the 
respect and esteem of all who know him. 



HENRY YARDE. 



The office of l)iograph}- is not to give voice to a man's modest opinion 
of himself and his accomplishments, but rather to leave upon the record the 
verdict establishing his character by the consensus of opinion on the part of 
his neighbors and fellow citizens. In touching upon the life history of the 
subject of this sketch the w riter aims to avoid fulsome encomium and extra\a- 
gant praise; yet he desires to hold up for consideration tlujse facts which 
have shown the distinction of a true, useful and honorable life — a life 
characterized by perse\-erance, energy, broad charil\- and well-defined jjur- 
pose. To do this will be but to reiterate the dictum pronounced u])on the 
man by the people who have known him long and well. 

Henry Yarde was born on February 13, 1859, on a farm one mile north 
of Garrett, Indiana, and is the son of John, Jr., and Lydia ( Houser ) \'arde. 
He is descended from good old English stock, his paternal grandfather, 
John 'S'arde, Sr., having been born in Dexonshire, England, on March 12, 
1803. His parents died when he was a child and he was reared by his 
mother's sister and given a collegiate education. At seventeen years of age 
he began teaching, and, with the exception of a year and a half in the 
grocery business, followed that vocation for thirty-five years. He married 
Mary Symonds, a native of Devonshire, and to them were born twelve 
children, eleven daughters and a son. In August. 1852, Mr. Yarde came 
with his family to the United States and lived in Summit county about one 
month, when he came to DeKalb county, Indiana, where he bought fifty 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. ■ 723 

acres of unimproved land. Having the use of only one hand, the burden 
of the work of clearing and improving the land fell to hi.s son. John, Jr., 
then only sixteen years of age. Mr. Yarde, Sr., was a member of the 
Protestant Episcopal church, and a Republican in his political views. John 
Yarde, Jr., was born in Devonshire, England, on November 17, 1830. His 
early life was spent in school and before sixteen years of age he had taught 
seventeen months of school. He was successful in his life's business pur- 
suit and eventuallx became the nwner of a large tract of fine land. He 
was married on October 10, 1858, to Lydia X. Houser, a native of Wayne 
county, Ohio, who was bom on July jo, iS4_', and was the daughter of 
David and Rebecca Houser, and to them were Ijorn six children, Martha, 
Frank, David, Nettie, Henry and Bertha. John ^ arde, Jr., died on May 
19, 1900. He was a member of the Episcopal cliunli and highly respected 
in the communitx . Of the children enumerated above, Martha l)ecame the 
wife of William Imler and lives west of Garrett; Frank lives in the south- 
western part of Keyser township: David li\es one mile north oi Garrett; 
Nettie is the wife of George Kelham, and lives in Noble county, Indiana : 
Henr}' lives on the home farm one mile north of Garrett, and Bertha is the 
wife of Ira Grogg, of Bjutkr tnwnship. The mother of these children still 
lives on the home farm. 

Henry ^'ar(le, the immediate sul)ject of this sketch, was reared on the 
home farm, and has spent his entire life there, liaxing early assumed its man- 
agement and operation. .\t tlie time of his father's death the estate amounted 
to six hundred and twelve acres, and had been improved to a degree which 
made it one of the best farms in DeKalb county. In addition to the paternal 
estate, Mr. Warde is the owner of a farm adjoining the home place, to which 
he has also given close attention and which he has de\ elo])ed into a s]ilendid 
estate. Tlie residence in which Mr. ^'ar(le lives is one of the most attractixe 
homes in this community, being a large brick, slate roofed and with an 
observatory tower, and the surroundings are in harmony witli the character 
of the home, the well kept hedge along the front of the farm, rows of ever- 
green trees and other tasteful improvements giving the place an air of jiros- 
perity and cheer and welcome which is attractive to the passerbx . 

In March, 1894. Mr. Varde was married to Ida Ober, the daughter of 
Levi and Betsev Ober. To them have been l>orn seven children. Merritt. 
Ruth, Ralph, Lydia, Mary. Rosa and Frank. Mr. Yarde is recognized as a 
man of strong and alert tnentality. deeply interested in everything pertaining 
to the advancement of the communitv along material, civic and moral lines. 



724 DEKALB COUNTI'. IN 1)1. \\ A. 

and is known as one of the progressive and repiesfntati\e men of the county. 
Because of his genial disposition and progressive spirit, he lias earned and 
retains to an eminent degree the respect and confidence of all who ha\e had 
acquaintance with him. 



LE\I ROLAND. 



The gentleman dt wlmm the hidgraphcr unw writes is widely knuwn as 
one lit the hdnnred pidUeers nf HcKall) county and tor oxer a half ceiUury he 
lias heen a \alued factor in the develi >pnu'nt nf the same, prominently identi- 
fied with the varied interests of his community. His well-directed energies 
in the practical affairs of life, his capahle management of his own husiness in- 
terests and his sound judgment have demonstrated what may be accomplished 
by the man of energy and ambition, who, jiersevering often in the face of 
seemingly insurmountable obstacles, proves that he is the possessor of those 
innate qualities that never fail to bring success if iiroperly directed, as they 
have evidently been in the case of Mr. Roland. 

Levi Roland was Ikmmi on Sei)temher 22. 1X48. in Stark county, Ohio, 
and is a son of Abraham and Su^an (St<iner) Roland. These parents were 
natives of Lancaster couiUv, i\'nnsvlvania. from whence they nio\ed to Ohio 
in pioneer davs, where the father dietl shortly ])rior to the subject's birth. 
The mother then niarrietl I'hili]) Texter and in 1865 moved to DeKalb 
county. Her husband also was a nati\e of the old Keystone state. The sub- 
ject's mother was married three times, first, to a Mr. Liniger, by which 
union was born one child. To Mr. Roland and herself were born two chil- 
dren, the subject and Jacob S., now deceased, while to her union with Mr. 
Texter were born two children, both of whom are deceased, the subject of 
this .sketch being the only li\ ing representative of the family. When the 
suliject's mother and step-father moved to DeKalb county they bought a 
farm in tiie northern part of Keyser township, where they lived the rest of 
their lives, their home being located in section 27. They were members of the 
Old School Lutheran church, and were earnest, industrious ;uid highly re- 
spected residents of their community. 

Levi Roland received his education in the ]uoneer schools of the day and 
remained at home until his marriage, his earlier years being spent in farm 
work. On January i, 1870, Mr, Roland married Eunice Ellen Hathaway, 
who was born on the farm where she now lives, on the north side of Key.ser 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 725 

township. Shf is tiit- (i;m,i;iitcr of .Mhcrt ami Pliocljr (Hawl<) Hathaway. 
Her father was horn in uSjS in the nortlieast ])arl ni Ohio, not far from 
Lake I'lrie, and probalily near Ciiartlon. He was the son of Nathan Hatha- 
way, a native of Massachusetts, wiio came here with liis parents in l^\'hru- 
ar)-, 1844. They bought the farm where Mr. and Mrs. Roland now live, 
entering the land from the government some time prior to their location 
here, and at that time there were only two houses where now .stands 
the beautiful city of .Xuhurn. and when Mr. Hathaway came iiere and asked 
how far it was to .Xulnn-n, he was told that he was standing in the heart of 
the city. Here the elder Hathaways cleared and improved a farm and spent 
the remainder of their days. Albert Hathwaay was one of seven children, 
four boys and three girls, by his father's second marriage. He married 
Phoebe Hawk, who was horn in .\danis county, Indiana, her parents being of 
good old Pennsylvania Dutch stock, who came fiom the I>^ey^ton« ; §t^te , to 
Ohio, then to Adams county, Indiana, where they spent the remainder of 
their days and died. Albert Hathaway has li\ed ever since on the ffirni wjiere 
he and Mr. and Mrs. Roland now live, comprising the tract entered by his 
father from the government and referred to above. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Albert Hathaway were born eleven children who grew to maturity and two 
who died in infancy, while seven of the daughters and two of the sons are 
still li\ing. Mrs. Eunice Ellen Roland, Mrs. Hannah Rebecca Wise, Mrs. 
Mary J. Brown, Nathan, deceased, John H., of Tennessee, Mrs. Anna Char- 
lotte Houser, Mts. Lydia Mountz, Silas \., of Garrett, Mrs. DehJah Book. 
Mrs. Stella Markins, and Calvin, deceased. The mother of these children 
passed away in 1906. and the father is still living on the old hopje farm. 

After his marriage Mr. Roland operated the Hathaway farm for 
about seven years and then rented land near by. In i8yt) Mr. Roland 
bought a farm east of Auburn, but later sold it. an<l in the fall (;f 1013 
bought one hundred and sixty acres of land along the south line oi L'nion 
township. In .August, IQIO. he moved in with Mrs. l-Joland's father in order 
to care for the latter during his advanced years. To Mr. and Mrs. Roland 
have been born two children, a son and daughter, .\udrey I 'earl and Xornian 
Nathan. Audrev Pearl became the wife of Ralph (i. Harding, and she has a 
daughter, Eunice Edna Harding. She and her husl)and are on the Hathaway 
farm with her parents. Norman W . lives on the Krise farm east nf Auburn. 
He married Eulu Olinger and they have four children, Ralph. Letha, Nf>rma 
Madonna and a hahv daughter. Religiously. Mr. and Mrs. Roland are mem- 
bers of the (ierman Baptist or Brethren church, in which he, h.^s served as. a 



726 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

deacon, and their daily lives conform to the creed which they profess. Politi- 
cally, Mr. Roland is a Democrat. Kind-hearted, generous and tolerant, they 
have in the largest sense of the word earned the respect of the community, 
for their lives have been such as have commended them to the good opinion of 
all who know them. Mr. Roland has not only been successful as a farmer, 
but he has also been active in his efforts to advance the welfare of the com- 
munity in every way, and his sympathies are always enlisted on the side of 
the right. 



DAVID VARDE. 



Among the representati\e farmers of DeKalb county is the subject of 
this review, who is the owner of a fine landed estate in Keyser township 
and is carrying on the various departments of his enterprise with that dis- 
cretion and energy which are sure to find their natural sequence in definite 
success, having always been a hard worker, a good manager and a man of 
economical habits, and, teing fortunately situated in a thriving farming 
communit}', it is no wrmder that he stands today in the front rank of the 
agriculturists of this favored locality. 

David Yarde, who was horn on December 26, i8f)2, on the old Coombs 
farm in Richland township, DeKalb county, Indiana, is a son of John and 
Lydia Ann (Houser) Yarde, old and well known citizens of this county, 
who are referred to elsewhere in this work in the sketch of the subject's 
brother, Frank Yarde. Therefore, it will not be necessary to give further 
reference to the family ancestral history at this point. David Yarde spent 
his boyhood days on the home farm in Richland township, and received a 
good, practical education in the local schools. After his marriage in i8gi, 
he moved to and rented his father's farm in Richland townshiji, which he 
operated until his father's death. He then Ixiught the farm, whicii con- 
sisted of one hundred and twenty acres. (li\ided into two plats of eight\ 
acres and forty acres respectively. Later lie added to this one hundred and' 
twenty acres more, and still later another tract of similar size lying close 
to Garrett on the north. In addition to this extensive farm, Mr. Yarde also- 
farms a twenty-acre tract for his mother. ^Ir. Yarde has built many of 
the outbuildings on the farm, the residence and barn having been built by 
his father. The buildings are all up-to-date and modern in style and arrange- 
ment, and the farm in every respect is kept up to the most modern and pro- 
gressive ideas relative to successful agriculture. Mr. Yarde is giving due 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 727 

attention to every detail of his farm, including the drainage and preservation 
of the timber, and, because of his progressive tendencies and industrious 
habits, he has been enabled to achieve an enviable success in his work, being 
numbered among the representative farmers of his section of the county. 

On March 19, 1891, Mr. ^'ardc married Mary Brechbill, the daughter 
of Jacol) and Sarah (Ober) Brechbill, who are referred to specifically in 
the sketch of H. R. Davidson elsewhere in this work. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Yarde have l^een bom four children, namely : Ora, who died on September 
3, 1896, and Claude, Edna and Howard, who are at home. Politically, Mr. 
Yarde is afiiliated with the Progressive party, in the support of which he 
is enthusiastic, and he is interested in everything that pertains to the common 
weal. His life history exhibits a career of unswerving integrity, indefatigable 
private industry and wholesome home and social relations, a most commend- 
able career crowned witli a gratifying degree of success. 



G. W. HANES. 



The success of men in any Nocation depends upon character as well 
as upon knowledge, il being a self-evident proposition that honesty is the 
best policy. In e\-ery communit\- some men are known for their upright 
lives, strong common sense and moral worth rather than for their wealth or 
political standing. Their neighbors and acquaintances respect them, the 
younger generations heed their examples, and when they "wrap the drapery 
of their couches about them and lie down to pleasant dreams," posterity 
listens with reverence to the story of their quiet and useful lives. Among 
such men of a past generation in Indiana was the late G. W. Hanes. who 
was not only a progressive man of affairs, successful in material pursuits, but 
a man of modest and unassuming demeanor, well educated, a type of the 
reliable, self-made American, a friend to the poor, ciiaritable to the faults 
of his neighbors, and who aiw-ays stood ready to unite with them in every 
good work and in the support of laudable public enterprises. He was a man 
who in every respect merited the high esteem in which he was unixersally 
held, for he was a man of public s]:)irit. intellectual attainments and exem- 
plary character. 

G. W. Hanes was born May 29, 1828, and died near Butler, DeKalb 
county, Indiana, on the 28th day of May, 1897, lacking one day of being 
sixtv-nine years of age. He came to this county with his parents when he 



728' DEKALB COUNTV. INDIAXA. 

was but twelve years of age and with them tasted of the hardships, strug- 
gles and few pleasures of those trying pioneer days. On the 29th of Sep- 
tember, 1866, he was united in matrimony with Harriet Altenburg. daughter 
of Daniel and Sarah (Latson) Altenburg. natives of the Empire state. To 
this union were born eight children, one of whom died in infancv. The 
seven surviving children were with him at the time of his death and during 
the long last illness administering to his wants with loving hands. 

In his early days the subject taught school and subsequently entered the 
dairy business with his brother, at which he was very successful. He was a 
good man in all that term ini])lies, and was honored and respected bv his 
neighbors and associates, who frequently solicited his sound ad\ice on nmX- 
ters of business. 

Fraternally. Mr, Hanes was quite prominent in the Odd Fellows l(x]ge, 
having belonged to the order at Butler. Lodge Xo. 2S2 and Encampment 
No. 160, for about twenty-eight years, during which time he was active in 
promoting the growth of that fraternity. 

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hanes were as follows: Cameron 
R.. of Chicago; Sarah E.. the wife of Charles Heffelfinger, of Chicago: .Mary 
Ella, the wife of W. D. Gardner, of Milwaukee. Wisconsin: Pearl, deceased: 
Wilmetta, the wife of Milton Wagoner, of (ioshen. Indiana: .Mtenhurg. of 
Waterloo, this county: Carleton. at home: Clara, who lives with her mother. 
was married on November 23. iQog. to Eston McCague. who was bom June 
3. 1880. in Waterloo, this county. 

Mrs. Hanes and family still own the home farm, comprising one hun- 
dred and fort}- acres of land, one hundred of which are tillable, and Iiere 
the\- carr\- on general f;irming and stock raising. 



GEORGE SHAFFER. 



DeKalb county figures as one of the most attractive, progressive and 
prosperous divisions of the state of Indiana, justly claiming a high order 
of citizenship and a spirit of enterprise which is certain to conserve develo])- 
nient and marked advancement in the material ujibuilding of the sc-ction. 
The countv has been and is signally favored in the class of men who ha\e 
controlled its affairs in ofificial capacity, and in this connection the subject 
of this review demands representation as one who is serving his comnuinity 
'well in a ])osition of distinct trust and responsibility, l-'or many years recog- 




GEORGE SHAFFER 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 729 

nized as one of the successful agriculturists of tliis locality, Mr. Schaffer has 
for a number of years been retired from active labor and is now spending 
his years in his comfortable and attractive home in Corunna. 

George Shaffer was born on August 31, 1.S60, in Stark county, Ohio, 
and is the son of Lewis and Elizabeth ( Luttman ) Shaffer, both of whom 
were natives of Penn.sylvania. These parents were reared and educated in 
the old Keystone state and were there married, after which event tliev came 
to Ohio, whence, after a residence of about ten years, thev came to DeKalb 
county, settling in Richland townsliip on April 1. 18^4. Here tliey spent the 
balance of their lives, the father engaging in blacksmithing, in which he was 
very successful. They were the parents of the following children : Martin. 
Mary, David, Katherine. George, Barbara, Lewis, Elizabeth and Ella. 

The subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools 
of l\ichland township, this county, and ujjon attaining manhood's years he 
took up the vocaticjn of farming, having wisely decided that in that voca- 
tion he would secure an independence and a success that was offered in no 
other line of effort. He carried on a general line of farming, in connection 
with which he also raised some live stock and became the owner of eighth- 
acres of splendid land in Richland township which demanded his undivided 
attention until 1905, when, having amassed a sufficient competency to insure 
his future years from embarrassment, he retired from active life and now 
resides in Corunna, to which place he moved in .\pril, 1904. 

On October iS. 1883, ^Ir. Shaffer married Samantha Harding, the 
daughter of Dimmick and Sarah ( Bike) Harding, who were early settlers 
in DeKalb county. Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer had no cliildren of their own, but 
adopted a daughter. Luhi, who is at home and tn whom they ga\e the same 
cheerful and loving attention that she would have received had she l)een their 
own daughter. Mrs. Shaffer died on Septeml)er 13. 1905. 

Democratic in politics, Mr. Shaffer has for man)- years been actively 
interested in the success of his party and in 1908 was elected trustee of Rich- 
land township, which important local office he is filling to the entire satis- 
faction of his fellow citizens. His term will expire in 191 5. In the discharge 
of his official duties, Mr. Shaffer exercises the same vigilance and sound 
business methods that he followed in his private affairs and is giving careful 
attention to the welfare of the townshij) in which he lives. 

Tn every phase of life's activities in which he has engaged he has been 
guided by the highest motives and because of his integrity and high personal 
worth he has earned the commendation of all who know him. 



730 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

HARRY DIEHL. 

Among the prosperous farmers and substantial citizens of Keyser town- 
ship is Harry Diehl, a gentleman of high character and reputation, whom to 
know is to esteem and honor. A quiet, unostentatious man, who makes his 
presence felt by his actions and influence rather than by conversation and 
public acclaim, he has contributed not a little to the stability and respect of 
the body politic and all who know him lu'iir cheerful testimony to his manv 
sterling qualities of mind and heart. 

Harry Diehl was born on December 8, 1869, in Indiana county, Penn- 
sylvania, the son of George and Nancy (Ober) Diehl. Cleorge Diehl, Vvho 
was a native of Germany, came to the United States with his parents when 
about five years of age, locating first in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, where 
the father followed farming and spent his entire life in that state. He died 
on November 22, 1899. During the marriage of George and Nancy (Ober) 
Diehl there were born eight (.hiidren as follows: Mrs. Sarah dinger, of 
Ke3'ser township, DeKalb c<iunt\-, Indiana, who is the mother of one child, 
G. F. ; John, of Keyser township; Mrs. Mary Shalifer, who lives in Calhoun 
township, Michigan, and who is the mother of six children ; Mrs. Susanna 
Smith lives in Kendallville and is the wife of Isaac W. Smith, the minister of 
the Christian church. They are the parents of four children; Mrs. Jennie 
Shumaker, who lives in Harvey county, Kansas, is the mother of two chil- 
dren ; Lincoln, who lives on the old homestead in Pennsylvania, is the father 
of two children ; Mrs. lilizabeth Shumaker. who lives in Harvey county, 
Kansas, is the mother of five children ; the subject of this sketch is the young- 
est in order of birth. 

Harry Diehl was reared to manhood in his native community and in 
1892 came to DeKalb county, Indiana, where he was employed at farm labor. 
In 1893 he bought eighty acres of land in Keyser township, formerly known 
as the A. J. Bolyard farm, to which he has devoted his undivided attention 
and which he has developed into a fine and valuable farm. He erected an 
attractive and well arranged residence, large, commodious barn, and has in 
other ways made .substantial and permanent improvements on the place. The 
land was practically all cleared when he obtained it, so he retained about 
eighteen acres of fine timber land. He carries on general farm operations, 
raising all the crops common to this locality, and also gives some atten- 
tion to the raising of live stock, making a substantial profit in both depart- 
ments of his work. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 7'3I 

On October 8, 1896, Harry Dichl married Laura Sliumaker, a native 
of Armstrong count}-. Pennsylvania, and whose death occurred in 1905. To 
this union were born two children, Earnest and Virgil, who died in infancy. 
On October 16, 1907, Mr. Diehl married Bertha Olinger, a daughter of 
Ephraim and Kizzia ( Mathias) Olinger, and the fruits of this union were four 
children, Olive, Illif. l-'ord and Glenn. Politically. Mr. Diehl has been a 
life-long Republican up to the organzation of the Progressive party in IQ12, 
to which he gave his allegiance and in which he was enthusiastic and veiy 
active during the campaign. He is a man of strong mentality, keeping in 
close touch with the current questions of the day, and because of his upright 
life, his success and fine personal ciulaities, he is clearly entitled to the high 
place which he holds in the minds of all who know him. 

Ephraim Olinger, the father of Mrs. Diehl, was born in Stark county. 
Ohio, where he lived until 1882. when he came to DeKalb county, Indiana, 
making his residence here until 1904. He then moved back to Stark county 
and now resides in Louisville, near Canton, that state. He has followed agri- 
cultural juirsuits throughout practically his entire life, but is now retired from 
active work. His wife also was a nati\-e of Stark county, and to them were 
hcirn the following children: Ida. deceased; Mrs. Josephine Flagler, who is 
iKiw living in Auburn; Benton, deceased; Bertha. Mrs. Diehl and Airs. Lulu 
Roland. 



HENRY RICE D.AVIDSON. 

An enumeration of the representative citizens of DeKalb county would 
not be complete without specific mention of the well-known and popular gen- 
tleman whose name introduces this sketch. .\ member of one of the old and 
highly esteemed families of this locality and for many years a public-spirited 
man of affairs, he has stamped his individuality upon the community and 
added luster to the honorable name which he bears. ha\ ing always been act- 
uated by a spirit of fairness in his dealings with the world in general, and 
leaving no stone unturned whereby he might benefit his own condition as 
well as that of his friends and the favored section of the great commonwealth 
in which he has been content to spend his life. Straightforward and unas- 
suming, genial and obliging. Mr. Davidson enjoys the good will and respect 
<if a wide circle of friends throughout this part of the state. 

Henrv Rice Davidson, a native of Wavne countv, Ohio, was born on 



732 UEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

March 13, 1865. His father, Henry Davidson, was born in Fayette county, 
Pennsylvania, and was a bisliop in the church of Brethren of Christ, being 
deeply interested in religious work. He attained to a prominent and influen- 
tial place in his church and was editor of the church paper. Eventually he 
moved from Pennsylvania to Michigan, w-here he bought a farm and fol- 
lowed agricultural pursuits, as well as preaching. About 1881 he went to 
Kansas, where he bought a farm, continuing agriculture. WHiile living in 
Kansas his second wife, wliose maiden name had been Fannie Rice, died in 
i8y4. and shortly afterwartls he returned to Pennsylvania, where he later 
married Katie Brenneman, a nati\e of Mechanicsburg. He died on March 
17, 1903, and his widow is now living at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. By his 
first marriage Henry Davidson became the father of five children, namely: 
Mrs. Mary Yoder. a widow who now lives in Ohio, and is the mother of two 
children; Mrs. Sarah Coup, also a widow, who ]i\es in Ohio, and is the mother 
of five children: \\"i]liam. who is a farmer in Ohio, is married and has one 
child; Isaiah C. is the principal of the high sciinol at Barberton. Ohio, which 
position he has held for nineteen years ; Mrs Carrie Landis, whose husband is a 
hardware merchant, li\es in Kansas, and tliex lia\e two children. By his 
marriage to Fannie Rice, Mr. Da\-idsnn became the fatlier of eight cliildren. 
namely: Mrs. Lydia Brewer, wlio lives in K;insas and is the wife of a re- 
tired farmer; Mrs. Relx-cca Doner, of Ohio, whose husljand is a farmer, and 
they have four children ; Francis, a minister of the Brethren in Ciirist, lias 
been a missionar)- in South -\frica for the |)ast fifteen years; Mrs. Emma 
Deihl, whose husband, John Deihl, is represented elsewhere in this work- 
Mrs. Henrietta Brechbill. whose husband, John Brechbill. is also represented 
elsewhere; Henr\- Rice, the immediate subject of this .sketch; Albert, who 
lives in Colorado, is married and has two cliildren ; Mrs. Ida Huffman, whose 
husband is a minister nt the Brethren in Christ, and also operates a large 
creamerv plant, and the\- lia\ e two children ; Mrs. David.son was married a 
third time, but no children were born to the last union. 

, Henry Rice Davidson was reared in Ohio until the age of sixteen years. 
when he moved to White Pigeon, Michigan, with bis jiarents, where be lived 
and farmed until the age of twenty-one years. Ik- had attended the pul)lic 
.schools >iH Ohio and also attended the high school at White Pigeon, thus re- 
ceiving a goad-jiractical education. In 1877 Mr. Davidson went to Kansas, 
where he-,<?pcrated his father's farm of one hundred and sixty acres, remain- 
ing there for about five years and then coiiiiny to DeKalb county, where he 
rented a farm i,n secti.on ^8, Keyser townslii)>. Tliis farm comprised rme hun- 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 7-33. 

dred and twenty-seven acres, in tlie operation of wliieh he was profitahlv en- 
gaged, and eventually he bought this farm of his father-in-law and is still 
actively engaged in its operation. He has remodeled the residence and barn 
and made other permanent and sulistantial improxements whicli ha\'e greatlv 
added to the value and attractive appearance of the place. He has about 
eight acres in valualile timber. The land is kept in good, fertile condition, 
well fenced, while the general appearance of the place indicates him to he a 
man of good taste and sound discrimination. He is up-to-date in his ideas, 
hesitating not to adopt new methods when their su])eriority over old wavs 
has been demonstrated, and in the business ;ui(l ei\ ic life of the eoniuiuiiitv 
he has taken a prominent part, and is now township representative for the 
DeKalb Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of DeKalb county, in which he has 
done much effective work. He is also guardian of the estate of Albert Hatha- 
way, which comprises one hundred and fifty acres adjoining the farm of the 
subject. Politically, he is a progressive Republican, and Jiis religious affilia- 
tions are with the Brethren in Christ, of which society he is a deacon. 

On January 20, 1877, ^^^- I^avidson married Elizabeth Brechbill, the 
daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Ober) Brechbill, and to this union have been 
born four children, Fannie, Walter, Elsie and Loyd, all of whom are at 
home. Jacob Brechbill was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania. In 1854 
he moved to Stark county, Ohio, where, on February 3, 1859, he married 
Sarah Ober, who also was a native of Bedford county, Pennsylvania. In 
1864 they came to DeKalb county, Indiana, buying eighty acres of land in 
section 29, Keyser township, and later bought the eighty acres where the 
subject of this sketch resides, to which he later added .another forty acres .ad- 
joining. Mr. Brechbill was a memlier of the P>retliren in Christ, and much 
respected by those with whom he w;is ac(|uainted. He learned the trade of 
shingle making, whicli be followed in connection witli farming for many 
years. His death occitrred on F"ebruary 21, 1902, at the residence of the sub- 
ject of this sketch, who had taken care of him during his later years. His 
widow also died here on Xoxember i. 1908. They were the parents of eight 
children, as follows: Martin, deceased; John, a farmer of Richland town- 
ship, who is the father of nine children ; Mrs. Nancy Shirk, of Kansas, who is 
the mother of six children living and one deceas-ed : EHzabeth, wife of the 
subject of this sketch ; Mrs. Sarah Wagner, of Garrett, Indiana, the mother 
of four children: Mrs. Mary ^'arde, whose husband, David ^■arde, is rei)re- 
■sented elsewhere in this work : and Francis and Claude, twins, who died in 
infancv. In this brief review but little has been said in a conunendatorv wav 



734 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

of Mr. Davidson's life, but it is unnecessary, for in the community where he 
has spent his active years his Hfe has been as an open book, and because of 
his upright character and consistent Hving he has enjoyed to a marked de- 
cree the respect of all who have known him. He is a man who has ever 
looked on the sunny side of life, ever hopeful that the good would rule instead 
of the bad, and as a result of such a fortunate disposition he has made it 
pleasant for those with whom he has came in contact either in a business or 
social wav. He is a man of genial and kindly nature, which has made him 
popular with all who have associated with him and, being a man of high 
moral character, he has the confidence and good will of all. 



TLMOTHY McCLURE. 



In presenting the liiography of this well remembered gentleman, whose 
life was that of a high grade man, of noble ideals and laudable ambitions, 
we believe that the reader will be benefited and encouraged, for his life was 
a life that made for success because of the honorable principles he employed 
in dealing with his fellowmen and because of the many admirable attributes 
he possessed which made his daily walk one worthy to be emulated. 

Timothy McClure was born in Brattleboro, \'ermont, in 1818, and liis 
death occurred at his home in Grant township, Delvalb county, Indiana, on 
September i. 1878. He was a son of Samuel and lunily McC'iure, and was 
of Irish ancestry. From the age of eight years he was reared in the home 
of Simeon and Elizabeth (Haynes) Aldrich in \'ermont and eventually 
married Olive Aldrich, the daughter of his benefactors. After his marriage 
he and his father-in-law and his family went by wagon to the Hudson river, 
thence to Lake Erie and by water to Toledo, and from there by canal to 
Defiance, Ohio. Mr. Aldrich had been a wealthy farmer in New England, 
and, on starting west, stored his money in gold coin in bags in a chest. At 
Toledo, while transferring the stuff from the ship to a lighter, the chest 
of gold was dropped and broken and the gold went to the bottom of the 
lake, but, after an anxious time, was restored to its owner. Mr. .Mdrich's 
two sons, Simeon and Terry, had come west some time before this and had 
spent four years in Williams county, Ohio. Soon afterwards the Holton 
familx came across from that county to DeKalb county, Indiana, being the 
first settlers here, and in 1834 the Aldrich boys followed. These sons met 
Mr. McClure and the Aldrich family at Defiance, Ohio, and with ox teams 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 



'35 



were four days coming across the country to Troy township, locating four 
miles east of Hamilton. There Mr. Aldrich entered land for all his chil- 
dren, giving each of them a good start in life, and there his wife got lost 
in a swamp a year later, her death occurring from the effects of the exposure. 
Subsequently Mr. Aldrich returned to Vermont, where he married and 
brought his wife back to the frontier home, and iiere her death occurred 
about eight years later. Mrs. Olive McClure received from her fatlier eighty 
acres of land and a house, each of her brothers being given one thousand 
■dollars each. Mr. Aldrich, who had been a stock breeder in the east, came 
here in order to secure larger opportunities for the members of his family. 
Things were not very encouraging here at that time and it is related that a 
letter written him in 1836 from Vermont was sent to his nearest postoffice. 
Lagrange Center, about forty miles from his home. From about 1848 to 
about 1855 he carried the United States mail from Defiance to Lagrange, 
thence to Coldwater, Michigan, and to the neighljorhoods between these 
points, riding horseback over roadless prairies and fording unbridged streams. 
He bought and sold farms frequently, owning a large number of them, and 
was really more of a business man than a farmer. In i860 Mr. McClure 
moved to the eastern i)art of Grant township, where he spent the remainder 
of his life. He was for two terms trustee t>\ I'liion lownshi]) and was 
administrator and guardian of many estates, it l)eing stated that for a period 
of nearly forty years he was constantly guardian of not less than iialf a 
•dozen wards. A man of keen perceptions, strong character and I:right and 
kindly face, he won the good opinion and friendsliip of all who knew liim. 
he being familiarly called "Uncle Timmie." 

Politically, Mr. McClure was a lifelong Democrat. I)m during tlie Civil 
war he remained loyal to the Union. A man of natural musical talent, lie 
was a leader in the drum corps that during the war escorted each new mili- 
tary company on its way to Indianapolis. Religiously, he was a member of 
the Disciples church, as was his wife, and they were loyal and earnest in 
their support of all worthy causes. It is related in testimony to Mr. Mc- 
Clure's humane and kindly disposition that in the early days he con.stantly 
carried a gun with which he expected to shoot deer, but never shot when he 
saw the deer, his humane impulses forbidding the act. Of Mrs. McClure 
it is related that one night when left at home alone a big bear came close to 
the cabin and attempted to take a sow and pigs, but she scared it away with 
firebrands. To Mr. and Mrs. McClure were born five children, namely : A 
bov who died in earlv vouth : Sarah, who was married three times, her last 



736 nEKAr.R COUNTY, INDIANA. 

husband being Rev. S. P. Klotz : Timothy is a resident of Waterloo, this 
county; Olive became the wife i>f John D. Eckhart, of Toledo, Ohio, biit 
both died at about the same time of typhoid fever; Mary, the wife of Jef- 
ferson W. Jackman, of Grant tdwnshi]). this county, who is represented else-' 
where in this work. 



EMANUEL ROGER SHOEMAKER. 

Emanuel Roger Shoemaker, the third son of Henry Shoemaker and 
Mary Wagoner, his wife, was born in Stoystown, Pennsylvania, April 15, 
1832. .\s every man's biography properly begins with the preceding genera- 
tion at least, and as his life was colored to an unusual extent by the incidents 
of his childhood and youth, considerable attention will be devoted to the ex- 
periences of his father's family in Indiana. 

The parents of Emanuel R. Shoemaker were residents of Stoystown, 
Somerset county, Pennsylvania, where the father pursued the tailoring trade. 
Their interests in Indiana began in 1837 when Emanuel Wagoner, a brother, 
entered two hundred and forty acres of land in Smithfield township, DeKalb 
county, for the sum of one hundred and twenty-five dollars. The family con- 
tinued their residence in Pennsylvania for three years, and by 1840 there 
were six children, David, Jacob, Emanuel, Catherine. Mary and John. 

In May, 1840, the family left their old home and came to Knox county, 
Ohio, using as their conveyance a covered wagon pulled by two spirited 
sorrel mares. They remained there until the last of August, when they 
took another start, accompanied by the brother who had entered the land 
for them. On their journey westward they encountered the most serious 
difificulties, especially in the Black Swamp in western Ohio. As there were 
few roads they had to make their way through the mud, water, underbrush 
and over the cordurov bridges. Finally, about the middle of September, 
they reached Auburn, Indiana. 

The father left the family there for a week while he went north to look 
up his land, which lay three miles north of the present town of Waterloo. 
He selected 6ne hundred acres of the east side of the two hundred and forty 
acres entered, comprising the west half of the southwest quarter of section 
22, and twenty acres of the east side of the southeast quarter of section Ji, 
and later forty acres more. There were no hou.^es from Auburn to Isaac 
Smith's, and no lumber available for building purposes, so he bought several 
hundred feet of lumber at Auburn and hauled it upon his land. In a few 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 737" 

days he returned for the family and they reached the site of their future 
home without shelter other than the wagon, and night was approaching in 
the wilderness. 

Emanuel was then a boy eight years of age, and to the close of his life 
he could remember this evening. "My mother," he wrote, "was a remark- 
able person to go ahead. She soon had one boy unhitching the horses, and 
another searching for water. My father went out to cut forked saplings 
with an eight-pound ax— for such did we Pennsylvanians use. With these 
slender trees he forked a pole against a couple of beeches, and against this 
pole he stood the boards on end which he had brought from Auburn." When 
this shack was reared, the wagon was unloaded and a meagre supper was 
spread. The family, all completely exhausted, lay down for their first night 
in their new home, only to be awakened by the wolves that seemed to scent 
the new inhabitants. 

The morning brought new trouijles. A house of some kind must be 
provided and feed for the horses found. It was a situation with tremendous 
trials that faced this family, whose head was a tailor. Ijorn and reared in a 
town, with no knowledge of farming, much less of the clearing of land. The 
timber was so dense that only here and there the sky was visible. Spice- 
wood, horse-mint, nettles and weeds were so thick that it was difficult tO' 
make a way except along deer trails, until the frost had trimmed the foliage.. 

The first step was to erect a home, and James Blake was hired to cut 
logs for a cabin. When he began chopping with his light three and one-half 
pound ax, the Shoemaker family watched him critically. He did not slide his 
hand the entire length of the handle, and the handle was crooked, they ob- 
served. He did not chop straight into the tree, but started higher and chopped 
downward. "He is too lazy to bend his back," they said, "and his ax is onh^ 
a tomahawk anyway." When the "Yankee" watched the Pennsylvanian' 
wield his heavy eight-pound ax, with every stroke bringing forth a groan, it 
was his turn to laugh derisively, .\fter a few days enough logs were cut.- 
and when they had been drawn up with great difficulty by the fiery horses.. 
seven or eight men came to the raising. The boards used in the shack were 
laid across the joist poles, and served as a roof through several rains until 
the cabin was covered with clap-boards. 

During the first winter all fared better than would lie expected. By the 
spring of 1841 seven acres of underbrush were cleared and about ten or 
twelve trees were left standing on each acre. The first corn crop was planted 
(47) 



/;^H DEKALB COINTV. IXDIANA. 

in Pilgrim fashion b\- dropping kernels in tlie trenches made hy cutting Ii€- 
tween the roots of trees. 

In June, Henry Shoemaker returned on iiorseback to Stoystown and 
sold his town property for a sum considerably lower than he had hoped. I>nr- 
ing the six weeks of the father's absence the family had some startling ex- 
periences. One Sunday when the mother and children were all in the cabin, 
two large Indians stepped in the door. They sat down and began talking- 
about the guns which they saw in the room. "No good" was all that the 
family could understand, and by this the Indians meant tliat the guns had eap- 
locks. Tliey soon made it known that the\ were'hungry and without any de- 
lay a gallon of milk, a loaf of liread and a plate of butter were .set before 
them. Each Indian drew from his belt a huge knife and began wiping it 
on his hair. To the gr^at relief of the family, both liegan to eat. When 
they had finished they left the cabin, as they seemed to know the family were 
all afraid of them, walked to a fence where each picked up a gun and a deer, 
and went on their way. Some time afterwards, one of them was found dead 
on the edge of a cranberry marsh about fiye miles to the southeast. The 
names of these Indians were Jon Ess and Raccoon, and it was learned that 
they were the last two native Indians of DeKalb county. 

In the fall of 1841 the father was attacked by a fe\er. No doctor was 
to be had. but after a very serious illness he finall\- recovered. It was no 
uncommon experience for six or seven members to be stricken with malaria or 
fever at the same time. When one would recover from his chill he would 
rally sufificiently to give the other water and a little care. 

The winter of 184 1 -1842 was very discouraging, for it was with .great 
difficulty that sufficient food and clothing were procured for the family. The 
details were ne\-er forgotten by Emanuel R. Shoemaker, who was then a hoy 
of nine years. "Many gallons of nua!." he wrote in a sketch of his life, 
"have I ground on the bottom n\ a tin pan with lioles inuiched through from 
the inside to make a rcmgli surface. 1 would take an ear of soft corn and rub 
it over the rough pan until 1 had worried the kernels off. Borrowing flour 
through the neighborhood was much in vogue among early settlers, but some- 
times borrowing was impossible. I remember one week when we were all 
forced to live on vegetables." 

During the first few years of life in the new country the nearest mills 
were the one at Vermont, now called Orland. in Steuben county, and the 
Union mills, at a cHstance requiring four to six days for a single trip. Later 
Thompson's mill was built at Flint and another was completed at Enterprise. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 739 

now called Hamilton, in 1846 or 1847. "Many were the tronbles 1 luve h^d 
going there to mill," wrote Mr. Shoemaker, the subject of this sketch. "Bags 
containing about three bushels of wheat wo^ild be put (hi a horse and ine on 
top of that. The sacks would strike against trees as I would try to ;ivoid 
fallen timber or deep mud hoks, and tumble off the horse." 

In 1848 the father built a hewed-log house on the north part of the same 
tract of land, and was able to ofifer generous hospitality to any visitors wlio 
chanced near there. Religious services were frequently liekl and when a 
quarterly meeting occurred in the neighborhood, the minister, his family and 
all guests from a distance were recei\efl into the home. "Tlie pioneer motliers 
could find accommcxlations for everybody," wrote Mr. Shoemaker, "and I 
have known complete strangers to come and stay eight and ten days with a 
team, with no thought of remuneration on the part of my parents." 

Before proceeding further with the story of the family of Henry Shoe- 
maker, we shall pause to relate the connection of this man with the Mexican 
war of 1848. A comjjlete narrative of this chain of reniarkal)le incidents is 
contained in the Fort Wayne Sentinel for Saturday. January 11, 1Q13. Pre- 
facing the narrative by the statement that in 1842, as at present, DeKalb and 
Steuben counties were in the same legislative district, the story mav be told 
in the following brief style. 

In this district. Dr. Madison Marsh, a Denmcrat. and Knos Ik-ali, a 
Whig, were opposing candidates. On the face of the returns, Enos Beall 
was defeated by one vote, but after votes for Doctor Marsh were thrown out, 
the former was declared elected by the board of canvassers. The final hear- 
ing of this disputed election case took place at Indianapolis before ?. legisla- 
tive committee, and the vital contention was over the ballot of Henry Shoe- 
maker. With the two candidates, he made the tri]) to the state capital as a 
witness before the legislative committee and from the testimony given these 
facts were ascertained : .\t tlie ])olls on election day the vote of Henry Shoe- 
maker had been challenged and in the dispute which followed he became 
angry, tore his ballot in two, threw it under the table and left the room. Later 
it was picked up and found to be tor Doctor Marsh, the Democrat, but it was 
not allowed to be put in the Ixdlot box. .\t the Tiulianapolis hearing this 
vote was counted, and it elected Doctor Marsh by a majority of one. He was 
accordingly given the legal certificate of election and took liis seat in tlie 
House. 

When the state Legislature came to elect the new Indiana senator to 
Congress, the contest was an exciting one. Hon. O. H. Smith was then 



740 DEKALB COUNTY, IXDIAXA. 

senator and a candidate for re-election l)y the Whigs. Gen. T. A. Howard 
was the Democratic candidate, and their support was very evenly halanced. 
Several ballots were taken and the last one resulted in the election of a third 
and hitherto inconspicuous candidate, Edward O. Hannegan, by a majority of 
only two votes, one of which was cast by Doctor Marsh. 

The annexation of Texas as a state in the Union was then the burning 
issue, and it presented itself to Congress at the first session after Mr. Hanne- 
gan's election. He favored annexation and \-oted in its favor. Had not this 
strangely remarkable sequence of incidents occurred, Mr. Beall, a Whig, 
would have furnished the one necessary vote to return Senator Smith to the 
United States Senate, and, being a A\'hig. he would liave \oted against an- 
nexation. This would have made the vote in the Senate on the resolution a 
tie, and the President of the Senate, a \\']iig. would have cast the deciding 
vote against annexation. As the policy of annexing Texas was probably the 
real cause of the Mexican war, it seems an accurate statement that Henry 
Shoemaker cast the vote in 1842 which, by a long series of causes and results, 
made possible the war with Mexico in 1848. 

By the year 1852, the family had grown to include five more children. 
Eva, Sarah, Horace, Malvina and Phebe. Eva and Mary died while young, 
and the father's health was very poor. In the midst of hardships and what 
was frequently positive want, the stories of the California gold discoveries 
were most alluring, and the family yielded to the "California gold fever." 
On April 8, ]S^2, the father, with two of his dlder children. Catherine and 
Emanuel, left home for California \ia the overland route. They set out in a 
one-horse covered wagon, with two yoke of cattle. Their route lay along 
Bear or dreen river, the Hnmlxilt ri\er. acni>;s the desert, u]) the Truckee to 
Calowav Ranch. Emanuel, the son, made the statement in after years that, 
notwithstanding the awful dangers, all enjoyed the trip and suffered no ill 
results except the father, wliosc eye; liecame very sore while traveling along 
the Huniliolt and crossing tin- di'st-rt. When they reached the ranch they 
sold their oxen and walked four miles tn Downieville, on the Yuba river in- 
Sierra county, California. The time spi-iit en route was five months and six 
(lavs, and the liarrowing experiences <if this journey would fill a volume. 

After their arrival, they bought a part of an abandoned flume and some 
lumlier with wiiich they Innlt a small house on Durgan Flat. During the 
winter of 183.^-1854 the father suffered greatly from eye trouble, and in May 
he returned home via Panama and New York. Catherine, the sister, worked 
with wonderful fortitude and was a great companion for her brother during 



DKKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 74I 

those lonely months. In the summer of 1853 she married Franklin C. 
Francis, a partner of Doctor Webber in a saw mill on Durgan P'lat. 

Emanuel Shoemaker continued mining during these years on Coxes Bar. 
about three miles down the river from Downieville. The hard work, ill health 
and utter loneliness which he endured can only l>e realized by a reading of 
his diary written day by day. These pages reveal the incessant work at 
"drifting," in the "diggings," cutting timber on the mountain side and chop- 
ping wood. When the heavy rains fell and prevented work in the mine, he 
would busy himself with any kind of employment that he could find. The ex- 
posure sufifered in digging the mil! wheels out of the ice during the winter 
always resulted in severe colds and often in serious illness. The pleasures 
were few, but genuine. Debates were held several evenings of each week and 
the subject of this biography often ])articipated. Preaching on Sundays and 
"by candle light" through the week was ntit onl}- w ell attended, but apjjreciated. 
The greatest happiness came with the letters, ho\\e\er. which could always be 
expected with each arrival of the mail. The "home letter" never failed of 
mention in the diary, and its reafling was generall} followed hy a jieriod of 
loneliness during which he would console himself in writing to his mother. 

The desolation was only deepened by the return cf his sister. Catherine, 
her husband and child tn "the .'states" in the fall of 1X54. It was somewhat 
of a surprise when he learned nn Septemlier j.v' "f M''- l'"iancis' exiiected 
return home, and he at once heli)ed him close up his business. On the morn- 
ing of September 2rith lunanuel accompanied his sister and her family when 
they started for the "Bay." He went with them ti) Marysville. then to Sacra- 
mento, and then to San hrancisco. where they arri\ed after midnight Thurs- 
day. September 28th. He .saw them start for their long voyage down the coast 
on the steamer "Yankee Blade," the same boat that the father had taken. 
After they left he returned to D.iwniexille and il was not long before he got 
word that the steamer had been out only twentv-tliree hours when .she ran 
on a rock near Santa Barbara. Two boat-loads were stranded, and among 
those who were saved was his sister's family. They returned to San Fran- 
cisco and started again. 

Emanuel continued mining on Coxes Bar a year longer. .\ page from 
his diary for Saturday, November 4, 1854, contains this excerpt : "This even- 
ing, after a very hard day's work, T hurried to the postoffice with John 
Nobles, but we both found ourselves disappointed. W^e returned to the house 
on Durgan Flat. There we sat in silence looking about the room. No ,one 
to greet us. All, all looked lonesome and forsaken, while memory ran back 



742 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

to the time when all the folks were here. It almost caused me to weep. 
.\gain I turned ni}- eyes to the daguerreotype of those whom I esteeni so much, 
and they looked as natural as life, hut it was only an image. They could not 
speak, therefore I closed the case and laid it away a:gain, and set to work. 
After which I retired, only to reflect on the past." 

On September ii. 1(^35, Emanuel started for San Francisco and his 
voyage home. He had sold his claiiri and after the final division was made he 
found that in these three long, weary years he had earned and cleared the 
sum of three th.iusand dollars. He to.ik th.e same route that his father and 
sister Iiefore him had taken, and left .San I'rancisco Se]iteniber JOth on the 
steamer "Sonora.'" The \o\-age to .Xew ^'ork \ia f'anama retpiired twenty- 
six days, and the diary records an axerage daily distance of two hundred and 
fifty miles, a dangerously hea\y sea ])art of the time, and attendartt sea-sick- 
ness. On his arrival at New York city he w as met by his brother, David, and 
together they returned home via Erie, Crestline and Eort Wayne. During 
these three years spent in California the' foundations were laid both of his 
comparati\e ill-health and of his success in later life. 

In March. 1856. the father died after an illness of several weeks. 
During the' years that followed the mother was twice married and in 1886 she 
died at the home of her son. Kmanuel. lloth ])arenls are liuried in Cedar 
Lake cemetery, northwest of Waterloo. Through the many years that 
Grandma Shoemaker was an active woman in her own home with her own 
family, she ne\er missed an opportunity of assisting where there was illness, 
and at a time when doctors were \ery few this able care was an infinite 
service. 

Concerning the other members of the family, the following brief facts 
may be related. David was assisted by lunanuel in setting up a store in 
Uniontown, in which he succeeded until about i860. .After this he lost all his 
property, and in 1891 his death occurred. He was buried in the Waterloo 
cemetery. Jacob, the hunter of the famil\-, served in the army throughout the 
Civil war. During the later years of his life he li\ed in the \A'est, antl he 
died in Minne.sota in April, 1908. His remains were lirought to the \\'aterl6o 
cemetery foi- interment. Catherine Francis lixed witli her family in a large 
home oil the south side of Waterloo until May 13. r()oo. when they removed 
to Massillon, Ohio. Her husband, Franklin Francis, died in i8g8, and she 
often returned to Waterloo to visit her friends and relatives. 

^ John Henry was killed while firing a farewell salute to his comrade's 
who were departing for the war. 'fhey were the first soldiers to Ii^-e tKe 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 743 

town of Waterloo for the front. His was the first t;rave made in liie Water- 
loo cemetery. Sarah first married Henry Keagler, and while Yn'mg m Craw- 
fordsville their son, "Colonel,"' was accidentally shot while huntinj.; on thi- eve 
of his departure for West Point. She afterwards married R. 1). (jaut)>- and 
removed to Arcadia. Morida, where she died in hmc. U)o<). Horace enlisted 
in the army while a yount^ man, and was serimislx iniured hy the explosion 
of a .shell. He is residins^ in Auhurn. Alelvina. died when a young woman, 
and Phebe married William linnnell and now resides in Los .Kngeles, Cali- 
fornia. 

The biography of Mnianucl R. Slioemaker will now l)e resumed. In 
June, 1S56, he and his mother went on business to I'ennsyhania and \isite<.l in 
Stark county, Ohio, where he met the young woman who afterward became 
his wife. Harriet Jane Miller, born April 19, 1834, was the eighth child in 
the family of nine of Henr\- Miller and Mary Magdalene \\'ea\er, his wife. 
They resided on a farm one mile soutlj of Canal Fulton, in Stark countx . on 
the Tuscarawas river. Near there ran the old canal, which was an important 
link in the route of traffic between Cincinnati and Cleveland. The grandparents 
had come to this part of Ohio with their respective families while young. 
The father, Henry Miller, was a Penn.sylvandan by birth. The mother was a 
daughter of a well-to-do Virginian of the nan-sla\Tholfling class, living near 
Hagerstown. He often witnessed the cruel treatment of sla\es and was 
know n as a strong opponent of slavery. 

After a correspondence of o\'er a year, bjiianuel R. .Shoemaker and 
Harriet Jane Miller were married on September \(\ 1837. in the bVanklin 
Hinise, Canton, Oliio. They \isitd in Pittsburgh, returned for a few weeks 
with the family of the bride, and came to their new home in Indiana. As the 
pioneer conditions here were one gener.ation behind the comforts enjoyed in 
CMiio, it was indeed a brave step for the bride to take, but notwithstanding all 
the hardships and inconveniences she suffered, she never became homesick. 
Soon after his return from California he purchased one hundred and sixty 
acres of land, -where the homestead is located. .Kbont the year 1861 he 
bought his mother's and the heirs' interests in his father's farm, and in 1872 
added one hundred and sixty acres to the west, kno\Aii as the >'oung farm. 
Later, in 1890, he hong'ht forty acres of the Hemstreet farm to the soutlTeast, 
w hich completed the ownership of the entire estate of (five hundred and twenty 
acres. By the practice of economy and thrift the husband and wife ac(|uired 
an estate which, with the buildings erectefl for his younger son, comprised 
two well equipped homestead^. In May, 1803. the f;imily removed to Water- 



744 DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 

loo, where Mr. Shoemaker was building a new home and in November they 
moved into the residence now occupied by his widow. 

Mr. Shoemaker was a man with both local and general public interests. 
He was appointed justice of the peace October 26. 1872, and ser\'ed two terms. 
In November, 1896, he was elected one of the three county commissioners of 
DeKalb county, and was re-elected for a second term, which was ended by 
his death. At that time the county was laboring under a heavy burden of 
•debt, which was subsequently discharged very largely through the efforts of 
Mr. Shoemaker. He critically examined all bills for appropriations and de- 
manded that ail unnecessar\- expenditures be voted down. He exacted of all 
contractors w itli the Cdunt}- the careful execution of all terms (^f their con- 
tract, and many a long dri\e he took for the purpcjse of personal inspection of 
the progress of bridges according to the specifications of the contract. During 
his term of office the construction of a new court house, jail and poorhouse 
was unrler discussion. He hoped for the c'oni|)!etion of all lliese jjrojects. hut 
not until the county could lie relieved of its debt. 

In politics Mr. Shoemaker valued principle above party. WHiile he was 
generally known as a Democrat, he was an ardent supporter of Lincoln 
during the war. He fa\ored the (ireenliack ])latform in the later sexenties. 
and the Populist platform in the early nineties. He always adhered to the 
policy of free trade and duriuL;' the later \ears of his life he favored bimetal- 
lism. He was a stanch -;iip])orter of Mryan and held liis \-iews on every (|ues- 
tion. 

.As a boy and young man Mr. Shoemaker was intensel)- devout. W'lnle 
in California he was most religious, and during his early married life he 
attended the United Brethren church regularl\-. .\t this time he would have 
joined had not his membership in the Masonic lodge prevented him from 
doing so. Later he became interested in the movement for freedom of 
religious thought through reading the sermons of Henry Ward Beecher and 
the works of Voltaire, Paine and Ingersoll. and from 1875-1805 he secured 
many noted lecturers on Liberalism who spoke either in Waterloo or at his 
home in Smithfield township. 

Mr. Shoemaker joined the blue lodge of the Masons in December, 1866, 
in Waterloo, and also became a member of the following lodges, from all of 
which he received honorable demits on se\'ering his relationship with them^ — 
the Auburn chapter, the .Angola council, and the Kendallville commandery. 

In the familv of Knianue! and Harriet Shoemaker there were three 



DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 745 

children. Henry Douglas, born August 27, 1858, in his boyhoocl attended 
the Valparaiso Normal and returned to assist his father at home. He mar- 
ried Mahala Bachtel in April. 1892. and the\ nnw reside with their son. 
Russell, born November 15, 1895, in the old homestead. May Shoemaker 
Dilla, born October 21, i860, early began her career as a teacher, which she 
continued after graduating from the Methodist Episcopal College of Fort 
Wayne, Indiana, in June, 1882. She was married in the fall of 1883, and 
when her daughters were far enough advanced she removed with them to 
Ann Arbor, Michigan. The elder, Harriette May. born June 12, 1886. re- 
ceived the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1908 and the Master of Arts 
degree in 1909 from the L^niversity (if Michigan. The younger. Geraldine 
Princess, born December 21, i8i)0. secured the Bachelor of Arts degree from 
that institution in 191 1. The former obtained the degree of Doctor of Philos- 
ophy from Columbia University. Xew >'()rk City, i()i_'. and has occupied 
the chair of history and political science in W'healon College near Boston, and 
Lake Erie College near Cleveland. The latter 
Conservatory of Music, and after her return li 
assistant principal in the Waterloo high school. 
Ward-Belmont College, Xaslnille. Tennessee, w 
study of piano. 

Scott Sherman, the third child, horn .\Ia\ . 
Brand in December, 1892. They resitled in the 
father south of the old home on the Shoemaker 
occurred June 10, 1898. Two daughters had bee 
May, born April i, 1894. who is ,i student at West 
Oxford. Ohio, near Cincinnati, and .Maude Scott. 
attends Glendale College for Cirls. also near Cincinnati. 

Throughout his life Emanuel R. Shoemaker was an extremely active 
man, often working far be}ond his strength. On Tuesday. June r6. 1903. 
he was suddenly seized with hemorrhage of the stomach, which was followed 
by more severe attacks. These left him in such a weakened condition that 
recovery was impossible. Early in the morning of September 13, 1903. he 
passed away. The funeral occurred at his residence Septeml>er i6th. on the 
forty-sixth anniversary of his marriage, and interment took place in. the Wat- 
erloo cemetery. His love of progress and improvement, his broad and liberal 
religious views, his freedom in political matters, and his honesty, ambition and 
industry made him a leader whose influence will be felt for many years. 



studied in 


the .Vnn .Arbor 


lome from 


college she was 


She is now 


an instructor in 


here slie i 


- continuing the 


24. i8(.2. n 


larried Elizal.etli 


home l)uill 


for them by his 


farm, until 


his death, which 


n liorn to t: 


his union. Rheua 


stern Collet 


;e for Women at 


horn Octo; 


her 3, 1.S96. who 



746 DEKAf.B COUNTV. INDIANA. 

EDMOND J. WYATT. 

The gentleman uiiuse career is l)rierty sketched in the following lines is 
one (jf the estahlished residents of Auhurn and his life has heen such as to 
gain the confidence and good will of the people of his community and to make 
him well and favorably known throughout the county of which he has been 
so long an honored citizen. In the highest sense of the term, he is a self- 
made man and as such has met with success in material things such as few at- 
tain and made a record which may be studied with profit by the young men 
of the rising generation. 

Ed W'yatt, as the subject of this sketch is popularly known, is a native 
of DeKalb county, Indiana, having been born in Jackson township, on April 
26, 1862, and is a son of John and Sarah Jane (Robe) \\Aatt. John 
Wyatt. tlie son of Xathan and Mary W'yatt, was Imrn in Mercer county, 
Pennsvlvania, April 4, iXii. and came to DeKalb county, Indiana, in 1836. 
He died July 28, 1906, at his home in DeKalb county, aged ninety-three 
years three months and twenty-four days. He was married April r, 1834, in 
Medina county, Ohio, to Eva Kitchen, who died February 12, 1839. Their 
only child, Rachel, was born sixteen months after they came to this county 
and died at the age of fourteen years. On September 12, 1839, Mr. WyaUt 
married Sarah Jane Robe, a native of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, born 
on October 31, 1820, and who died January 2-]. 1888, aged sixty-seven years 
two months and twenty-six days. It was in the fall of 1836 that Mr. W'yatt 
came to Jackson township to seek a location for a future home. Here, travel- 
ing through the dense woods, which were full of a thick growth of wild pea 
vines, prickly ash, etc.. the knees of his pants wore out and his hide too, but he 
bound up his knees and .struggled on. He selected government land in sec- 
tion 34, then returned for his family, bringing them here the fall of 1837. 
The deed for this land was signed b\- President Andrew Jackson. In the 
spring of 1837 John Wyatt's father had come from his Ohio home and so 
many of the family and relatives accompanied him that the people there 
called it the exodus of the tribe of Wyaft. Nathan Wyatt also settled in 
section 34 in Jackson township, and for the last forty years of his life was a 
member of the Methodist Protestant church, the greater part of the time a 
class leader and he was a power for good in the new settlement. John Wyatt 
was taken sick soon after reaching his new home, and he hired his brother-in- 
law, A. Squicrs, to cut logs to make the house, buift it witll a puncfieon floor 
and an outside chimney of clay and straw. Tlie following spring he added 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. Ji^J 

a hearth made of miul. They were in comfortable rind better circumstances 
than some of their nei,t,dil3ors. About the holidays, winter set in. lie had 
nothing of any kind t.. winter the seven cattle he had brou,t;ht with him. 
The poor animals would roam around the house ;uid moan so pitifully at 
night that he would cover his head to keep out the somid, i>ut he bou.^ht .some 
corn meal and a barrel of .s.alt (price nine dollars), and that, with browsing 
tree tops, brought the cattle out all right in the spring. Of the season of 
1838 he wrote: "We ran out ol provisions. 1 managed to get a bushel of 
corn and going nine miles to mill by a zigzag road through the woods, could 
not get my grist until the ne.xt day and then not, becai>sc I would not buy a 
jug of whiskey. I traveled' that road four times and finally, to keep from 
starving at home, gave mone\- to fill that jug, got my grist and finished my 
well and got .good water." He gave twelve dollars for a barrel of flour, six- 
teen dollars a hundred for pork; droxe far ;ind near to get corn, found some 
west of Fort Wayne three years old and niust\ an/1 covered with litters of 
rats. It was all he could get and it cost him one dollar a Inishel. Roads 
were only a few trails cut through forest and dense untlerhrush, and much 
stuiif was hauled up the St. joe in boats and he had many narrow escapes from 
tipping over and losing the cargoes. John \\'\att owned and lived on the 
same land for seventy years, a record never e(|ualed in DeKalh county. 

Edmond Wyatt was reared on the parental farmstead in Jackson town- 
ship and completed his educational training in the high .school at Spencer- 
ville. Reared as he was to the life of a farmer, he pursued this vocation 
after reaching his majority and becarhe the owner of forty acres of good land 
in Jackson township. In 1891 he sold this tract and bought eighty acres in 
Newville township, to the cultivation of which he devoted his attention until 
igo2, in February of which year he sold his farm and moved to Auburn. In 
January, 1903, Mr. Wyatt engaged in the coal business in this city, to which 
he has since devoted his attention and in which he has been rewarded with 
very creditable success. He carries a complete line of hard and soft coal and 
coke and is prompt and reliable in his deliveries to the trade. i\ man of good 
business judgment and the strictest integrity, he has won and retains to a 
notable degree the confidence of the people and, because of his sterling quali- 
ties and genial manner, he is popular in the circles in which he moves. 

On March 8, 1885. Mr. Wyatt was married to Jane McKinley, who 
was born in 1862 in Ashland county. Ohio, being brought the same j'ear to 
DtKalb county, Indiana, by her parents, William and Sarah (Roniine) Mc- 
Kinlev, the former of whom was a second cousin of President i\lcKinlev. 



748 DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 

Her parents were residents of Jackson township, this county, for many years, 
but in later Hfe removed to Butler township, where they spent their last 
days. Mr. McKinley was born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, on January 
22, 1820, and his death occurred on February 6, 1896, at the age of seventy- 
six years. He was a good neighbor, kind and considerate to all and was gen- 
erous in his aid to others. His first wife, Mary Shinneman. became the 
mother of four children, and his second wife, to whom he was married on 
January 9, 1851. was born in Putnam county, Ohio, on September 11, 1830, 
and died on April 21, 1900. She became the mother of twelve children, of 
whom eight are living. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt have Ix-en born three children: Franklin 
Dale, born December 30. 1885. married May Milliman. and tliey have three 
children, Violet Marie, Charles Cecil and Harry Richard ; lea May, born May 
4, 1887, is the wife of Fordyce Newton, of Vuburn ; Myrtle, born December 
20, 1889, is at home with her parents. Since May, 1911, Fordyce Newton 
has been a partner with Mr. W yatt in the coal business, although his per- 
sonal attention is given t(i hi- nwn trade as :i machinist. Fraternally, Mr. 
Wyatt is a member nf the Knights (if I'ythias. 

Mr. Wvatt has always lieen enterprising and pul)!ic spirited and ready 
at all times to lend his influence to measures and nidvements h;iving for their 
(il)ject the welfare of liis fellowmeii. His cli;iracter has always been above 
rei>roacli, his word as sacred as his liond and :dl who know him spuak in high 
praise of his sterling Cjualities of manhood and citizenship. He lias lived 
wisely and his friends, who are legion, umte in the earnest prayer that he ma\- 
he s|)ared many years to bless the world. 



SILAS NODINE. 



Agriculture has been the true source of man's dominion on earth since 
the primal existence of labor and been the pivotal industry that has controlled, 
for the most part, all the fields of action to which his intelligence and energy 
have been devoted. Among this sturdy element of DeKalb county whose 
labors have profited alike themselves and the community in which they live 
is the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch, and in view 
of the consistent life record lived by the subject since coming to this section 
of the country, it is particularly fitting that the following short record of his 
career be incorporated in a book of this nature. 



DEKALB COUNTY, 



749 



Silas Nodine, one of the successful farmers and pro,ijressive citizens of 
Wilmington township, was born in Connecticut on November ig, 1848, and 
is the son of Hiram and Rebecca (Miller) Nodine, both of whom also were 
natives of the Nutmeg state. The family ancestral history is traced back 
through a nunil)er of generations to luigland and thence back to France, 
where the family originated. The subject's great-grandfather was Elias 
Nodine, who married a lady of nobility, and to whom was born a son, John, 
who married Laura Pearce on October 23, 1825. Among their children was 
Hiram Nodine, the subject's father, who was born near Sharon, Litchfield 
county, Connecticut, on April 7, 1827. John Nodine, the subject's grand- 
father, came from Sharon, Connecticut, in 1846, and located in L^nion, now 
Grant township, DeKalb county, Indiana, entering a tract of land in section 
12, which he cleared and where he built a home, spending the rest of his days 
there. In addition to the cultivation of the soil, lie also did considerable 
surveying and was an important factor in the earl\- life of the communitv. 
While helping his brother, Joseph, survey, he took cold, from the effects of 
which he died. The brother, Joseph, referred to, was county surveyor during 
the fifties. Hiram Nodine, who was reared in Connecticut, was married on 
January 31, 1848, to Rebecca Miller, whose birth occurred in Connecticut on 
August 20, 1826, and to them were born four children, Silas, born November 
ig, 1848; Laura, born May 26, 1850, and Benjamin and John, twins, who 
were born on December 2, 185 1. The mother of these last named children 
died at their birth. Hiram Nodine was a blaster in the iron mines near his 
home, in which he did all the blasting until 1848, when he and his family 
came to DeKalb county, locating on the southwest ([uarter of the southwest 
quarter of section 12, Grant township, near his father. The long journey 
from the New England state to Indiana was made through the lake and 
thence by canal to Fort Wayne and by stage to Waterloo. There Hiram 
Nodine followed farming, buying more land as he was prospered until event- 
ually he owned two hundred acres. He was a man of good intellectual attain- 
ments and during his early days he taught school two winters, .\fter the 
death of his first wife Hiram Nodine returned to Connecticut, where he 
worked one summer in the mines and then returned to W^aterloo, where, on 
November 21, 1853, he married Mary Nodine, the daughter of Benjamin and 
Julana Nodine. She was born in New York state and came here with her 
parents in 1844, locating on the southwest quarter of section 12. Later her 
parents sold their farni and moved to Branch county, Michigan, where they 
lived a number of years and then bought a farm east of Fremont in the south- 



750 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

west corner of Clear Lake township, Steuben county, Indiana, where they 
spent the balance of their lives. To Hiram Nodine's second marriage were 
born the following children: Albert, born October 5, 1854, died at the Sol- 
diers' Home at Marion, Indiana, on January 15, 1906; Ann Melissa, born 
September 27, 1856, died on July 29, 1869: Emeline, born June 30, 1858, is 
the wife of A. C. Jackson, and they live in Michigan ; William Jefferson, born 
April 1,0, i860, who is represented elsewhere in this work ; Mary Marilla, 
1x)m December 12, i86i, died on October 31, t868, from the effects of 
falling from a tree to]) that had been cut down; Oplielia, born .August 21. 
1863, died on September 12, 1873; Oeorge, born April 25. 1865, is a manu- 
facturer of cement work at Waterloo; Charles, born June 13, 1867, lives on 
a farm near Waterloo in Smitlifield township; Orasmus, born January 24, 
1869, lives in California; Dora, born January 19. 1870, is the wife of John 
Shaw, and lives in Oklahoma; Amos, born January 2, 1873, lives in Water- 
loo; Richard, born August 31. 1874, died January 31. 1875; Henry, born 
November 30, 1875, is employed in W. J. Nodine's mills at Waterloo; Cl)loe, 
born June 6, 1877. died on May 2, 1892. The father of these children died on 
October 11. 1902, and his second wife passed away on January 30. 1885. 
Hiram Nodine was a man of strong cliaracter and strict integrit\' of word 
and action, and during his long residence in this locality he always com- 
manded the fullest measure of popular esteem because f)f his upriglit life and 
splendid industry. 

Silas Nodine, the immediate subject of this sketch, received his education 
in the common schools of DeKalb county, and was reared to the life of a 
farmer, a pursuit which he has never forsaken, having early determined that 
to the husbandman there was afforded an independence and a guarantee of 
success which is offered by no other vocation. In this decision he slunved 
good judgment, for he has been to a gratifying degree successful in his agri- 
cultural efforts, and has become the owner of two hundred and forty acres 
of most desirable land in Wilmington township, to the cultivation of which 
he gives his undivided attention. He carries on a general line of farming 
and also gives some attention to the breeding and raising of live stock, in 
both of which he exercises sound judgment and wise discrimination, and 
among his fellow agriculturists he is considered an uji-to-date and enterpris- 
ing farmer. His place is well improved in every resjiect, being kept in .good 
repair and in all regards he exhibits a modern and progressive dis,position, 
adopting new metiiods where their superiority over old methods has been 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 75 1 

denaojist rated, the result l)einj^ that he has dlitaiiied the niaximun] of results 
from his efforts. 

In 1883 ^Ir. Nodiue was married t<i hiiiiua Knavel, the daughter of 
(korge and Susana (Myers) Knavel. who were early .settlers of DeKall) 
county, having come here from Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Nodine have heen 
born the following children: John B., Walter. Andrew J.. Willis R., Henry 
D.. Goldie Marie and Silas H. 

Politically, Mr. Nodine lias been a life-long supporter of the Republi- 
can party and aside from the office of supervisor, which he held for a number 
of years, he has never held public office of any nature, preferring to devote 
his time and attention to his private business affairs. In all public affairs 
Mr. Nodine takes a deep interest. He unquestionably possesses the qualities 
which typify the gentleman and because of his upright life he has won and 
retains the friendship and respect of all who know him. 



MILES T. WELLER. 



Individual enterprise, which is justly the boast of the American people, 
is strikingly exhibited in tlie career of the gentleman whose name forms the 
introduction of this sketch, for the well imjjroxed and well cultivated farm 
and splendid home which he has accumulated l)y his own efforts would indi- 
cate that he has let no obstacle thwart him. He has been a very active man 
in the development of his community, and the part which he has taken in its 
grow til entitles him to a place in his county's history. 

Miles J. Weller was born September 26. 1861. on the old home place in 
Butler township. DeKalb county, Indiana, the son of Joseph and Caroline 
(Johnson) Weller. The father was born October 23, 1828. in Rockingham 
county. X'irginia. and the mother was born in Champaign county. Ohio, on 
April 27,. 1832. When but a baby. Joseph Weller was taken by his parents 
to Clark county, Ohio, where he was reared and was there married. In i860 
he and his wife came to DeKalli county. Indiana, and settled on a farm in sec- 
tion 19, Butler township. To them were born two children, Mrs. Mary E. 
Hogue, who lives in Noble county, Indiana, and the subject. Joseph Weller 
was a life-long farmer and in their old age he and his wife were tenderl\- 
cared for by the subject and his sister. The father died on August 30, itji2. 
and the mother on June 12. igi2. Josejih Weller was a Democrat in politics. 



752 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

A very good education was secured by the subject in the common schools 
of the county, he rounding out his studies with a two years' course in the 
Auburn high school. He was thus equipped to take up the work of teaching, 
which he engaged in for about eight years, in the district schools of Keyser 
and Butler townships. However, pedagogical work proving too confining 
he was compelled to relinciuish his duties as an educator and turn to agricul- 
ture. As a tiller of the soil he has gained a reputation second to none, and 
his one-hundred-and-six-acre farm, with its comfortable home and substan- 
tial farm buildings, is a monument to his thoroughness and intelligence in ap- 
plying modern methods to his work. 

Miles J. Weller has been twice married, first to Emma Houser, on Janu- 
ary 21, 1883, the daughter of David and Salome Houser, natives of Pennsyl- 
vania. To this union were born three children : Mrs. Artie Pfund, who lives 
in Butler township: Frank li\es on a farm in Butler township; Ralph is de- 
ceased. The second wife of Mr. Weller, whom he married in 1891, was 
Effie Hartung, the daughter of Lewis and Kathren (Karton) Hartung. The 
two grandchildren in whom the subject takes great pride are Leona and Floyd. 
Politically, Mr. Weller is independent, voting for the men whom he con- 
siders best qualified for the offices regardless of their political views. 



FREDERICK CINDER. 



The life history of Frederick Cinder, one of the well known and highly 
esteemed venerable veterans now living in honorable retirement in Wilming- 
ton township, shows what industry, good habits and staunch citizenship will 
accomplish in the battle of acquiring property and rearing children to lead 
steady and respectable lives. His life has been one replete with duty well 
and conscientiously performed in all its relations. He has not been a man to 
shrink from his duty, however irksome or dangerous, whether in the role of 
private citizen or on the field of battle, and it is such traits that win in life's 
affairs. He has come down to us from the pioneer period and has noted 
the wondrous transformation from that time to this, playing well his part in 
the drama of civilization. He has been an advocate of wholesome living and 
cleanliness in politics as well, and has ever been outspoken in his antipathy 
to wrong doings, whether by the humble citizen or by the incumbent of in- 
fluential offices. 

Frederick Cinder was born in Ashland county, Ohio, on the 25th day of 



3^^ 

u 



z^^) 
^ 




^^mm 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 7-53 

April. 1843, and is a son of Jacob and .Mari^aret (MilKri (iindcr. hotli of 
whom were natives of (Termanv. 'I'he subject's .<;randfallier. Jacob riindcr, 
also a native of the fatherland, came to the L'nited States when \u< son, Jacob, 
was l)Ut eleven vears old and settled in Ashhmd c.innty, Ohi... where they re- 
mained until the family came to DeKalb county, Indiana, in 1854, and here 
the subject's father lived until his death, followini,' farming, in which he met 
with a fair degree of success. To him and his wife were born the following 
children: Katherine, P. D.. two who died in infancy. F.va. .Mary. Cieorge, 
Matilda, Sarah, Louis and the subject. 

Frederick (hnder received his education in the common school.s of Ohio 
and Indiana, and was reared to the life of a farmer, a vocation which he has 
never forsaken and in which he has met with a very gratifying degree of suc- 
cess. He was also engaged for thirt\- years in the sawmill busines.s, being a 
good judge of timber and an expert in this line, and in this as in his farmmg 
operations he has been prospered. He is the owner of two hundred acres of 
splendid land in Wilmington township and has been guided by up-to-date 
ideas in the management of his farm, the condition of the building, fences 
and fields indicating him to lie a nia.n of good judgment and wise discrim- 
ination in the management of his estate. 

In 1801 at the outbreak of the .Southern rebellion. .^Ir. (iinder enlisted 
as a private in Company F, I-'orty-fourth Rec;imcnt Indiana \"olunteer In- 
fantrv. luider the command of Colonel Reed, and the regimen.t. l)eing as- 
signed to the Army of the Cumberland, was ]ilnnged into the midst of the 
struggle at the outstart. Mr. (iinder took part in many cf the most hotly- 
contested battles of that great struggle, including the sanguinary conflicts at 
Fort Donelson, Shiloh. Corinth, Stone River, Mission Rid.ge, Perrysville 
and Chickamauga, than which there were no more important battles fought 
in the middle west section of the Southern territory. Mr. Cinder served 
three years and two months valiantly and courageously and was mustered 
out at Chattanooga, Tennessee, in December, 1864, with a military record 
of which he is justifiably proud. 

Mr. Cinder has been twice married, first in i^('^ U< hanily McDaniel, 
the daughter of David and Nancy (Gunsenhauser ) AlcDaniel. both of whom 
were members of old famihes of DeKalb county. To this imif>n were born 
the following children: Jacob Sherman. John Philip, Maggie, deceased, 
Bryan and Hiram, twins. David O., Nora. Ceorge and Fred, deceased. After 
the death of his first wife Mr. (iinder married I^lizabelh llollinger, the 
(48) 



754 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

widow of George Hollinger. Politically, Mr. Ciinder gives his support to the 
Prohibition party, believing that the liquor question is the most important 
issue before the American people, and he is standing firmly for his convictions 
on this subject. His religious connection is with the United Brethren church, 
in the success of which he is deeply interested and to the support of wliich 
he contributes. .\11 worthy enterprises for the general advancement of the 
community find in him an earnest advocate and liberal patron, antl he has 
always gi\en liis influence and aid to e\ery progressivt- measure for the good 
of iiis ffllow men. He is in e\ery resi)ect an upright, energetic man. keenly 
ali\e to e\ery interest which alTecls the growth and development of liis com- 
munity and has every reason to l>e jjroud of liis success and of the prominent 
place he holds in the public esteem. 



FOREST .\. HIXSON'. 



-Among tlie men of intUience in DeKalh county, wlio Iiave the interest 
of their locality at heart and who have led consistent lives, thereby gaining 
definite success along their chosen lines, is Forest .\. Hixson. a successful 
farmer of Butler township, having there a valuable and highly productixe 
farm, which he manages with the care and discretion tliat stanijis him as ;i 
twentieth-century agriculturist of the highest order. 

Forest A. Hixson was born February 19, 1877, and is the son of iiennett 
and Sarah F. ( Knott ) Hixson. l)otli being natives of Ohio. To the-~e parents 
were born six children, namely: James O.. deceased; Mabel M. was born 
November 9, 1874, and resides on the farm; the subject; Roy and Ra\'. twins, 
are deceased; Tula V., who was born .August 21, 1886. was married December 
24. K)i3. to Theodore Rhodes. The subject's father, who was one of the 
earliest settlers of DeKalb county, died on July 7, 1897. and his widow now 
makes her home with her son, Forest A., on the home farm. 

Receiving a good common school education, the subject of this l)rief 
review engaged in farming and lias made this his life work. He is at present 
cultivating two hundred and forty acres of choice land in Cutler townsliip, 
which ]v<. owned jointlv by the subject, his mother and two sisters. 

( )n huniarv u, loon, occurred the marriage of the subject to .Kmanda 
Houser, daughter of .\dam and Catherine ( Bebber ) Houser, both natives of 
Pennsvlvania. To this union have been born three children: Ralph, de- 



DEKAI.B COUNTY. INDIANA. 755 

ceased; Belva, who was horn Octohcr j(>. kjoj. and .\lar\- K.. ulio \\a> l)orn 
June 29, 1907. 

The farm now occupied hy Mr. Hixsun is the old home i)lacc, it heing 
called "the old James Reynolds farm," James Reynolds, the snl)ject's great- 
grandfather, having purcha.sed it in 1858. and the farm has lieen continnonslv 
since in the possession of some members of the familv. 

A Democrat in his political faith. Mr. Hix.son has gi\en loyal sujiporl to 
that party, although never havin;;- hcen desirous of ijolitical iionors. prel'errim^ 
to limit his activities alont; thai line to casting his vote for the principles he 
thought right. 



JOSEPH PEPPLE. 



One of the sterling citizens of DeKall) county is Joseph Pepple. a name 
well known, especially in Butler township, where he has a splenditl and 
attractively kept landed estate, and being regarded as one of the leading agri- 
culturists of his community. As a result of his industry, integrity and genuine 
worth he is held in high esteem liy the people of this vicinity, mainly as a 
result of his principles of modern farming and progressive and upright citizen- 
ship. 

Joseph Pepple was born on July 4. 18(17. in Butler township. DeKalb 
county, the son of Joseph and Addeline ( llahn) Pei)i)le. His parents, at an 
early date, came from their native state of (3hio ;uid were among the 
pioneers who fought and concpiered the hardships and ])erils of those da_\s. 
To the elder Joseph and Addeline I'epple were born seven children, namely: 
Mrs. Frances Lung li\-es in DeKalb count \ ; (ieorge and Jessie are deceased: 
Mrs Elbe Thrush lives in DeKalb county: Mary is deceased: Joseph: ATrs. 
Leah Fitch lives in Seattle. Washington. 

At such times as he could be s])ared f 
home place, the subject attended the connn 
reaching his majority he was married, on .\c 
daughter of .\lanson and Henrietta ( Surf 
York and she of Indiana. To the subject ;i 
dren : Mrs. \'iola Tinil)erlan lives in Allen (. 
lives in bUitler township; Mrs. Annie Rugnian 
John Griffin is a resident of Allen county; Jessie lives in Butler tow nsb 

The subject is now actively engaged in tilling the one hundred .and uii 



nmi the 


W( 


)rk 


of farming 


on the 


on scli.M 


.Is 


of 


the county. 


.\fter 


jveniber 


-7 


, :8' 


g5. to I'elia 


(iriftin. 


usi r,v\ 


fl^n 


, bt 


; ;i native 


f Xew 


ind wife 


h;i 


ive 


been born i\\ 


,c chif- 


■ountw 1 


nd 


iana 


.: Mrs. Effie 


Griffin 


n is also 


li\ 


ing 


in DeKalb county ; 



■J^i) DEKALB COLNTV, l.XDIAXA. 

seven acres of his splendid farm, (iodd Imildings have been added by Mr. 
Pepple and his home is a model amcjng the good homes of this community. 
Along one side of his possessions runs an interurban line, which not only adds 
to the value of his holdings, but is a great crmvenience. The Rejjublican 
party claims Mr. Pepple's suffrage. 



FRANCIS A. HOGUE. 



Dependent very largely upon his own resources from his early }ouih, 
Francis A. Hogue, of Butler township, has attained no insignihcant success, 
and though he may have, like most men of affairs, encountered obstacles 
and met with reverses, he has pressed steadily forward, ever willing to work 
for the end he has in \ie\\ . His tenacity and fortitude are due, no doubt, 
in a large measure to the worthy traits inherited from his sterling ancestors, 
whose high ideals and correct princii)les he has ever sought to [)erpetuate in 
all the relations of life. 

Francis A. Hogue is a native son of the old Floosier state, having been 
born in \\'ashington township, Allen county, Indiana, on February 12, 1849, 
and is a son of John and Cornelia (Prey) Hogue, both of whom were 
nati\'es of the state of New York. The subject's father came from his 
nati\-e state In ( )hi<> w it!i his parent-^ in 1 nyhnod. and Mrs. Hogue also moved 
to the Buckeye state in girlhood. They were married in the latter state 
and e\entuallv, in 1842, established their permanent home in DeKalb county, 
which at that time was but thinly settled. He located in I'.utler tnwnshii), 
where the\- remained for man}' }'ears, or until 1879, when they moved to 
Nebraska. Eventually they returned to DeKalb county, where their deaths 
occurred. They were the parents of seven children : Mary A. ; Ellen C, 
deceased; the subject of this sketch; John H., James W., Claudius F.. de- 
ceased, and Merritt. 

The subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools of 
.DeKalb county and has always fc.lb.wed agricultural pursuits. He is the 
owner of one hundred acres of land in I'.utler township, to which he gives 
his undivided attention and in the operation of which he has met with 
splendid success. Early in life he established those habits of industry and 
frugality which have assured his success in later years and by close api)lica- 
tinn and perseverance he has risen to a high place in the ranks of the farmers 
of his county, being regarded today as an enterprising and tvpicn.l farm- r of 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. '/},•] 

the advanced class. 11 is supericM- system nf tillas^e, the good order of his 
fences, the well-cared- tor condition of his lields, the commodious and com- 
fortable buildings all demonstrate his successful management and wise dis- 
crimination in the care ^A his ijro])erty. He carefully rotates his crops so as 
to maintain the fertilit_\- of the soil and i> not slow to take ad\antage of the 
most advanced ideas relati\e to agriculture, heing up-to-date and thorough 
in his methods. 

On the 3d day of January, iSS_>, Air. Ilogue was united in marriage to 
Hannah Kugler, daughter of Antlmny and Margaret ( Gresh ) Kugler. iioth 
of these parents were natives of Germany, coming from the fatherland to 
the United States in 1853, settling in Noble county, Indiana, where they 
spent the remainder of their lives, devoting their energies to farming pur- 
suits. The father died there se\'eral years ago and is survived by his widow. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Hogue have been born three children, namely: Anna, who 
married William W'erning, and they now reside at Lima, Ohio; Dolpha, the 
wife of James Marsh, of Butler townshi]), this coiiuty. and Francis, who 
lives, in Auburn and who married Zella Marsh. 

Politically, the subject of this sketch is an earnest achcicate of Demo- 
cratic policies, and ever since attaining his majority has gi\'en that party his 
stanch allegiance. He has no aspirations for public office,' but maintains an 
intelligent interest in the public affairs of his community, gi\ing his support 
at all times to e\erv movement for the ]nii)lic adxancement. A man of keen 
discernment and <iiund laisiness judgment, bis advice is often -nought in mat- 
ters of business and he is considered a man of nmre than ordinary attain- 
ments. A wide reader of current affairs and a thoughtful obserxer nf men 
and events, he keeps in close touch w'ith the issues of the times and is con- 
sidered one of the most substantial and influential citizens of the locality 
which is honored bv his residence. 



OLIVER P. GROGG. 



lan 



It is always pleasant and profitable to contemplate the career ( 
who has won a definite goal in life, whose career has been such as to com- 
mand the honor and respect of liis fellnw citizen... .Such, in brief, is the 
record of the well known agriculturist whose name heads this sketch, than 
whom a more whole-souled or popular man it would be difficult t<i find within 
the limits of DeKalb countv. where he has long maintained his home and 



where he has labored nut mily fur hi> own in(li\'i(hia! achaiicenient and that of 
his immediate family, l)iit also for the inipro\ement of the entire community, 
whose interests he has ever had at heart. 

()li\er I'. ( irogg-. one of the enler])ri>ir.w and |}ulilic-s]iirited citizens of 
Keyser townshij;), DeKalh county, Indiana, was born on July i. 1865, in the 
northeast part of the township, and is a son of Adam and luuil}- L. ( King) 
Grogg, who are mentioned specitically elsewhere in this work in the sketch of 
the subject's brother, Isaac Grogg. The subject's father died when he was 
about six months old. after which his mother moved to Auljurn. and when 
Oliver P. was al)out se\ en and one-half \ears old his mother became tlie wife 
of Daniel Lowei- and mo\ed to Xoble county, this state. Mr. Lower died 
there and his w idow came back to DeKalb county, where she e\entually be- 
came the wife of Daniel Thomas, of Corunna, who is represented elsewhere 
in this work. 

The subject of this sketch sitent his early years with his mother, kjoking 
after her interests carefully tluring her widow years, and then after his mar- 
riage, which occurrefl in iScjo. he engaged in farming in Xolile count}, carry- 
ing on that pursuit there for eight years. On Octolier iS. i8c)S. he returned 
to DeKalb county, settling near the old home farm, where he now lives and 
to the cultivation and development of wdiich he has de\oted himself assidu- 
oush with \er\- gratifying results. In iijoo he Iniilt a new residence, re- 
luodelled the barn, and hns in other ways brought the place u]( to a high 
standard of development and improvement. Of the old barn that stood on 
this farm, it is notewortln- that the subject's father painted this barn when 
it was originally built liy his fatlier. the paint being made from red clay found 
near the l)arn, and which was ground and l)urned and finally nuxed with oil. 
Though crude in method of manufacture, the result w,i^ highly satisfactory 
anil t1us ])aint lasted until the liarn was remodelled in ii;in. Mr. Crogg is 
the owner of one hundretl and twenty acres of good land, and, owing to his 
twentieth-century methods and bis wise discrimination in the rotation of 
crops and other advanced features of agriculture, he has been enabled to 
realize very gratifying returns for his labors. He raises all the crops com- 
mon to this section of the country and gives some attention to the breeding of 
li\'e stock, in both departments being considered a 
sound discrimination. 

In 1890 Mr. Grogg married Mary Frantz, thi 
Marguerite (Amstutz) Frantz. and a sister of J 
sented elsewdiere in this work. To them has been 



lan 1 


)f gO( 


1(1 judgment and 


daui 


^hter 


of Ghristian and 


)hn 


l-'rant: 


z. who is re])re- 


orn ; 


;i dan.! 


■hter, Maude A.. 



DEKALB COUNTY. 



759 



who is the wife of Matthew Sleasman, of Auburn, this counts. Mr. ' irogj^- is 
a man of a high degree of intelligence, lieing well read on a wide r.uige of 
sul)jects, and is an interesting conxersationalist and a forcible s]K'aker. He 
is thornughly ali\e to the current (|uestiiin- nf the dav. nu which he holds 
decided opinions, and is not afraid to stand staunchly hy his li(ine>l cunxic- 
tions. He is a man of fine i|ua]itics of character and is deserving of the high 
standing which he enjovs. 



MARIOX S. DkLOXC. 

All callings, whether humble or exalted, may be productixe of some mea- 
sure of success, if enterprise and industry, couiiled with a well directed ]nn- 
pose, form the motive power and force of the person directing the same, and 
in no case is this fact more apparent than in agricultural pur.suits. It i- a well 
authenticated fact that success comes as the result of legitimate and well ap- 
plied energy, unflagging determination and |)erse\erance a^ well as the above 
enumerated cpialities. When a com-se <>f action is once decided on these 
attributes are essential. Sncces- is ne\ er known to smile njion the idler or 
dreamer and she never courts the loafer, only those who ha\e diligentl\' sought 
her favor being crowned with her blessings. In tracing the history of the 
pros]ierous and intluential agricidtiu'ist whose name forms the caption of this 
biograjihical re\icw. we find that the al o\c named elements ha\e entered 
largely into his niake-u]) and therefore we are not sin-])rised at the large and 
ever-growing success which he has attained. 

Marion S. DeLong was born in Richland township. DcKalb county. Imli- 
ana. on Augu.st 28, 1868, the son of Henry V. and Jane ( .McC'rum) Del ong. 
she being a native of Canada and he of ()hio. The father came to this county 
with his parents wdien he was (piite a small l)oy and they settled in llutler 
township. They later moved to I'airfield townshi]i where he was married. 
after their marriage they lived in Richland township and died in i8S(). The 
wife is still living on the old home i.lacc ui Richland township. Her lither 
built the first school house in the town of Auburn. I le nexer lixed in .\uburn. 
but settled and died ui Richland l<.wnship. To Henry and Jane Del.ong were 
born four children: Marion .'^.. the immediate subject: Alice. Zoe and 
Clarence. 

The subject of this sketch was educated in the DeKalb county common 
schools, \fter completing his studies he taught school one year, then took 



760 DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. 

up farming and has lieen continuously since acti\el\- engaged in that jnirsuit. 
in which he has achieved marked success, he owning at this time one luinche.l 
and twelve acres of valuable land in Fairfield township. In 1900 the subject 
was united in the bonds of matrimony with Matilda E. Wittig, daughter of 
George and Elizabeth (Rheinhart) Wittig, both natives of Germanv. who 
came to Erie county, Ohio, and later to DeKalb county, in 1864 and settled 
in Fairfield township, where they lix-ed all their days. To Mr. and Mrs. De- 
Long have been born three children, Mildred, Helen and Audre}-. 

Fraternally. Mr. DeLong is a member of the Knights of P}thias at 
Corunna, and of the Masonic lodge at Waterloo and the chapter at Auburn, 
while politically, he is quite active in his support of the principles of the Re- 
publican party, he ha^•ing been for some time precinct committeeman for Fair- 
field township and a member of the county organization. His religious affilia- 
tions are with the Lutheran church. Wrs. DeLong is a member of the Pxthian 
Sisters and the Order of the Eastern .Star. 



RAY C, DTLGARD. 



The gentleman whose name heads this paragraph is widel_\- known as 
one of the honored citizens of Auburn, Indiana. He has lived in DeKalb 
county all his life and for a numl)er of }'ears has been prominently identified 
with the commercial interests of this community. His well-directed efforts in 
the practical affairs of life, his cajiable management of his business interests 
and his sound judgment ha\e brMugln to him ])rosperity and his life ileninn- 
strates what ma}- l)e accomplished 1)\- an_\ man uf energy and amljitinn wlm 
is not afraid to work and lias the ]ierse\'erance to continue his labors in the 
face of any discouragements which may seem to arise. In all the relations 
of life he has commanded the respect and confidence of those with whom he 
has been brought in contact and a l)iogra])hical histiMy of DeKall) county 
would not be complete without ;i record of his career. 

Ray C. Dilgard, a successful furniture dealer and undertaker at Auburn, 
is a native of DeKall) county, having been born about two and one-half miles 
west of Waterloo in Grant township, on May 23, i88t, and is a son of Simim 
and Eliza (Goodwin) Dilgard. The subject's paternal grandparents, Reulx-n 
.and Lovina ( Shaffer) Dilgard, were residents of Mehackinville, Wayne 
county, Ohio, where he followed the trade of a miller. He came to DeKall) 
county in 1847 ^'""^^ entered a homestead in Grant township, after which he 




RAY C. DILGARD 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. jftl 

returned to his Ohio home, where he remained uniil 1S57, when in- eame U< 
his Indiana farm and established his permanent hnme. Tiie >ul)ject"s muilier. 
Eliza Goodwin, was horn in Smilhlield townsiiiji. ilns cnunty, and was a 
daughter of David and Susanna 1 Keefer) (ioddwin. whn came in an early 
day to this county from Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. Simon Uil- 
gard. who has followed the pursuit of agriculture all his life, is still living in' 
Grant township, one of the honored an.d respected citizens of his comnnmity. 

Ray C. Dilgard was reared on his father's farm until the age of sixteen 
years, assisting in the farm work during the summer months and attending 
the common schools in winter, ile later entered the high school at Waterloo, 
where he graduated in iSgg, and afterwards was a student at the Tri-State 
Normal School at Angola. He then became associated with the International 
Harvester Company as traveHng salesman, with headcjuarters at Sioux City, 
Iowa. A year later he joined T. C Xortlnvall & Company, dealers in a dif- 
ferent line of farming implements, w illi lieadfjuarters at Omaha, Nebraska, 
with whom he remained as a traveling salesman. Tiring of the road, Mr. 
Dilgard then entered a school of embalming at Chicago, taking a full course, 
after which, in January. 1905. he came to .Xulmrn and foianed a business part- 
nership with Ben K. Adams, undertaker and dealer in furniture. In \])ri! 
of the following year Mr. Dilgard bought his partner's interest, and since 
then has continued the business alone. The business now cdulrolled l)y Mr. 
Dilgard was established in Auburn about fifty year> ago l)y a relali\e. C. C. 
Shaffer, and is pi-obaljly the oldest estal)lished ])usiness house in the city. 
Thoroughly qualified for his duties as undertaker, Mr. Dilgard has handled 
his full share of the business in this line throtighout a large radius of sur- 
rounding country, while as a furniture dealer he is the leader in this section. 
His agreeable disposition, ])leasing address and splendid business ipialities 
have commended him to the good will of all v. ho h;'ve had, dealings with him 
and he enjoys a large and lo)al circle of friends. 

Fraternally. Mr. Dilgard belongs lo the I'ree and .\ccepted Masons, the 
Independent Order of (Jdd Fellows, Knights of the Maccabees. Benevolent 
and Protective Order of bdks. Fraternal Order of Fagles, Kniglits of the 
Golden Eagle, Modern Woodmen of .America, and the Commercial Club, in 
all of which he has taken an active interest and is an appreciative member. 
Religiously, he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. 
to which they give an earnest support and contribute liberally. 

On June 14, 1905, Ray Dilgard was married to Katherine Smith, of 
Albion, Indiana, daughter of Charles L. and Melissa CBeck) Smith. Mr. 



"62 DEKALB COUXTV. INDIANA. 

and Mrs. Dilgard move in the best -social circles of the city and are deser\edlv 
popular. Charles L. Smith was a native of Ohio and his wife of Albion. 
Noble county. Indiana. He came to Indiana and liere followed farn.inj;^ 
throughout his active life, being now retired. To him and his wife were born 
three children, namely: Leone, the wife of Edward Hicks, of .\uburn: Mav, 
the wife of Walter Bonhan, of Albion; Katherine, Mrs. Dilgard. The latter 
is a licensed embalmer and works witli Mr. Dilgard on all his calls. 



ALVA F. GROGG. 

One of the best known and nio>i enterprising of the younger agricul- 
turists of DeKalb county, Indiana, is Aha F. (irogg, now in the \erv prime 
of life and usefulness, and his influence as an honorable, upright citizen is pro- 
ductive of much good upon all with whom he comes in contact. His past 
success gi\-es assurance of something yet to come, and he is evidently destined 
to continue a potent factor for substantial good for manv years to come. 

Al\-a F. Grogg is a nati\-e son of the old Hoosier .state and of the county 
in wliich he iiow resides, his l^irth ba\ing occurred on his father's old home- 
stead, on July 3, 1882. His parent-^ were ]\'ter FL and Maiy J. (Baker) 
Grogg, the former a native of DeKalb county. Indiana, and the latter of Stark 
county, Ohio. The Grogg family is numl)ercd among the earliest settlers in 
DeKalb county and bore their part in the great task which presented itself in 
the settlement, clearing and opening up of the new country to civilization. 
To Peter H. and Mary ]. Grogg were born ten children, namely: Oscar, of 
Keyser township. tlii> count\ ; \\'iLon. of Key>er townshi]): Marion and Lettie 
are deceased; Alva F., the subject of this sketch, is next in order of birth; 
Mrs. Dora Draper, of Richland township, this county; I^lmer. who operates a 
farm in Union townshiiJ, this county; Mrs. Lottie Close, of Grant township; 
Gladys and Mabel remain at home with their parents. 

Alva F. Grogg was reared under the parental roof and secured a good, 
practical education in the common schools. Reared to the life of a farmer, he 
early showed his wisdom in maintaining his connection with that basic in- 
dustry and has been for many }ears numbered among the substantial and suc- 
cessful farmers of the county. Flis ability and high character were recog- 
nized when, in June, njij. Mr. Grogg was .api^oinled su]3erintendent of the 
county farm, assuming the duties of his office on the ist of September follow- 
ing. Fie has under his direction three hundred and twenty acres of land, in 



INDIANA. 








703 


juil,t^iiienl 


and w 


ISC (lis 


criniii 


laiiiin. 


fad i< 111 i)f 


llie 


mnnty 


i)rtici. 


als, to 



DEKALB COLXTY. 

the handling of which he has shown good 
managing the property to the entire satis 
whom he is responsible. 

On April 29, 1905, Alva F. Grogg was united in marriage with Ada R. 
Smurr, the daughter of William and Sarah (Morr ) Smurr. both of w liom 
were natives of DeKalb county. T(^ Mr. and Mrs. < irogg were horn two 
children, Edward W. and Edgar I'., twins, whose liirth occurred on March 
14, 1909. Politically. Mr. (irogg gi\es his su|)pi)rt to the I\e]niblican ])artv, 
though he has been too bus\- a man to have entertained any aspirations for 
office holding, his present position havmg come to him practically unsought 
at the earnest solicitation of those who felt that he was tlie right man for the 
place. He is not only a progressive farmer, hut is considered a.s ranking 
among the most enterprising of his contemporaries, interested in all that bene- 
fits the community and ali\c to the welfare nf his fellMwnien. lie has li\ed 
an honorable, upright life and enjoys the confidence anl esteem nf all who 
know him. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran church. 



WILLIAM CHRISTOPHER DIEH.M. 

.Any person who will inxestigate the facts in the case will be surprised to 
learn the great number of people nf ( iermanic descent now li\ing in the 
Lhiited States. LFnquestional)ly the greatest numlier of emigrants reacbin.i; 
the shores of the new world come from that nation, and statistics show that 
there is more Germanic blood in the United States than an>- other. This being a 
fact, it is easy to account for the jirosperity and moralit}' of this country. 
Not only that, but it will afford .m explanation 
by the ]ieople of our \ ast nation. Cennany i- 
remarkalvle universities, for its educated men. 
and for the industrw patience, intelligence. 
citizens. These qualities Iv.we been ])rouglit to 
and are now ))art and parcel of our wonderful 1 
economy, its adxancement in every branch ot 
love of country and home. 

William C. Diehm was born on February 16. 1864, about one and one- 
half miles south of his present farm in Richland township, DeKalb county, 
Indiana, and is the son of Peter and Margerite (Riess) Dichm. Peter 
Diehm, who w^as born in Gennany, came to the I'nited States w ith his parents 



tortile love. 


)t learnuig shown 


famous the ' 


ivorld over t,)r its 


for its poets 


and philosophers, 


uorality and 


sturdiness of its 


his country 1 


)\- the imuugrants. 


ation — its |iri 


igress in tlomestic 


material imi 


)ro\ement and its 



764 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

when about seven years of age, the family settling first on a farm in W'axne 
townshi]), Xiible county, Indiana, where the subject's father acciuired a fine 
forty-acre farm. Subsequently he sold that tract and moved to Richland 
township, buying his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres in 1854. 
The land was well improved, and ^Ir. Diehm continued his acti\e operation of 
the place, which is well fenced and drained and in all respects impro\ed in 
an up-to-date and practical manner. The suliject's father died on December 
II. 1913. at the age of eight\-se\'cn years five months. Margerite ( Riess ) 
Diehm. who also was born in the fatherland, came to .-\merica when about 
twenty-two years of age. and settled in Wayne township. Noble county, this 
state. Her death occurred in 1902. at the age of seventy-six years, on the old 
home farm. She was. in the true sense of the term, a help-mate to her hus- 
band in the accunndation of his material ]iossessions. working hard as his 
assistant, being a considerate neighbor, a dutiful wife, a kind and affectionate 
mother and dearly beloved by all who knew her. To this worthy couple were 
born nine children, namely: John, deceased: Mr.'^. Christiana Lash, who 
lives at Garrett, Indiana, and is the mother of six children: Sarali. deceased: 
Mrs. Anna \\'ells, of Nol)le county, who is the mother of fi\e children: Mrs, 
Katherine Craven, of Michigan : Mrs. Mary Ksesse. of near Kendallville. this 
state, and the mother of five children: \\'illiam C, the subject of this sketch, 
is the next in order of liirth; Fred, who is ;i retail clerk living at Kendalhille. 
married Lillie Sc|uires: Henr}-. a farmer in Lagrange county, this state, mar- 
ried Rose Gregg. 

A¥ilHam C. Diehm wa-^ reared 1)\ hi^ parent- and recei\e;l a gooil. prac- 
tical education in the schools of his hiMue township. He remained with his 
father until attaining his majority, when he took up the trade of carpentering, 
which he followed at different places during the following seventeen years. 
For four years he lived in Noble county, operating the old H inkle farm, and 
then came to Richland township, DeKalb county, where he bought forty acres 
of land, section 18, known as the Farrington farm, but retained possession 
of the forty acres already purchased. At the end of a }ear in Ke}ser town- 
ship he returned to his Richland township farm, and has since given his undi- 
vided attention to its operation. He built the present fine barn at this place 
in 1908. and has in other ways made many fine permanent improvements, the 
place ranking among the best in the township. Mr. Diehm is a good farmer 
in ever\' respect, giving attention to every detail of his work, and is in his 
relations w ith his neighbor^ a man of broad sympathies and kindly interest. 
holding the warm regard of all who know him. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 765 

Mr. Diehm was married on November 15, t88<S, to Rachel Lehncr, tlie 
daughter of Jacob J. and Suzanna (Treesb) I.ehner, the fmnier a iiati\e nf 
Germany, who came to the Ignited States in 1844. and tlie latter limn in Ohio. 
Mr. Lehner. who always followed farmin,<^ pursnits. came to DeK'alb county. 
settHng in Richland township, where his death occnrred in 187 :;. lie was sur- 
vived a number of years by his widow, whose deatli occmri'd ou January 3, 
T910. To Mr. and Mrs. Diehm have been born three children: Roy. a 
farmer. Mr-. Ivisa Huhlnian and Vern. who live at Kendallville. 

Politically, Mr. Diehm has qi\cn his earnest support to the Democratic 
party, and has been for many years nunibered among the influential men of 
Richland township. .\ T.utheran in his religious faith. Mr. Diehm is in 
hearty sympathy with all miira! movements, but is not personallv affiliated 
with any religious society. The record of testimony in his communitv is 
ample that he is a good citizen in the full sense of the term, worthv of all 
confidence, and ever doing worthily and well everything which he gives his 
attention. A hospitable man and cordially rc^ijonsixe (n all social claims, 
his home is well equipped and attractive to all who are in his list of friends. 



MELATN E. REYNOLDS. 

It is a well authenticated fact that success comes as the result of legitimate 
and well applied energy, imflagging determination and perseverance in a course 
of action when once decided u]ion. She is never known to smile upon the idler 
or dreamer and only the mefi who have diligently sought her favor are crowned 
with her ble.ssings. In tracing the history of the influential citizen of Corunna, 
Indiana, whose name forms the caption of this re\iew. it is [ilainly seen that 
the success which he enjoys has been won b}- commendable qualities and it is 
also his personal worth that has gained for him the high esteem of those who 
know him. 

Melx'in E. Reynolds-was born on May 31, 1S38, at Fairfield Center, 1 )e- 
Kalb county. Indiana, and is a son of Jerome and Barbara ( Eckert ) Reynolds. 
the father a native of Pennsylvania and the mother of Germany. Jerome 
Reynolds was brought from his native state to Ohio with his foster parents, 
and there grew to manhood. Plis wife, who had been born in Germany, was 
brought to this country at the age of eight months, her parents first settling 
in Pennsylvania, but later locating in Ohio, where, in young womanhood, she 
met and married Jerome Reynolds. In the spring of 1856 Mr. and Mrs. Rey- 



766 DEKALB COUXTV. IXDIAXA. 

nolds came to Fairfield Center. DeKalb county, where he followed his trade, 
that of cabinet-making, during the remainder of his life. He was a man of 
good habits, steady industry and stanch integrity and enjoyed the esteem and 
confidence of his community. His death occurred on May 24. 1884. and his 
wife died on March 4th of the same year. Mr. Reynolds ser\ed as postmaster 
at Fairfield Center continuously from 1864 to 1884. To him and his wife 
were born the following children. Ivilian. the wife of Daniel Lower, of South 
Dakota : Clarence M.. of Auburn : Meh in K.. the subject of this sketch : Walter 
T., of Corunna : \'irginia. the wife of Charles Bangs, of Richland township; 
Franklin G.. of Corunna. The father and mother of M. E. Reynolds had 
both been married prior to their union, and by his first wife Mr. Reynolds", 
was the father of three children. Elizabeth, deceased: Thomas, who was a 
member of Company .\. Eighty-eighth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantr) . 
during the Civil war. who is now deceased, and .\melia. deceased. H} her fi' st 
marriage Mrs. Reynolds was the mother of two children. Eolian and l.uella. 
both of whom are deceased. 

Melvin E. Reynolds attended the common schools of h^airfield township 
and then was a student in normal school for twn term-. Upon the completion 
of his education he took up caliinet-making. but did not follow that \ocation 
long, turning his attention to brick-making, which \dcation he followed for 
seven years. He then again entered the cabinet-making work in lorunna. 
which he followed for five years, and then took u]) caqientering and contract- 
ing, being thus employed imtil 1894. a period of se\en years, during which 
time he constructed many of the prominent and substantial dwellings and busi- 
ness houses in this locality. In 1894 ^Ir. Reynolds engaged in the saw -mill 
business at Corunna. which has commnnded his attention continuously to the 
present time, and in which he has met w ith well-deserved success. 

On December 2^. 1889, Mv. Reynolds was married to Amanda Wagner, 
the daughter of James and Mary Ann (I'.illman) Wagner. The-e parents, 
wlio were from Hur( n corntv, Ohio, moved to Michigan, where the father 
died. The widow returned to Ohio and later came to DeKalb county with her 
parents, where she remained with her relatives. To Air. and Mrs. Reynolds 
have been born five children, namely: Harley C. who married Rosa Mason, 
and they ha\-e two children. Gerald and Olen : \A'alter. who married Bessie 
Zimmerman, and thev have one child, Melvin W. : Oscar married I'.essie 
Workman: Zola and Bernice are at home. Mrs. Reynolds, who was born on 
February 14. i8ht, died on September _:;, i()i_'. at the age of fifty-one years. 
She was a woman of manv kindl\ ipialities of head and heart, which had en- 
deared her to all who knew her. 



DEKALB COUNTY, 



Politically a Republican, Mr. Reynolds has tdr man\ vt-ars been acti\e in 
the civic and public affairs of the locality, ha \ ins; scr\ ed as trustee of Corunna 
for two terms, one and four years respectively, and township trustee for five 
years. At one time he made the race for coimty auditor as the Republican 
nominee and lacked only fifty-seven votes of being elected. He assumes gen- 
erally an independent attitude, especially in local ix)litical affairs, voting for the 
men whom he considers best qualified U)r pulilic offices. Imbued with the 
deepest and most healthful public spirit. .Mr. Reynolds is well fortified in his 
opinion as to matters of public policy and gives of his best to the furthering of 
good government, being neglectful of no civic duty. His persona! relations 
with his fellow men have been ever nnitually pleasant and agreealjle. and lie i- 
highly regarded by all. lieing obliging and straightf<irwar(l in all tiie relations 
•of life. 



jOHX BRKCHBII.L. 

The gentleman to whom the reader's attention is now directed has. l)y 
perseverance, industr\- and a wist economy, attained a comfortable station in 
life, and is well and favorably known in DeKall) county as a result of the in- 
dustrious life he has lived here for many years, being regarded liy all who 
know him as a man of sound business principles, thoroughly up-to-date in all 
pha.ses of agriculture, and as a man who. while advancing his individual 
interests, does not neglect his general duties as a citizen. 

John Brechbill was born in Stark county. Ohio, on .\])ril N, iSdj, the son 
of Jacob and Sarah ( Ober ) Rrecli])ill. Jacol) P.reclilnll was l,orn in liedfonl 
•county. Pennsylvania, in iK^j. and died near (larrett. Indiana, on b'eliruarx 
21. igo2, aged sixty-nine years fixe months nineteen (la\ >. In 1834 he mo\ed 
with his parents to Stark county, Ohio, and on l'"ebruary ,v ^^5^- he married 
Sarah Ober, also a native of Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and whose dtath 
occurred on November 2, iyo8. They came to DeKalb countw Indiana, in 
1864. settling in Keyser townshi]). where they ])assed the remainder of their 
lives in the pursuit of agriculture. They were members of the Brethren in 
Christ church and were very active in church work. To them were born eight 
children: Martin. John, the subject, Xancy, Elizabeth, Sarah, Mary. Cora 
and Claude. Martin. Cora and Chuule are deceased. 

After securing a good common school education in the DeKalb count\ 
.schools, the sul)ject took up agriculture .as his life work. ;ind lias continued to 
follow this calling with unusual success. He is the owner of two hundred 



768 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIAXA. 

acres of good land, ijn which he carries on cHversified farming, employing 
' scientific methods in the tilling of the soil, which have well repaid him in 
bountiful harvests. 

On September 29. 1886. Mr. Brechbill was united in marriage witli Etta 
E. Davidson, the daughter of Henry and Fannie (Rice) Davidson, who are 
referred to elsewhere in this work in a sketch treating of the life of Mr. 
Davidson. To the subject and wife ha\e been born nine children, Frank, 
Albert, Mabel, Ruth, Elmo, Pearl, John, Pauline and laicile. Frank was 
educated at the Bethanv Bible Schonl. Chicago, Illinois, pursuing the three- 
years course and finishing in 191 2. He returned home and has been a preacher 
in Brethren in Christ church, located in Ke\ser township. He was married 
on September 28, 191 1, to Jessie Hoover, of Mansfield. Ohio. Albert was 
educated in Goshen College, graduating in June. 1913. and took up teaching. 
He is now principal of the Liberty Center (Ohio) high school. Mabel and 
Ruth were educated in high and normal schools and are now teaching. 

The Republican party has received the support of Mr. Brechbill, and, 
relieiouslv. he is a member of l!ie Brethren in Christ church, being active in 
church work. Flis life has beer, as an open book and his standing in the 
conimunilv i>; -uch a< -"bould 1 ♦• ri matter of jiride to his family and his friends. 



JEFFERSON ^^■1LL1AM JACKMAN. 

Biographies should not be published unless there is something in the 
life and character of the indi\idual worthy of emulation or imitation by 
others under like circumstance-^— certainly not for self-aggrandizement: luit 
sufficient has been drawn from the life history of the gentleman whose name 
appears above to show that there is something in the inner life of this man 
worthy of more than incidental mention. Ele began life practically at the 
bottom of the ladder, which he has climbed to the top with no help but a 
brave heart, industrious hands and an intelligent brain, and is a living example 
of what may be accomplished in this country l>y thrift and perseverance, 
even under discouraging circumstances. 

TefYerson W. Jackman was born in section 6, Wilmington township, 
DeKalb county, Indiana, on January 31. 183-'. and is a son of Isaac M. and 
lane (Whitla) Jackman. who are mentioned specifically on another page of 
this work. When the subject was about three years old the family moved to 
the eastern part of Grant township, where the father bought the farm on 




JEFFERSON W. JACKMAX 



DEKAI.H COUNTY. INDIAiNA, 769 

which the siihject of this sketch now li\cs, and here Mr. Jacknian yrew to 
manliood. Their home was a log house, and al)inil eight acres nf land had at 
that tinie been cleared. To the further clearing of this land and its improve- 
ment and cultivation the lad ga\ e of his time and strength and was a \ rihiahle 
assistant in this work to his father. His education was received in a lypical 
log school house of that day, in which the advantages were much inferior to 
those of the present day, Ijut, being ambitious and a good student, Mr. jack- 
man became qualified to teach school when twenty-one years of age and fol- 
lowed that pursuit for several years, llis summers were spent in farming. 
and in 1876 he made farming his chief employment, renting a farm on the 
west of his present Imme, In the fall of 1S78 he mo\e(l nn to his father-in- 
law's farm, which lie nceupied fourteen years as a renter, and after .Mr. 
McClure's death he bnuglil the interests of the other heirs and later bought 
also the widow's interest, thus becoming sole owner of the farm in 1901. This 
place, which comprises one hundred and thirt_\--tive acres, is one of the choice 
farms of that locality and is well improved. Mr. Jackman remained tliere 
until 1910 with the exception of one year, and then moved onto the old 
home farm owned by his father. He had seen many discouraging c(jnditions 
in his farming experience up to that time, but liy energetic work and rigid 
economy he had weathered several jjanics and had e\en gotten ahead in his 
financial afTairs, haxing bought the farm and paid for it by his own eitorts 
during this peri(jd. i le now resides on his father's old farm antl is num])ered 
among the successful and energetic agriculturist^ of DeKalli county. In 1883 
Mr. Jackman began breeding and shi])i)ing thoroughbre<l r.erkshire hogs, in 
which he was engaged for the following twentx' \ears and ^\as numbered 
among the leading men in that line in the L'nitcd States. He cariied at all 
times from one hundred to f)ne hundred and fifty head of fine stock, shipping 
from the .\tlantic coast to Salt Lake City, and from the (lulf to .Montreal, 
Canada. He advertised extensively, at times in as many as two hundred and 
fiftv pa])ers over the country and carried on his corres])oudence and book- 
keeping at night, this extra W(trk entailing so severe a strain on hi- eyisight 
that in 1901 he was c<impe!le(l to give \\\) his hog inisiness and give his atten- 
tion to the ligbler Labors of the farm. During all his business experience of 
twenty years Mr. jackman ne\er had but one complaint from a customer and 
that was .settled quickly and to the entire satisfaction of the com])lainant. 
This is certainly a remarkable record and speaks well for his sound business 
methods and integrity of character. 
(49) 



"JJO DKKAI.I! roL-XTV. INDIANA. 

On .May j8, IcSjO, AJr. Jacknian married .Mary .McClure, the daughter 
of Timothy McClure. whu is mentioned elsewhere in this work, and to them 
were born two children. Sadie Olive, born February i8, 1878, is the wife 
of Walter Cherry, and lives in h^ranklin townshi]), this cnuntv; thev have a 
daughter, Eldora Cherry. The subject's youngest child. Ward, whd was 
born on February 4, 1887. married Fdna Goodwin, and lives on his father's 
farm that was formerly know n as the McClure place. He attended high school 
at Waterloo and a commercial college at Fort Wayne, Indiana. He is now 
devoting his attention to farming and the raising of fine horses, in which he 
is attaining a distinctive success. Olive received three vears' education in 
high school, studied pedagogy and received a teacher's re\icw couisc at 
Butler College and also attended the Normal College at Angola. She taught 
school about eight years, from 1895 to 1903, the time of her marriage. 

Politically, Mr. Jackman is an earnest Democrat, and in igoo was elected 
a member of the state Legislature, serving in the sessions of igoi. In i()03 
he was unanimously renominated for the same ofifice. but owing to peculiar 
local conditions he was defeated by a narrow majority. Fraternally, he is a 
member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, taking a deep interest in 
the workings of that order. In all the relations of life Mr. Jackman has 
been found faithful to every trust confided in him and because of his genuine 
worth, courteous manner and genial disposition he has won and retains the 
warm regard of all with whom he has as'^ociated. the latter inchuiing the 
best people of the county. 



LL'THKR H. HKILEY 



The "art pre~er\ati\ e of all .iris." i)rinting, has done more tn pn'mole 
the progress of civilization, with its attendant blessings of libert\- and educa- 
tion, than any other discovery since the beginning of time. Many who read 
this work can remember when a new spaper was seldom seen, and on the rare 
occasions when one. perhaps a month or more old, filtered from "hack Fast" 
into the frontier of civilization, as Indiana was rightly termed in the pioneer 
days, it was eagerly and critically perused and passed from one hand to another 
until it was worn into shreds. Soon, however, the knights of the "fourth 
estate" joined in the vanguard and took up the task of "molding public 
opinion." The father of the subject of this sketch was one of the early new s- 
paper men of this region and his son has followed in his footsteps with com- 



DEKALn COUNTY. INDIANA. ~fj\ 

mendable fidelity and industry, which have linuit^hl id him the respect and 
admiration of his felluwnicn. 

Luther H. Higley. owner and editor of tiie Butler Record, was horn in 
Butler, Indiana, October _:;o, 1867, he heint^ the son of Emery and Aiar\ 
(Haverstock) Higley, natives of Ohio. The mother came to Butler at an 
early date with her parents. Elmer Higley come to Butler about 1865 and 
engaged in the business of buying and selling produce and in other mercan- 
tile lines. He established the first newspaper in Butler, called the Banner of 
Liberty. After conducting this pioneer publication for a time, he removed 
the plant to the town of .Vulnirn and began the .])ul)lication of the Auburn 
Times. After a short time he went west and his death occurred in LeMars, 
Iowa. Beside the subject, he had one other child, Leverett G. 

Luther H. Higley acquired a .splendid basis for the success wliich he has 
achieved in his chosen vocation, he having graduated from the scientific course 
in the Fayette Normal School. After completing his studies in this institu- 
tion, he accepted the position of assistant principal of the Butler schools, 
which he occupied with marked ability for a year. He subsequently filled the 
position of principal in the schools at Rolling Prairie, Indiana. Becoming 
restless under confining stress of pedagogical routine, he gave up this pro- 
fession and, coming to Butler, jiurchased the Butler Record, of which he is 
now ow ner and editor. 

The subject \vas married, on b'ebruary y. i88i), to Carrie Pahnertoii, 
daughter of Wesley and Sarah ( Xelson ) Palmerton. who were early settlers 
in DeKalb count}-. To this union were born three children: Ethel, who mar- 
ried Fred E. Voight, of Washington, D. C. : Robert Dale, and Ruth Madonna. 
While he has not sought public office. Mr. Higley has been selected by his fel- 
low- citizens to serve on the board of education for two terms, and his early 
training in educational work has stood him in good stead in solving the many 
problems presented to that body. He has always been a warm supporter of 
the Republican party. Fraternally, the subject is affiliated with the Knights 
of Pythias, while his church relations are w ith the Methodist Episcopal church. 

In addition to the local paper, Mr. Higley has built up an extensive mail- 
order business in the printing line, w hich amounts to several times as much as 
the local field aff"ords, and in kjo^ he established the Epworth League 
Quarterly, which now has a circulation of rner twenty-four thousand copies 
and circulates in every Northern state from Maine to California. His com- 
mercial lines are handled by several salesmen on the road and by several job- 
bing houses in the large cities. The business has had a steady growth and is 
still growing. 



JOSEPH PEF^m' HEITZ. 

One of the conspicunus nanie> on ihe ]':<i nf DeKalh county agricul- 
turists is Joseiih l'err\- Heitz, ])ro])rict(ir <<\ a hue farm iri lUitler townslii]). a 
gentleman of high standing to whom has not Ix'en denied a full measiu'e of 
success. Long recognized as a factor of importance in connecti<'n with the 
farming and stock-raising industries here, he has been prominently identified 
with the material growth and ])ros]jerity of this part of the state, his life 
having ])een closely interwoven with the liistorv of the county where he has 
been content to live and follow his chosen \ocation for over a (piarter of a 
century. 

Joseph P. Heitz was l)orn in DeKalb county. Indiana, on August 29, 
1870. and is the son of John 11. and I-ydia (Groves) Heitz, both of whom 
were natives of Ohio. John Pi. Heitz came to Delvalb count\- many years 
ago, settling in Butler townslii]), where he spent the lialance of bi-^ life, hav- 
ing been succcssfulh" engaged in agricultural pursuits. He and his wile are 
now Ijoth deceased. To them were born fi\e children. Josei)h 1'., the im- 
mediate subject of this sketch : Edith, deceased : Cora E.. Calvin U'. and 
Georgia, deceased 

The subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools 
of his home neighljorb.ood and spent his earlier years under the direction of 
his father on the home fr.iTn. He was wise in deciding to make agriculture 
his life work, tor in this line of endea\-or he has achieved a most pronounced 
success and is today numbered among the representative agriculturists of But- 
ler township. Pie owns eight)- acres of land and also operates one hundred 
and sixty acres adjoining. He carries on a general line of farming, raising 
all the crops common to this locality, and also gives some attention to the 
breeding and raising of live stock. 

On December 12, 1Q06, Mr. Heitz was married to Oma Dale Strause, the 
datfghter of Joseph and Katberinc ( Krick) Strause. the father a native of 
Pennsylvania and the mother of (a-rmany. The latter came to the I'nited 
States when six months old w itb her parent-;, who settled at r'ittsl)urgb, later 
moving to Wayne county, Indiana, where they remained until Mrs. Krick 
was married, when they came to DeKalb county and located in Keyser town- 
■ship. They became the parents of eleven children, namely: Mary. Boston. 
Ida, Rolando: Alice deceased; Cora, deceased: Emma, William, .\manda, 
Oma, the subject's wife, and Elmer. The father of ib.cse children h;i-~ pa-~scd 



DKKAI.Ii tOr.M'V. INDIANA. 7-^ 

away, but his widow is n..\v li\in- wilii Ikm' (laii-litcr, Mrs. licit/.. '1^. Mr. 
and Mrs. Heitz was Imni one rliilil. ]'jnii\- 1. 

Politically. Mr. lieilz is a Democrat, thou.^li Ivo private business i-nterests 
have demanded his sole attention and he h:\< )io lime I'or ]ni!)lic affairs. Xe\er- 
theless. he takes a proper interest in local events and gives his support to all 
those things which tend to advance the welfare af the community in any way. 
He is a man of clean habits and ui)ri<>ht life, and enjoys the fullest measure 
of popular confidence rmd esteem. 



GEORGK W. RURTZXKR. 

Tlie biograjjliies of sf.eeessful men are instn;cti\e as guides and in- 
centives to those whose careers ;ire \et l(i b.- achie\ed. The examples the-.- 
furnish of patient purpose and cunsecntive endeavor strongh' ilhistnite what 
is in the power of each to accomplish. The gentleman whose li t'e hi.story is 
herewith brielly set forth is a conspicuou-- example of one who has li\ed to 
good purpose and achieved a detinilc degree of success in the spheres to which 
his talents and energies have l.)een devoted. The subject, who is th- present 
efficient and capable township trustee of Butler township, is known ])\ hi- 
neighbors and friends as a citizen of high rank, a ])ublic-N])iiited man who has 
ever manifested a willingness to ser\'e his fellow men. 

rieorge W". P.urtzuer wa.s born March <,. iS_V). in lUitler townshi]). l)e- 
Kalb county, Indiana, the son (if John and .\nna i l.nng) llnrtzner. the fathtr 
a nali\ e of ( iu-m;iny. and the nvther of ( )hio, Jolm fhn-tzner was one of the 
pioneers in DeKalb county and was a man highly respected by the early 
settlers. To this worthy cottple were born three children: Mrs. bdleii \i. 
Rinehold lives in Jackson townshi]): .Susanna, decea.sed. and the subject. John 
Burtzner died on Xnvenilicr t6, iWm. at the age of thirty^iine years, and his 
widow afterward married i'eter l-';iir, of .Mien county. lndi;in;i. who is de- 
ceased. Her death occin-red on i'ebru.ary |Ci, 1SS5. 

The subject attended the common schools typical of that period. de\oting 
himself to the "three Rs" during the .short winter terms and being of great 
assistance to his mother on the home farm when not thus engaged. 

On September 4. 1S81, the sul)ject of this rexiew was married to ivacbel 
A. T.yon, daughter of John .\. and Sarah .\. ( Revnolds ) l.yon. To John 
and Sarah Lvon were born seven children. namel\' ; [ohn 1\.. Isaac. Marv \. 



774 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

and Ellen are deceased: William lives in Mentone, Indiana: James is deceased: 
Rachel A. 

The subject and wife have been l^lessed with the birth of two children: 
Cliff L., who lives on a farm in Ohio, and Mrs. Mary I. Mowry, who is living- 
at the home farm. , Mr. and Airs. Burtzner ha\-e eight granflchildren. namely : 
Oscar E., Lyndes S., Alma, John \\'. and Letha Mar\- Rurtzner and Treva D.. 
Kenneth E. and Iris L. Mowrv-. 

In 1908 the voters of Butler township selected Mr. Burtzner for the posi- 
tion (if township tru'^tee. which olhce he i< still filling in a most cajiable and 
satisfactory manner. His administration of the affair.-- of this resijonsible 
post has been a matter of just pride to him and when his present term ends 
in 1914 he will ha\'e the enviable right to point to his record as one of economy, 
efficiency and businesslike management. Mr. Burtzner gi\es a loyal and 
active support to the Democratic party. 

At this time the subject is engaged in general farming on one hundred 
acres of very valuable and fertile land. His place is a model of all that goes 
to make up a modern farm. His fraternal spirit finds companionship in 
Knights of P,ythias Lodge Xo. iqt, of ,\uburn. 



ISAAC GUXSF-NHOL'SER. 

Throughout an acti\e and interesting career duty has e\er been the motive 
of action of Isaac ! ;u^^en]^(luser, one of tlie jjrogressive agriculturists of 
Stafford townslu]), hcK-dii county, and usefulness to his fellowmen has not 
been by any means a secondary consiileration. He has performed well his 
part in life, and it is a compliment worthily bestowed to say that this locality 
is honored in his citizenship, for he lias achieved definite success through his 
own efforts and is thoroughly deserving of the proud American title of self- 
made man. the term being one that, in its better sense, cannot but appeal to 
the loyal admiration of all who are appreciative of our national institutions 
and the privileges afforded for individual accomplishment. It is a privilege, 
ever gratifying, in this day and age, to meet a man who has the courage to 
face the battle of life with a strong heart and steady hand and to win the stern 
conflict by bringing to bear only those forces with which nature has equipped 
him, self-reliance, self-respect and integrity. 

Isaac Gunsenhouser is a nati\e of the coimty now honored by his citizen- 
ship, he having been born in Stafford township on March q. i.'^^S. and was 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 775 

the son of John J. and Mary Elizabetli (Strole) (ninsenhnuscr. John j. 
(iiinsenhouser was born in Switzerland, and at the age of twehe years ac- 
companied his parents on their removal to the United States, they first settling- 
in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Sometime later Mr. (Tunsenhouser remo\ed to 
Summit county, Ohio, and still later to DeKalb county, Indiana. His wife. 
who was born and raised in Summit county, Ohio, was married to him there. 
and accompanied him to DeKalb county in 1836. Thev settled on a farm in 
Stafford township, where they spent the remainder nf their li\es. Thex were 
the parents of eleven children, namely: Elizabeth, jnhn. Marv Ann. Henrv. 
Jacob, Isaac, Lola. Xancy, Sarah. George and ^^■ illiam. 

Isaac Gunsenhouser received his education in the public schimls and was 
reared to the life of a farmer, which vocation lie followed for eleven years. 
He then engaged in the saw-mil! business in Xewwille townshi]), which com- 
manded his attention for twelve years, after which he cultivated land in that 
township for twelve years lunger. lie then reti!rnetl to Stafford ti )wn.-hi]). 
locating on the old home farm where he now resides, and there took caie of 
his parents until their death. He i'^ an up-to-date, progressive farmer, giving 
due attention to every detail of his work, and has been very successful in this 
vocation. In 1905 his wife departed this life and he then arranged for his 
daughter and her husband to make their home with him. he retaining a life 
interest in the twenty-four acre farm. 

In i860 Mr. Gunsenhouser married Roseana A. Dickerhotf. the daughter 
of Jacob and Elizabeth (^facobie) Dickerhoff. who were from .Summit 
county. Ohio, and who were among the e;n-\\ settlers of T^eKalb r<iunty. To 
Mr. and Mrs. (hin^-enhouser ha\e been born two eliil(h-en. .\!ar\- E.. and Inez, 
deceased. 

Politically, Mr. Gunsenhouser has always assumed a rather independent 
attitude, especially in local affairs, and has been elected by his fellow citizens 
to a number of prominent offices, in all of which he has discharged his duties 
to their entire .satisfaction. He ser\ed two teruT; as road super\-isor of the 
township, two terms as school director, twelve }e:irs as a justice of the peace, 
and in 1906 was elected a member of the board of cf)unty comnn'ssioners, as- 
suming his duties on the first Monday of December in that year. At that 
time there was a general public imjircssion t!iat there had been Mime cranked 
work among the county officers, and in response to public .sentiment Mr. 
Gunsenhouser, as commissioner, started an investigation. It de\elo]ied tliai 
several past officials of the countv were compelled to disgorge about tlnrt\-twci 
thousand dnllars. which had been unlawfully taken from the cnuntx funds. 



yyf^ DEKAI.B COfNTY, INDIANA. 

The only expense of this investigation was that of an expert accountant. 
Fraternally, Mr. Gunsenhouser is a member of the Masonic order, in the 
workings of which he takes an appreciative interest. His influence is al\\a\s 
given to every movement having for its object the advancement of the best 
interests of the community, and among those who know him best he stands 
high, for his life has Ijecn stpiarc to everyon- tliat know him, so ordering his 
course in all the relations of life as to command the respect and esteem of his 



KARL f;ERXh:R. 



It is a generally acknowledged fact that journalism is one of the most 
important factors in twentieth-cenlury life, exei'ling as it doe> an influence on 
practical!}- e\'ery department of societ}-. This relation is just as actual and 
potent in the smaller cities and towns as in the larger cities and he who directs 
the policy of a newspaper, or wields tlie pen which gi\-es expression to that 
policy, exerts a personal contml o\er local thought and action not equaled liy 
any other profession. Among the newspaper men of DeKalb county, who 
have, by their progressive attitude toward local affairs, contributed in a \ er\- 
definite measure to the adxancement of the communit)'. is the gentleman w linse 
name a])pears abii\e and who 's successfully pulilishini^ the Courier, at 
Auburn, Indiana. 

Karl Gerner, the son of L'hristian and Katherine i Keller i ( ierner. w as 
born in Adelheim, Baden, Germany, January 17, f834. His parents came to 
this country, in 1857. and settled at I'itlsburgh. I'ennsx h'ania. His fatlier was 
a locksmith by trade, Ijut later entered the mercantile liusiness and continued 
in tliat for the remainder of hi-^ acti\e life. Hoth of liis jiarent'^ are deceased. 
His father served in the revolution of 1848 in- (iermany under (ieneral 
Segil, and was forced to leave the country on this account. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Gerner, Sr.. were born five children, three of whom are still living. 

Karl (lerncr was educated in the public sch:)iils of f'itt-^liurgb. renn-xl- 
vania. and ciminueil his education at Meadx'ille in the same state, lie later 
went to Boston and completed the law course in that city. I-"eeling that the 
West offered the best field for the practice of his profession, he went to 
Iowa and located at Storm Lake, where he C(jntinued to practice for four 
\ears. He then went to Colorado and practiced law and was appointed the 
United States commissioner, after which he went to South Dakota and en- 



at ln)(|H(iis, in lliat 


state. 


He continued h 


fourteen years, and 


was 


\ery successful ii 


)t his success is foun( 


1 in 111 


e fact that he \va- 


nth Dakota Legislatn 


re, up 


i.in the admission 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIAN. 

leretl a t^o\ eminent cl 
tice in South Dakota 
his cases. .\n indieati 
a member of the first 
state to the Union. 

After leaving- the Letjislature Mr. Gerner gave up his law practice and 
entered the newspaper business. He was one of the founders of the /roijimis 
Chief, in South l^akota. and continued that i)aper until 1896, when he came 
to Indiana. He located at Waterloo. DeKalb county, and started the Sih-cr 
Dawn, a paper which advocated the free and unlimited coiiiaj^e of silver, as 
set forth by the Democratic party at that time. He continucxl this publication 
until 11)09, when he snld it. He subsequentlN- liecame associated with tlie 
.\uburn Dispalch. and when the Dispatch was sold to the .\uburn I'rintiu.-- 
Com|)any he look charge of the .\ul)tu-n Courier, wliich he still manages. 

In 1883 l"^^"'! (Jerner was married to Harriett Mather, the daughter of 
Elias and Kliza ( Herrick ) Mother. Airs. Cerner's f;ither was born in 
Williamstown, Alassachusetts and w;is a line:d descendant ( f Cotton Alather. 
famous preacher of Salem. .Massachusetts, of the car!\- ct-!oni:d da\s. Iler 
mother. Eliza, was liorn in .Aurora. Ohio, and her parents were i)ijneers at 
Twinsburg. that state. Her grandfather, James Herrick, was a native of Con- 
necticut. When Harriett's mother was a child of ten. her iiarents mo\-e,! to 
New Jersey and later to Illinois, where her father died. She. her sister and the 
mother went to South Dakota, and lixed there milil her m.arriage to Ah". 
Cyerner. In her younger days All's. ( ierner attended the I ni\ersit_\- of Alichi- 
gaii :it Ann .\rbor. She began teachin'..' school at the age of sixteen, in 
Illinois, and later taught in South Dakota until her marriage. .After they 'cam',- 
back to Indiana she taught in the public schools of Waterloo for three years. 
She became a member of the Progressive Literary Club at AA'aterloo, and was 
also a \alued member of the Fortnightly Club of that place. In the !itfiar\- 
clubs .-he began to urge the desirability of a public library at Waterloo, and 
continued to urge the idea with great persistence. Others took uj) the propo- 
sition and with the joint elTort n\ all the clu])s of the tnwii and the Woman's 
Christian Temperance Ciu'on. a lilirarx was finally established, and later the 
Carnegie Library was erected as a result of that beginning. Mr. and Alis. 
Gerner have two children. Karl and Harold. Karl is clerking in the c)f"lices nf 
the Baltimore & Ohio railroad at Garrett, and Harold is still at home. 

Mr. Gerner has always taken an acti\e part in different fraternal nr- 
ganizations. While in Dakota he was grand master of the Ancient Order (if 



778 DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. 

United Workmen. After coming to Indiana he became worshipful master of 
the Free and .\ccepted ]\lasons at Waterloo, and he also .served one term as 
worthy patron of the Order of the Eastern Star. Air. ( ierner has always been 
a stanch supporter of the Democratic party and his papers haxe alw ays u])held 
the principles of that jiarty. In his long service as a newspajier man he has 
had the op])ortiniity to advance the interests of his party in a very material 
wax . 

Air. and Mrs. Gerner ha\'e always taken a large part in everv actixitv 
which had for its object the bettering of the community in which they live. 
They ha\e been on the right side of all the educational or moral questions, 
and their influence has been an uplift to the neighliorhood in which thev have 
lived. It is generally acknowledged that the influence of Airs. Gerner had 
more to do with the decently dedicated library at AA'aterloo than any other 
person. 



KLI.XS SCHOPF. 



To attain a worthy citizenship by a life that is always honored and 
respected e\-en from childhood deserves more than mere mention. One may 
take his place in public life through some \igorous stroke of puljlic policy. 
and even remain in the hearts of neighbors and friends, but to take the same 
position by dint of the practice of an upright life, and without a cra\ing for 
exaltation and popularity, is worthy of the highest praise and commendation. 
The late Elias Schojif, one of the successful men and public-spirited citizens of 
DeKallj county, Indiana, who departed this life on January 31, 191 1, and 
who was well known throughout this community, was a man honored and 
respected, not because of the x;igorous training of his special talents, but be- 
cause of his daily life, each day having been one that was above criticism and 
passed upon in the light of real, true manhood. Strong ami forceful in his 
relations with his fellow men, he not only made his presence felt, but also 
gained the good will and confidence of l>oth his associates and the general 
public, ever retaining his reputation among men for integrity and character, 
no matter how trying the circum.stances, and never losing that dignity which 
is the birthright of a gentleman. Conse((uentl\- his influence for good in the 
general life of his community was most potent, and he will long be sadly 
missed from the various circles in which he moved and rixer which his in- 
fluence was like sunshine on a field of ripened wheat. 

Elias Schopf was a native of the old Keystone state of Pennsylvania. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 779 

having been horn in Lancaster county on the 3th day of April. i<S,^i. I ie was 
a son of Henry and Ehiora Schopf, who, in 1S40, loaded their Imusehold 
effects into a co\erefl wagon and brought their children with them tn Wayne 
county, Indiana. There the subject of this sketch grew to manhond and in 
i860 was married. Three years later he and his wife came to DeKalh county. 
locating on a farm aliout one mile south (if where darrett is now located. 
buying the ])lace w here IMrs. Schopf now lives, consisting of eighty acres. At 
that early day hut little <if ihi> land had been cleared, the major part of the 
tract being swampy and densely covered with timljer and undergrowth. 
Through this wild solitude deer were still to be seen and many other w^ild 
animals were found, some of whom found a place in the larder of the pioneer 
families. The first home of the family here was an old log cabin, liut soon 
afterward a more comfortable and attractive frame house was erecttd. and 
in \Hy)i Mr. Schopf erected a snl)slanti;d. well-arranged and attractive brick 
house wliich is still standing and in which Mrs. Scho])f now li\es. I'^arly in 
life Mr. Schopf had learned the trade of cigar makmg. which, for a time, he 
followed here in the early days, but he soon abandoned that work and ga\e his 
entire attention to farming. In this he was successful, for he was energetic 
and methodical in his work, giving attention to e\ery detail of the improve- 
ment and cultivation of his land until he had developed it into one of the 
best farms in this localit}-. Personally, Mr. Schoijf was a. man of intelli- 
gence and high character, whose life, though quiet, was eminently useful to 
the coniniunit\' in many ways. Fie was a man among men, .standing "four- 
s<|uare to every wind that blew." and all who knew him realized that lie was 
the possessor of good attrilnites which could be relied ujiou. Piroad-minded 
and sagacious in his \-iews of men and things, he was generous in his relations 
(vitb all causes which appeared to bini to be for the betterment of the com- 
mnnitv and in the early life of DeKalh county he was ever ready to perform 
his share in heljiing to lighten the burdens of his fellow pioneers. He was 
■trough domestic in his tastes and to his wife he was a loving, thoughtful 
husband, with whom he shared the joys and sorrows of life for over a half 
centur\-. while to his children he gave that thoughtful care and kindly atten- 
tion which endeared him to them. His death was the first in this large fam- 
ily, as all the children and grandchildren survive him. 

On November 15. i860, F.lias Schopf married Catherine .Strouse. who 
wa- born in Berks county. Pennsylvania, Xovemlier 28. 1841, a daughter of 
Philip and Sarah ( F.ong) Strouse. When shf was about eighteen years of 
age she came to \\a\ne comity. Indiana, to join a brother who had iireccded 



/So DEKALB COUNTY. IXDIAXA. 

her and witli whom she H\c(l until her marriage to Mr. Schopf. To tliem 
were linrn ten cliilihen, tour mhis and si.x daughters. naniel\- : ISosicn Wal- 
ter, horn August u, 18') i. li\es cm the home far.m : Savannah I'^lizaheth. 
born October t8, 1862, is the wife nf Irving Smith, of Hillidale. Michigan: 
Viola Ellen. Ixjrn March jS. 18O4. married Daniel Lung and lix'cs in Piutler 
township, this county: Sarah Catherine, born December 28, 1867. is the wife 
of Peix-y Cornell, of Jack'^i.n. Ihitler township, this county: Phili]) Monroe, 
born Xovemher 18. i86<j. married T.ouise Miller, and they live in Carrett, 
this C(junty: Carilla h:ir:di, born Mav 18. i87_>, i^ the wife of William lleitz. 
and lives in Fowlerton, Indiana: Anise Maria, born [March 22. 1875, is tlie 
wife of Bert Fitch, of (iarrelt: Sylvester Sydney, born January 1 _'. 1877. 
married Semma Knott, who is now deceased, and he Hves on the old home 
place, being in the employ of the I'altimore & ( )hio Railroad Comijany : I'res- 
ton Darius, born Ajjril 15, i87<j. and who i- a watchmaker by vocation, is 
living at home: Almeda Stella, born .\pvil _'7. 1881, is the wife of Albert 
Barringer, of San Francisco. California. The following grandchildren are 
included in this f.-nnilv record: Mrs. Savannah Smith's two children. Kus- 
.sell and Raymond: Mrs. Daniel Lung's five children. Aha. Archie, .\rlie. 
Frankie and l^.dna : Mrs. Sarah t orneirs f,,ur children. b:thel, I'.sther. b:rnest 
and .Myrtle: Mrs. Anise h'itch is the mother of four children. Ivan. Oscar. 
Thelma and bdoretta : Sylvester has a s,,n. D;uiford: Mrs. Ltmg's daughter. 
Alta. married Walter Downend. and they ha\e two daughters. Catherine ;uid. 
Laiu-inc. rmd Mrs. Fung's son. I'^r.-mk. mai'ried Myitle Mowery. ;md they 
ha\e one son. Lester. 

In i8(:8 Mr. and Mrs. Scho])f became memliers of the Reformed Men- 
nonite church, and their li\es e\er afterward \vere fairly consistent with the 
profession they thus made, (jenerous. charitable and kind in all tiieir rela- 
tions with their fellows, none of the old residents of this communitv ever 
enjoved the confidence and resjjcct of :dl more than this worthy couiiie. and 
Mrs. Schopf is nriw belo\ed by all who know her because of her kindl\- (|uali- 
ties and the tlioughtful regard wliich she entertains for all who come in con- 
tact with her. 



H. F. DkLOXG, 



In the death of H. F. DeLong. which occurred on February 4. 1889. 
here was removed another one of those prominent agriculturali.sts of DeKalb 
duut\ , Indiana, who made their wav in life bv force of their merits and in- 



spk-nd 


ill succcssL's. and hi- nu-iiniry w 


ill 1 .n 


r m-."k1 


iV'll in this <cctinn n\ our a 


luininr 


class o 


i" worthy and n ihlf citizens w li 


o leav 


V. DeJ 


jtuii WJI"^ horn on \'o\cnihiT u 


'■ '^^'■ 


1 of J; 


;nnes and l-dizal.x'ih Dcl.nni^. 1 


■oth o 


anil. 


Thex- were- the jiarenls of the 


follow 


>, \\h< 


. h\es in Kan<a<: 11. !•., the sul 


)iect o 


: S,,ph 


ia. ilcceased. and ?\!rs. lunnia 


l-.ani^> 


-as ]in. 


I'-ht hy his parents to DeKali. 


eoiinl_\ 


(1. and 


has thus heen an e\'e witness 


of th 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

(lustry from small heginnint^s to 
be revered and his influence fo 
wealth, for he belonseil to tliat 
behind them a wurlhy name. .Mi 
in Miami county, Ohio, the s. 
whom were natixes of I'ennsxl 
ing' children : Mrs. Pliilen.-i jo; 
this sketch; Daxid I).. deceaH'i 
of Montana. 

The subject of this sketch 
Indiana, when but two years i 
wonderful tr.ansformation whicli has taken place during; the intervening- 
_\'ears. At that early ])eriod settlei's were but few and far between. The 
timber stretched for many miles in e\cr\- direction, w'th an occasional cabin 
clearing- here and there, while but few- efforts had at that time been made to 
develop agriculture as it is now practiced. He devoted his entire life to 
agricultural pursuits, and iu i8C)i settled on the fine farm of eig-hty-nine 
acres in Richland township, where his widow now resides and to the im- 
provement and cultivation of which he devoted himself through the years 
and the success he attained entitled hin-i to raitk aniong the foremost farmers 
of the vicinity. He carried on general farming and also gave some attention 
to stock raising, giving intelHgent and agreeable direction to all of his labors. 

On July 25, 1867, Mr. DeLong married Jnne >rcCruiu. who was Ijorn in 
Canada on Septeniber 25, 183S, the daughter of James and Mary -\. (Chug- 
ham) McCrum. both of whom were natixes of Ireland. Mrs. DeLong was 
but three years old when her parents lirought her to DeKalb county, and 
here she has resided continuously -ince. To Mr. and Mrs. DeLong were Ijorn 
the following children; Marian S.. of DeKalb county; Mrs. Alice Wittig, 
of Defiance countv, Ohio: Mrs. Zoe Washburn, of this county; Clarence E., of 
Whitley county, this "state. The mother of these children is still residiu'i on 
the old farm and. despite her sexenty-five years, she is enjoying good health 
and has the confidence and esteem of all who know her. 

Politically, Mr. DeLong was a Republican of the most nidical type, and 
took an active in.lerest in the success of his party, as xvell as ii-| geuend affairs, 
though he held no public ofifice. Religiously, be xvas a consistent rmd earnest 
member of the United Rretbren church, to the support of which he contributed 
liberallv of bis means. j\Ir. DeLong was a public spirited man in all that the 
term in-iplied. being exer interested in enter])riscs tentling towards the general 



7<5-' DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

welfare, and withheld his support from no mo\ement for the good of the 
locality so long honored by his residence. His personal relations witii his 
fellowmen were e\er mntuall)- pleasant and agreeable, and he was highl\- re- 
garded by all, being easily appninclied. obliging and straightforward in ail the 
relations of life. 



FOREST AIII.LKR. 



It was remarked jjy a celebrated moralist and biugrapher that "there has 
scarcely passed a life of which a judicious and faithful narrative would not 
have been useful." Believing in the truth of this opinion, expressed by one of 
the greatest and best of men, the writer of this re\iew takes pleasure in jjre- 
senting a few facts in the career of a gentleman who, by industry, perse\-er- 
ance, temperance and integrity, has worked himself from an humble station 
to a .successful place in life and wdu an honora1)le position among the well- 
known and highly esteemed men of the locality in which he resides. 

Forest Miller is a native of Steuben county, Indiana, where he wa> 
born on September 20, 1875, and is a son of W'illirun Henry an<t Sarah 
(Martin) .Miller. William H. Miller was born in Stark county, Ohio, and 
came to DeKalb county, Indiana, when nineteen years of age. In 1874 he 
married Sarah, the daughter of .\lbert Martin, ;ind liis death occurred l-'ebru- 
ary 5, tqo6, on the homestead farm. Mr. .Martin, who was :\. millwright In- 
trade, lived in Steuben county, Indiana, although a native of ( )hio. owning a 
farm in the above countw and rdso one in DeKrdb count\-. .Mr. .Martin was a 
soldier in the Civil war and ilie<l in Kentucky after two years' service. His 
widow went to Kentucky and brought his bod\- home and he was buried at 
Hamilton. Indiana. Mrs. Sarah Miller, his mother, who also was a native of 
Ohio, is now deceased. The\^ were the parents of nine children, viz: Forest, 
the subject of this sketch: Don Carlos, William, George A., Lew, Mrs. Flor- 
ence Sutherland, and three who died in infancy. Don Carlos lives on a farm 
in Smithfield township and also operates a threshing machine. William is 
married and lives in San Francisco, California. George, who also is married, 
lives in South Dakota, where he runs a grain elexator. Lew lives at \'an- 
couver. Canada, and is a gas fitter by occupation. Florence became the wife 
of Elmer Sutherland and lives in Smithfield township, \\here her husband is 
following the farming pursuit. 

Forest Miller received his education in the township schools and earlv in 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 783 

life began assisting in the \\ori< on the home farm. At tlie age of twenty-one 
years he received an inheritance of thirteen hnmlrcd ddllais. and tlicreafter 
was employed at various lalior until twenty-six years of age, when he l)ought 
eighty acres of land in Smithfield townsliip. After farming this land for 
three years he sold it and hougiit a lialf interest in a farm of cme lumdred and 
sixty acres known as the James Clark farm, across from the t'lark 
school. This land he operated a year, and then sold liis interest in it to liis 
wife's uncle, O. J. (.amp. Then he rented tins farm tor nine \e;irs, making 
many improvements and siieiiding ahout five hundred and fifty dollars on it. 

In 1907, after the settlement of the father's estate, Air. .Miller hoiiglit 
the interest of the two brothers in fort) -fixe acres of land in the southern 
part of the old homestead across from the Christian church in Smithfield 
township, and in April, 1913, he bought one htmdred ruid sixty acres from 
the O. J. Camp estate, comprising the farm he originally rented. 

Mrs. Miller received forty acres from her father's estate in njoS. and 
subsequently she bought forty acres more froin her sister, Mrs. Maude Dun- 
can, this land being now rented to Gobert Gaetz. In all his affairs Mr. Miller 
has been characterized by .sound judgment and untiring energy, so that he has 
succeeded in achieving a genuine success wliere man\ others would liave 
gained l>ut mediocre results. He ga\e his jierson.d attention to e\ery det;iil in 
his farm work, and inaintained his ))lace at the place of highest agricultural 
excellence. He raises all the crops comniou to his locality, and also gives 
some attention to the handling of li\e stock, in w hich he has been \ery success- 
ful. 

On Deceniljer 25, 1901, horest Miller was married to Eva Camp, the 
daughter of Aaron and Amanda (Hasselman) Camp, and to them has been 
born one child, Lloyd Wilson, and Mr. and Mrs. Miller, out of the kindness 
of their hearts, have adopted a daughter who is now known as Ethel (Hope) 
Miller. Politically, Mr. Miller is a Democrat, progressive in his ideas and is 
numl.)ered among the men of adxanced thought in that locality, l-'raternally. 
he is a member of the Knights of I'ythias h.dge of \shle\. and is held in the 
highest esteem by his fraternal brethren. He is one of those solid men of 
brain and substance so essential to the material growth and prosperity of a 
community and whose influence is willingly extended in 1>ehalf of e\er\- de- 
serving enterprise that has for its object the advancement of the moral welfare 
of the localitv. His success in life has been the legitimate result of consecu- 
tive effort, directed and controlled by gond judgment and correct ])rinciples. 



784 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

SAMUEL HARRISON DOWNEXD. 

Improvement and progress may well be said to form the keynote of the 
character of Samuel Elarrison Downend. a well known and influential farmer 
and stock raiser of Kcyser township, and he has not only been interested in 
the work of advancing his own indixidual afifairs, but his influence is fell in 
the upbuilding of the communit)-. He has been an industrious man rdl his 
life, striving to keep abreast oi the times in every respect, and as a result 
every mile ].)ost of the years he has passed has found him further advanced, 
more prosperous, and with an increased number of friends. 

Samuel Harrison Downend is a native son of the old Buckeye slate, 
having been born on December 13, 1850, in Richland county. Ohio, and is the 
son of John and Sarah ( Bechtel ) Downend. John Downend, who also was 
born in Richland coimt'y, Ohio, un July 1 i, 1834, was the son of James and 
Eliza Downend. wdio were natives of Lincolnshire, England, from whence 
they came to America probably in Alay, iS.^4, locating in Richland cnunty. 
Ohio, where they spent the remainder of their lix-es on a farm. There their 
son John grew to manhood, and on February in, 1859, married Sarah .V. 
Bechtel, who was born in Wayne county, Ohio, on I\lay f\ 1840, the daughter 
of David and Elizabeth f Harmon) Bechtel. On ^larch 20, 1861. John 
Doweud and his wife came in DeKalb county. Indiana, locating in Ke}'ser 
township, where Mr. Downend had prc\-iously bought a tract of land in 
sections 7 and 8 in the southwestern pari of that township, and here they lived 
until their deaths, accpiiring n fine esialc "i one hundred and forty acres. 
They became the parents of four children, Samuel LI. : Clara, deceased; 
Franklin, wdio died in infancy: and Charles E.. the latter now living in Fort 
Wayne, and is a traveling salesman. The father of these cliildren died on 
October 1 1, 1895, and his wiie on October 6, 1882. 

The subject of this sketch was reared under the parental roof and as 
soon as old enough took a band in the culti\ation and im])r(i\emeut of the 
home farm. He recei^•ed his educational training in the district schools of 
that neighborhood, and at the age of twent\-lwo years he went west, where 
the following two years were spent. At the death of his niotlier Mr. Downend 
returned home and remained \\ ith his f.-ither and sister, haxing operated the 
home farm continuously since. 

On March 11, 1885, Wr. Downend was married to Laura Llouser, who 
was born in what was then the northern part of Butler township, now' in 
Keyser township. Her death occurred on Feliruary 21. 1912, at the age of 



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DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 785 

forty-eight years. She was the (lau,!.;htcT of Ik-nrv and l'"lizaheth llouscr. 
and was born on .May 30, 1865. Shi- was a devnied wife. ;i lo\ in.ti' nicitlier, a 
good neighbor and highly esteemed by all who knew her. I'.y her unicm with 
Mr. Downend she became the mother of four children : I lany !■'... horn June 
29, 1886, and who married h'lla Clark, now lives in ( larrett. and is the latiier 
of two children, Dorothy and TIarriett; Walter F... li.nn Ajuil 2-. i,SS8. mar- 
ried Alta Lung, and has two daughters, Catherine and Laurine. He lives on 
the home farm with his father; Bertha, born January 17, 1890, married Perry 
Gump, and they live on the latter"s farm near Mr. Downend's place; William 
J., born May 19, 1896, lives in Garrett, where he is employed in tlie Cnited 
States Express Company and also farming. 

Mr. Downend is an active supporter of the Deinocratic part\ and in i<)u8 
was elected trustee of Keyser township, holding tiie ofiice fur a six-vear term 
and being its present incumbent. He exercises in his official position the same 
business methods and enterprising spirit which has characterized his own 
affairs, and is performing the duties of his office to the full satisfaction of 
all concerned. Fraternally, he is a memlier of tlie Knights of the Maccal:)€es 
and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He is a man of kindly impulses and 
genial nature and because nf his excellent qualities of character and the 
splendid success which he has attained, he is deser\ing of the high regard in 
whicli lie is universallv held throughout liis section of tlie eouiitw 



SIMOX PirrFR KO.'^HT. 

TJiere is nowhere a nioi'e li^'.-uitiful farming couiHr_\ than tlie feinile 
rolhng prairies of Wilmingt:in township in DeKalb county. In the growing 
seasons of the \ear tlie\- present a rare ])irtin-e. cattle grazing in the xerdant 
pastures, fields of corn and oats waxing in the breezes. Xot only do they 
gratify the eye. but they as well richly reward the men who possess them and 
are the r)\vners of the luxurious crops which they produce. And the farm of 
Mr. Ko-lit is unexcelled among the farms of Wilmington townsbi]). 

Simon i'eter Kosht is a native of the old r.nckeye state, iiaxing lieen 
born in Ashland canity. Ohio. ,,n August i.\. 1858. the m.ii of Daniel .•ind 
I'.lizabcth (l.ashi Koslit. The I'ather was a native of I 'enns\i\ania and his 
wife was born in Ohio. He came to the latter state from IVunsyhania and 
there met and married his wife, .\fterwards, in 1866. they moved to DeKalb 
(50) 



786 DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 

county, Indiana, settling' in Union township, where he followed farming dur- 
ing the remainder of his life, fjoth he and his wife are now deceased. To 
them were horn fifteen children, namely: Philip, Josiah and Harriett, who 
are deceased; George, Sarah, Eli, .Simcm P.. Francis, David: Mary FJlen, 
deceased; Barbara Jane, deceased: William. I\mma and Iimmett. twins, and 
Cora. 

The subject of this sketch receixed his education in the common schools 
and has followed farming since his boyhood days, to which vocation he was 
reared. His fine farm in Wilmington township comprises seventy-four acres 
of good, tillable land, mi which he carries on general farming, raising a 
general line of cro])s, and in cnnnection therewith a portion of his time and 
attention has been given to the raising of live stock, which in these modern 
■days of intelligent farming is one of the most valuable auxiliaries to a well 
conducted farm. Mr. Kosht is progressive in his ideas, hesitating not to adopt 
new methods and discard the old when the change is found to be adxantag- 
eous. He keeps his fences and buildings in good repair and buys the very 
best machinerw and is indust: imis and energetic in his personal habits, so 
that he has been enabled to reap a large reward for his labors. 

On May 4, 1884, .Simon P. Kosht and Elizaljeth (Irahill were united in 
marriage, the fruit of their union being two children. l):i\iil K.. wlio married 
Donna Engle, and .\nnie May. who Iiecatne the wife of Don Hini'eman. of 
Concord township, this count). Mrs. Kosht is the daughter of Abraham and 
Mary ( Saylor ) Grabill. the former a native of the (ierman empire and the 
latter born in I'tnnsxh ania. They liecame the ])arenls of seven children, 
namely: Davitl : Agnes, deceased; Katherine. Elizalieth. Jacob, Henry, and 
Anna, deceased. The parents of these children are also both deceased. They 
were residents of DeKalb count}- from 1863 up to the time of their death, and 
during; this period tlity enjoyed the confidence and good will of all who knew 
them. 

Mr. Kosht. in his political \-iews. is in fair harmon\- with the platform 
and policies of the Democratic ])art_\', which he has su[)ported e\er since at- 
taining his majority and he takes an active interest in advancing the party in 
this locality. Fraternall}-, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fel- 
lows and his religious affiliation is with the Christian chruch. He has been 
successful in his efforts, and is today not only one of the leading farmers of 
the township in which he resides, but occujiies a prominent place among the 
solid and substantial men of the community. His character is such as to win 
for him in a marked degree the esteem antl friendship of those wbo know 
him and all who meet him are favorably impressed. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. y^y 

JOHN DEIHL. 

Prominent in the affairs of Ut-Kalh county and distinguished as a citi- 
zen whose influence is extended far heyund tlic hinits of tlie community hon- 
ored by his residence, tlie name of John Dcihl ^tands out a conspicuous figure 
among the successful farmers of the locahly of which this xohime treats. All 
of his undertakings have been actuated b\ nohlc motncs and higli resolves and 
characterized by breadth of wisdom and strong individualitv, and hi> >uccess 
and achiex-ements lint represent tlie result nf tit milizatiim cif innate talent in 
directing effort alnug thu^e hne^ where matuie judgment and rare iliserim- 
ination lead the way. 

John Deihl was born im Mav N. iS(.;. m Indiana c;itnn\. l'enn>\ Kama, 
and is a son of George and Xancy (0])a) Deihl. George Deihl was a native 
of Germany ;uid a son of John and Fdizabelh Deihl, who. in 1830. brought 
their fami!}- to Bedford county, Pennsylvania, George Deihl being at that 
time about six \ears old. He had a brother of precouous intellect and attain- 
ment, who. at the early age of eight yearV. was clerk at a sale in Germanw 
He never left the fatherland and died there, (ieorge Deihl was reared in 
Pennsylvania and there married Xancy ()];a, a native of Berlford county, 
that state, and the daughter of John and Xanc\- ( Bachtcl) Oba. George 
Deihl died in Pennsydvania in Xcuemlcr, iNSc). and twn years later his widow 
came to DeKalb county antl made her home with her cliildren until hi.r death. 
which occurred on July 3, igo6. 

John Deihl was reared to manhood in I'ennsyb ania. -securing his edu- 
cation in the common schools of his home locrdit\'. and on Se[)tember 9, 1879. 
he left home and came to DeKalb countw Indiana, where his father owned a 
farm in Richland township and there the sul)iect has li\ed continuously since 
with the exception of about twci years, which be -^iienl back at his Pennsyl- 
vania hoine a short time after coming to tbi'^ state. Gpon coming to Indiana 
the second time he made his home for a while witli the Oba family and while 
there met his future wil"c. She later mo\ ed to Abilene, Kansas, and there he 
went and married her in 1891. She had recei\ed ,1 splendid education and 
had engaged in teaching school near her present honie three years l)efore .she 
went west. Her maiden name was Kmnta C. Davidson, a sister of Henry 
Davidson, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work, and in which will be 
found something of the family history. John Deihl. at the time of his mar- 
riage, owned a farm of forty acres in the northern part of Keyser township, 
near his present home, and on this i)Iace he lived until 1896, when he sold it 



jHH DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

and moved to near Haynes Corners. In 1896 he built his present home on 
the old farm formerly owned by his father and moved there in 1897, and has 
lived there continuously since. He is now the owner of over two hundred 
acres of splendid land in his hmne farm in Richland township, and in the 
operation of this place he has met w ith a well merited success, for he has so 
conducted his operations as to insure a successful outcome. He has carried 
on a general line of farming and in connection with at^riculture has given 
considerable attention to the raising of live stock. ha\ing raised and sold 
more sheep than any other man in DeKalb countw In this line alone he has 
earned a wide-spread reputation and has done much to advance the interests 
of sheep-raising in this section of the state. He has made many permanent 
and substantial improvements on the home farm, all of which bear evidence 
to his enterprise and progressive spirit, and in the public and civic life of the 
community he is equalh- enterprising, giving his support to evervthing which 
promises to l;e of material, social or educational benefit to the community. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Deihl ha\-e been born four children, Cieorge. Roy, \'ic- 
tor and Dorothy, all of whom are at home with their parent--. Mr. and Mrs. 
Deihl move in the best social circles of the communit\-. wliere tiie\' ha\e long 
been numl^ered among the best citizens, and wherexer known they are held 
in high esteem, for they possess to a marked degree (|ualities which win and 
retain friendship. 



D.W'TD MIT.KS. 



The following is a brief sketch of the lite of one who. !)y close attention 
to business, has achieved marked success in the world's aifairs and risen to an 
honorable position among the enterprising men of the count}- with w hich his 
interests are identified. It is a plain record, rendered remarkalile b>- no strange 
or mysterious adx'enture, no wonderful or lucky accident and no tragic situa- 
tion. Mr. Milks is one of those estimable characters whose integritv and 
strong per.sonalit\- must force them into an admirable notoriety, which their 
modesty ne\er seeks, who command the rts])cct of their contemporaries and 
their posterity and leave the impress cf theii' indisiduality upon the age in 
which they live. 

David Milks was born on Ajjril :;. iSdi. in (ircen county. Wisconsin, a 
son of Ezra and Sarah ( Ronds ) Milks. P'.zra Milks, who was a native of 
Xew York state, went to T'ennsyUani.-i with his jiarents in \oung manhood and 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 789 

soon afterwards migrated to Wisconsin, where he followed agricultural pur- 
suits during practically his entire life. He was born in 1820, and died at the 
Soldiers" Home in Leavenworth. Kansas, in 1907. having been a veteran of the 
Civil war. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Ronds, was l>()rn in 
Massachusetts in 1827 and died in Wisconsin on June 7, IQ09. Mr. Milks 
was the father of seven children, of whom three, Amos, Thomas and Hattie, 
were born of his first union, and four, Frank, Ruth, David and Ella (Mrs. 
Estes), to the second union. Mrs. Milks, the subject's mother, had a child, 
Martha, by a former marriage^ she being now deceased. 

David Milks was reared on the paternal homestead, receiving a common 
school education and following the \ocation of farming during his early man- 
hood years. In the spring of 1887 he went to Kansas, where he remained 
until 1902, being engaged in farming operations, and then came to Smith- 
field township, DeKalb count}-. Imliaiia, and bought the Kininiel farm of one 
hundred and forty acre>^. In the fall of iiji 1 he bougln a residence property 
in Ashley, this county, remodeling the same and moving into it in the spring 
of the following year, his son, Bert, taking charge of the faitii. Tbe latter 
place is one of the best farms in Smithfield township, being well drainetl and 
practically all under cultivation, ^ery little timber being on the ]ilace. From 
the age of twehe years until he attained his majority Mr, IMilk-^ was reared 
by Arnold Bennett, who ga\e to liim tlic same careful attention that he would 
have given to a son of his own l)looil. Mr. Milks ha> proven to be a man <)t 
broad, humanitarian impulses, and lie b:i^ not onl}' acbie\eil a large success 
in his own iiersonal affairs, l)ut lias al^o been successful as a citizen, .giving 
the proper care and attention to those things which ha\e for their object the 
advancement of the general welfare of the communitw 

On Christmas day, 1886, ^Tr. Milks was married to Maria, the daughter 
of Jacob and Angeline 1 M inert ) \l)le\. Jacob Abley was a native of the 
little republic of Switzerland, where he rein;iine<l imtil twenty-four years of 
age, when he emigrated to the United States ami here followed the trade of a 
carpenter until his marriage, in September. 1851). to Angeline Minert. He 
was married in Wisconsin and there be settled on a farm. He followed agri- 
cultural pursuits there until bis death, which occin-red on Ajiril 18. 18(17. By 
this union Mr. Abley became the father of six children. Mrs. Maria .Milks, 
Cassie, Ida. Mrs. Lizzie Lewis. Willi.im and Mrs. \'era Alarlcook. The mother 
of these children was a native of Indiana. lx)rn near Covington. X'ermilion 
county, and died in Albany, Wisconsin, on July 28, 1906. To Mr. and Mrs. 



79^ DEKALB COUNTY. IXUIANA. 

Milks. wfre. born ti\:o children, Bert and (ieorge. The tornier married Cieorgia 
Conrad.aud. Jives .on his father's farm, which he operates. 

.. Politically. David Milks oives his earnest .su])port to the Repuljlican 
pa:rty, in the counsels of A\hich he was a prominent figure for manv vears. 
Fraternally, he is a niemher uf the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at 
Ashle}-. K'elifjiousl}'. he has ff»- a number of years been a member <if the 
Christian church, of which he has served as treasurer and is now one of its 
deacons. .\ man of kimlly and charitable impulses. lie breathes a spirit of 
optimisui wherever he .sioes. and those who know him best hold him in the 
highest regard. A man of clean character, a good business manager and 
keenly alive to the highest and best interests of his community, he is entitled 
to that measure nf confidence and regard in which he is held bv his fellow- 
citizens. . 



NOAH A. LVXG 



The biographies of the representative men of a county bring to light 
many hidden treasures of mind, character and courage, well calculated to 
arouse the pride of their family and nf the community, and it is a sotirce of 
regret that the people. are not m.ire familiar with the personal history oi such 
men in the ranks of whom may be found tillers of soil, mechanics, teachers, 
as well as lawyers, physicians, bankers and members of other vocations and 
professions. The subject of this sketch is distinctively one of the leading 
citizens of the township in which he lives, and as such has made his influence 
felt among his fellnw men and earned a name tor enterprise, integrity and 
honor that entitles him to worthy notice in ;i work of the nature of this 
volume. 

Xoali .\. l.ung was lioin in I'.utler townshi]). DcKall) county. December 
23, i8fi2, the son of Samuel and Sarah Jane (Showers) Lung, the father a 
native of Ohio, I^orn July 23, 18,^5. and died Octolicr 12. 1900, the mother 
born November 29, iS^s], and died March 3, 1888. To them were born ten 
children: Charity, Xoah .\., Daniel, Perry, decea.sed ; Thomas. William, 
Alice, deceased : Jeremiah, Paul, deceased, and Sanniel, deceased. The sub- 
ject of this sketch was given a good common school education, after which 
he went to \'alparaiso, Indiana, and engaged in teaching for three years. 
Subsequently he took up the pursuit of agriculture and followed the same in 
Butler township until 1904, when he moved to Union township, where he 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. /9I 

farmed lor five years, from there removing to I'airhekl tnwnship. where he 
now resides. His landed possessions amount to one luindred and sixty acres. 
Noah Lung was married mi July jN. \HX(>. tn Sarah I lawk, daughter nf 
Adam and Nancy (Johnsnu) Hawk. .\dam Hawk wa> horn ui Champaign 
county, Ohio, in 1826, and died in 1878. He was a farmer all his life in 
Adams county, Indiana. His wife was born in Harri.son county, Ohid. June 
10, 1833, and she passed away February 3, 1904. The Johnson family were 
among the first settlers in Harrison county, Indiana. I'd .\dani and .Vancy 
iiawk were born seven children: Lemuel, deceased: John, deceased: .\. J.: 
Rebecca, deceased; .Mary, decea-ed : Sarah I. and \alentine. To the subject 
and wife ha\e been born six children: .Mabel married lienr)- l.uiime. of 
Union towaiship; Jennie married Max Lower, of Toledo: Arthur is at home; 
I^ulu married Herman .\lartz: I'.lanche married I'aul Smith, of .^tnrgis. .Michi- 
gan ; Edna is at home. 

iM-aternally. Air. Lung is a member of the Knights of I'ylhias lodge at 
.\uburn, having gone through the chairs of '•aid lodge. He was elected and 
.served as trustee of Butler township from Xoxcmber 10, 1900, to January 1, 
1905. He was a member of the state militi;t for three years and ])erformed 
.service in the Pullman strike of 1803. for which he received a bronze medal 
for meritorious service. 



CHARLES LEHAllTXCK. 

The virile and wholesome blood of the fatherland, which has .steadily 
Howed in all its enriching and purifying power into tlie arteries of e\ery 
industry and occupation of this land, has ])rol'ably been more marked in the 
development and uplift of a.gricultme th:in in any other vocation. With 
wholesome minds and >liinl\ bodies the^^e we!con:e emigrants from the 
Kaiser's domain ha\e formed a part of the \-anguard of almost e\ery l)and of 
pioneers fighting their way through forest'^ den-e. bra\ing untold dangtr- and 
suffering severe ])rivations that they might do their full share in making 
their adopted land the glorious nation it is today. .\'o more wurtliy son of 
the Teutonic race could find a place in the jiages of this work than he who 
forms the caption of this l)rief sketch. The ]ihrase "a ^elf-m;ide man" lias 
been so frequently abused and so carelessly applied that its full imjiovt is 
often lost, but the friends and acciuaintances of the subject will readily grant, 
and insist, that, in all its broadest meaning, it but justly and truthfully de- 
scribes the one whose life inspires this article. 



792 DEKALP, COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Charles Lehiiiback was l)orn August -'5. ^H^t. iu Germany, the son ot 
Christian and Hanna ( Geist ) Lehmback. The father. Christian I.ehuiiiack. 
spent his entire Hte in Germany, where he died in 1841. He was a farmer ail 
his life and was noted for being thrifty and progressive in his metlrnds. The 
mother, also a native of Germany, emigrated to the Cnited States when the 
subject was about twenty-six years of age, his two brothers also coming. 
They came to Auburn, which at that time was s|)arsely settled. The mother 
lived in Auburn with her son John until her death. To the subject's parents 
were born six children: Sophia, deceased; Jolm, who lives in Auburn: .Min- 
nie: Reggie, or Regina, deceased: Alary, deceased, and Charles. The mother 
was married a second time, tcj Carl F\ruse, whose decease occurred jjrevious to 
her death. To this union was born one child. \\'illiani, who li\es in .\uliurn. 

In December. 1868. Charles Lehmback wa> united in lioK wedlock with 
Fredrekia, daughter of John Strube and Fredreka ( Shultz ) Strube, both 
natives of the fatherland, who came to .\merica and located in Chicago, where 
they spent the balance of their days. John Strube i^assing awav in iqcj. his 
wife having preceded him across the dark river one }ear. To them were born 
six children: Fredrickia. Charles. Fred, John. Minnie am! Lena (Mrs. 
Brochar). 

To Mr. and Mrs. Lehmback have lieen liorn mx children: Minnie: 
Frank, who lives in Garrett and is eniiiloyed 1)\- the P>a]tiniore & ( )liio R;ul- 
road Company, is married and has three children: John, a carpenter, who is 
married and has four children, living also in ( iarrett : Lizzie is married to a 
Mr. Schulthess, retired, of Garrett, and they have had fi\e children, two of 
whom are deceased: Liddie. who also lives in fiarrett, married a Mr. Maviz, 
who is employed by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Companv, and they lia\ c 
one child : Tillie is married to W. M. Miller, also a retired resident of Garrett. 

Charles Lehmlack worked in .\uburn for nine \ears and li\ed for one 
year on a farm betwen Waterloo and .\uburn. After lea\ing .\ul)urn he 
came to Keyser townsliip, and rented a farm of one hundred and ten acres, 
about one-half of which was in timber. Tie cleared a good portion of this 
timbered land and after renting the farm for twenty-two ye;irs he purclrised 
the tract and is still engaged in acti\-e farming, lie has built a comfortable 
residence on the place and the substantial outbuildings are also evidences of 
his thrift and energy. He has remodeled the barn and fenced and drained the 
land until it today stands as one of the best agricultural plants in the town- 
ship and is an inspiring illustration of the old axiom, "where there's a will 
there's a way.'' In the development of this wild tract of timbered land into 



DEKAI.B COUNTY. INDIANA. 793 

the model farm it is tnday. and in the stTn.^t^les. hanlships and trials meident 
thereto, he has been loyally assisted by his de\oted helpmate, who with her 
honored spouse has the satisfaction of dirty well done. They came to the 
farm with empty hands, but by keeping "everlastingly at it" they ha\e pros- 
pered and have been rewarded with a goodly share of this world's goods. 

Politically, Mr. Lehmback takes an active interest in the affairs of the 
Republican party, while his religious ;iffiliations are with the ( ierman .Metho- 
dist church, of which he is a trustee. 



WILLl.AM (;OOD\Vi.\". 



In the history of DeKalb couiUw as applying to the agricultural inter- 
ests, the name of William Goodwin occupies a conspicuous place, for through 
a number of years he has been one of the representative farmers of Smithfield 
township, progressixe, enterprising and persevering. Such (|u;dities win suc- 
cess, sooner or later, and to Mr. Goodwin the\- ha\e brought a satisfactory 
reward for his well-directed efforts, and while he has lieuelileil himself in a 
material way, he has also been an inllueutial factor in the odnc.-Uinnal. political 
and moral uplift uf tiie community faxored with hi-- citizenshi]). 

William G.mhIwui was l.oni mi August 24. iSV. "U the old (ii.odwiu 
homestead in section 3:;. Smithlield inwnship, DeKalb (•■unilx, Imliana. and is 
the son of Daniel anil Susannah (Kiefer) Goodwin. Daniel Goodwin, who 
was a native of Ashland counl\. Ohio, emigrated lo DeKalb county. Indiana, 
when abont thirty \ears of age. cnming with his wife and son in 1S34. He 
bought two hundred and eight acres of land in the fall of the ])re\i(ins year, 
going then back to Ohio and bringing his familv in M;iy of the following 
year. With the exception of five years, when he li\ed in Waterloo, Air. 
Goodwin ga\e his undivided attention to the operation of this land, having a 
renter on the place during his ab.senee. .\fter s])ending five years in Water- 
loo. .Mr. Goodwin nioxed' bark to the farm, where his death occiu'red on 
Juh- _'. 1003. lie was twice m.arried, .\fter the death of bis first wife, in the 
fall of 1X54. he was married, on April 26, 1855, to Susannah Kiefer. By his 
first union were l)oru two children, Philenian, deceased, and Henry .\. Henry, 
who has never married, now lives with his stepmother on the home place, 
she being now about eighty-five years of age. By his second marriage Mr. 
Goodwin became the father of five children : William, the immediate subject 



794 DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 

of this sketch. .Mrs. Ehza Dil-ard. Mrs. Elniira rarnell. John and David. 
Eliza, who became the wife of Simon Dilgard. a farmer of Grant tnwnsliip. 
this county, is the mother of three chikh'en h\ing antl two deceased, those 
living being Raymond Curtis. Jacjues and Vera; Elmira, who became the wife 
of Curtis Parnell, a farmer of Pleasantville. Iowa, is the mother of two chil- 
dren. Mrs. Sivalla Hickenbaugh .-md Airs. \'esta McElrea; John, who is a 
traveling salesman and manager for the T. (',. Xorwall Company, of .Si,)u\ 
City, Iowa, married Irena Riachart. and tliey have two children. Odessa and 
Erw in, l)oth of whom are married: I )a\id married Dora Smith, and is a far- 
mer near Cedar Lake. Smithfield township, and they have four children living 
and one deceased, those living being Mrs. Nellie Danner. of Fort Wayne. 
Raymond. Mrs. Elmira ]\Iyers. of I-'airfiekl township, this county, and N'irgil. 
Susannali ( Kiefer) Goodwin was a native of Delaware county. Pennsyh.-uiia. 
moving to Ohio with her parents when about eight years of age. .\fter living 
in Wayne county. Ohio, about ten miles from Wooster. she became the wife 
of Daniel Goodwin, with wliom slie came to Indiana, and now makes a liome 
for her stepson, as stated above. 

William Goodwin was reared on the paternal homestead and has devoted 
])raclically his entire life to f;irniing. the only exce]ition lieing a jieriod of 
about four vears which he sptnl as n tra\elin'_; salesman. In the s])ring of 
iNX- Mr. Goodwin bought fifty-seven and one-half acres of the home place, 
and in .\])ril. loio. he liought i .ne iiunch'ed and twent\- acre-; of laud ir. Grant 
township, near Waterloo, formerly known as the S. V. Klotz farm. Of this 
he deeded eighty acres to Daunt Updyke, a son-in-law, retaining forty acres 
in his own name. There were no improvements on the forty-acre tract, al- 
though the land liad been cleared, and on March ro. Kji j. he liought ten acres 
of the Seerv farm adjoining his first purchase. He has tiled and drained his 
present farm, putting the soil in splendid condition, and has erected all the 
buildings which now render the place one of tlie most \alnable of its kind in 
this towushi]). The land is ])racticall\- all now rented, as Air. Goodwin re- 
tired in the spring" of ^q^^,. though he lives in the old farm residence. He 
has bought residence propertv in Waterloo and expect^ to move to that place 
in the s])ring f)f TQ14. 

On Januarv 3, 1878. ^^^illiam Goodwin married Emma R. Shaffer, daugh- 
ter of William and Rebecca I Francis) Shaffer, and to this union have been 
horn six children, namelv : One who died in infancy: Orpha A. became the 
wife of Daunt Updyke. a farmer of Grant township, near Waterloo, this 
countv. and they have two children living. Carroll and Oliver, and one de- 



DEKAI.B COl'NTY, INDIANA. 795 

ceased; \e>ta 1. l)cc.anie the wife ni Cliaik's While, a laritier neai' Waterloo 
in Siiiithliekl lownshi]), and the\ have two chilfhen. I'raneis and Uoliherta;, 
Lidu I'", hecanie the wife of Ward jaekinaii. a fainier of ( iranl lowiisliip; 
Helen B. lives at home, as does Francis W'. Religiously, .Mr. (ioodwiu i> an 
earnest and faithful uieuiher <>f the IWan.ijelical chinch at Waterloo, lu which 
he gives a liberal support, heiut; interested in its xarimis actix ities ami dning 
what he can to forward every worthy movement under its auspices. ( ienial 
and unassuming in manner, Mr. (ioodw in has earned the high regard in which 
he is held in the cominunity. he and his wife moving in the best social circles 
and, taking a broad view of men a,nd events, he gives his support to all move- 
ments having for their object the advancement of the ])ul)lic welfare. 

Reverting to the family history of Mrs. (loodwiu, it may be stated that 
William Shaffer was born cm Jid\ Jd, tSjj. in Westmoreland ci/unty. I'enn- 
sylvania. When a young man he nio\ ed to Stark ounty. ( )bio, with liis par- 
ents, Simon and Margaret ( Kinnanl ) Shaffer, and there fcilhiwed his \cK;uion 
of wagon-maker, though in later years he became a farmer .-uid thresher. On 
August 15, 1850, William Shaffer married Rebecca .\. l-vancis, wlio wa> Imrn 
on December 27, 1833, in Madison countw Ohio, where their marriage oc- 
curred. From Ohio he remo\ed to hlarrison CMuntv, Missouri, in 1853, from 
there to Marion county, Iowa: from there th.e family came to DeKalb county, 
where Mr. Shaffer engaged in farming, oiierating his mother's farm of eighty 
acres in Richland township, and also ran a threshing machine outfit. His- 
death occurred on Februarv 3. i8()o, and his wife died on January 2j. 1X^)4, 
at Centerville, Iowa. Just prior to his own death Mr. Shaffer moved iiitd the 
home of his son, Oliver Shaft'er, where his death occurred. He was hale and 
heartv up to the time of his decease, having worked just ]iri(]i- to his death in a 
carriage factory at Auburn, and al<ii worked in a repair shop run by his 
cousin, John Shaft'er. He wa^ twice married, there lieing five children born 
by his union with Reljecca Francis. naniel\- : haac X., deceased: Oliver K.. 
Emma R., Clara I., Ida L. Of these, Clara 1. married David Dilgard, a rail- 
road engineer at San Antonio, Texas, and the\ have twn children. Mrs. Olive 
Bateman and Mrs. Flora Anderson: Ida 1.. becime the wife of Charles 
Lehmbeck. a railroad emplo\-e at Sedan. Indiana, and they have two chiklren, 
Delia and Milda. Oliver E. married \'esta F. Husselman October j, 1883, 
and thev bad one child. Arthur, deceased. On b'ebruary _>6, 1S74. Mr. Shaffer 
married Mary Ann Robin, and to them were born two children, Ne^ttie and 
John, both of whom are deceased. 



7cK> i)p:KAr,B countv. Indiana. 

CHESTER I'REXTICI- HODGE. 

It is the dictate of our nature, no less tliau of enlightened sr)cial [lolicy. to 
honor those whose lives ha\e contributed in an> \\a\^ to the goixl of their 
community and their associates; to hedew with atTectionate tears the sileiil 
urn of (le])arted worth and \-irtue, to unliurden the fullness of the surcharj^ed 
heart in eulogium upon deceased benefactors, and to rehearse their noble deeds 
for the benefit of those who may come after us. It has been the commendable 
custom of all ages and all nations. Hence the following feeble trilnite to one 
of nature's noblemen. In contemplating the many estimable i|ualities of the 
late Chester Prentice Hodge, industry and integrity appear as ])rominent 
characteristics — an integrity that no personal or other consideration could 
swerve, and an industry that knew no rest while anything remained undone. 
In the field of pedagogy Alf. Hodge stood in the front rank among his con- 
temporaries, his reputation as an able, successful and popular educator far 
transcending the limits of his home county. His temper was calm and equa- 
ble and his manners were emphatically those of the gentleman. — plain, sim- 
ple, dignified, — despising sham and pretense of all kinds. His devotion to 
every duty was intense, while hi? perception of truth and worth was almost in- 
tuiti\-e. In his estimate of these he was seldom mistaken, and while his 
opinions were strung, he wa^ al\\a\^ npcn to cnnxiction. and when satisfied 
that they were erruneous his conccssiuns were graceful and un(|ualifie(l. Ik- 
was a man wlidni to knuw was tn respect and adnfire, and his loss was keenl\ 
felt Iw a wide circle of friends and acipiaintances. 

Chester Prentice Plodge was born at EeRays\ ille. Luzerne coun.tx . Penn- 
sylvania, and was a son of James ;uid Keturah ( Ransom i Hodge. His 
maternal grandfather, Samuel Ransom, was a son of Samuel Ransom. .Sr.. 
who was beheaded at the historic massacre of the Wyoming \alley during the 
war of the Rexolution. He was a jirominent man in his communitv and a 
successful farmer, had serxed in the French and Indian war and in 1776 
was commissioned captain of a company, being the second independent com- 
pany attached to the Connecticut line. I\e\. Tames Hodge, paternal grand- 
father of the subject of this sketch, was a Methodist circuit rider in Penn- 
sylvania, and at the same time dealt in groceries and liipiors. the two stocts 
l:)eing carried in conjunction in those days and considered a perfectly proper 
proceeding. He and his wife are both now deceased and lie buried in the 
cemeten- ;it LeRavsxille. Chester P. Hodge, who was bom Deceinber 16, 



DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. 797 

1834, at LeRaysville, Pennsyhania, prepared for college at the Wyoiiiins- 
Seminary at Kingston, that state. He then engaged in teaching school tor 
a while, after which he hecaine a student at Union College at Schenectady, 
New York, where he stood liigh in his classes, especially in mathematics and 
.sciences, graduating with the degree of Master of .\rts in [une, 1862. In 
August of the same year Air. Hodge enlisted in the One I Imidred and h'orty- 
fir.st Regiment. Pennsylvania \'olunteer Infantry, with which he went to the 
front, and in October, while near Poolsville, Maryland, with General Robin- 
son's brigade, having l)een apjiointerl assistant brigade r|u-irtermaster. he was 
.seized with bilious colic, from wiiicli he nearly died. His recoverv was so 
slow that late in December of iliat \e;ir lie received an hcjuorable discharge. 
His mother had died on Xoxcmber Ji, \H()j. and his fntlier went to Towando. 
Penn.sylvania. to li\e with his dau.ghli-r. Priscilla Lee. who had Iieconie the 
wife of John H. Codding, at that time sheriff of liradford countv. The 
other sister, Sara Lucretia, went to live with her older l)rother, James W.. 
who had been married eighteen months before and lived at Harrisburg. Tak- 
ing his sister back with him. Mr. Hodge opened the abandoned house, brought 
his father to it. and they formed the family household until spring. On the 
14th of .April. i8r)3. Air. Hodge married Julia E.. only daughter of 1^. P,. 
Mott, one of the pioneer- and ])rominent citizens of DeKalb countv. Indiana, 
who had been at that time a resident of .Auburn for almost twenty years. Mr. 
Hodge and lu"s wife spent a year in LeI\a\-^\ ille, but his father died on Xo\em- 
ber 5, 1803, and Air. and Airs. Alntt were anxious to have their children with 
them in Auburn, especiall\- as one son, Slieridan. was in the army, wlnle the 
eldest .son. Egbert P.. AJott, Jr.. and the youngest. John (irenville. were in 
California. Air. and Airs. Hodge reached Auburn. Indiruia. on April J4th. 
just three weeks bfore the deatli of Sheridan, which occurred at Xash\-ille. 
He had lieen wounded in the battle of Chickamauga. Here Air. Hodge en- 
gaged in the pedagogical profession, and the many hundreds who, during a 
period of thirty years or more, jirofited 1iy lu'^ instructions, are witnesses to 
the ability, ener.gy and faithfulness wliicb he hioughtto the ilischarge of his 
duties. .As a teacher of mathematics he had few eipials. and for clear, logical 
and forcible reasoning it was difficult to find his ecpial. As a man. he was 
honest, ujjright and jnire. one whose jud.gtnent w;is unbiased by selfish mo- 
ti\'es. .Modest and unassuming himself, lie disliked ]M'etension whcre\ci- he 
foiuid it, but he was quick to recognize intelligence, integrity and genuine 
piet\. Mr. Hod.ge was ct)nverted while young, united with the Methodist 
Fljiiscopal church and remained a faithful member of that denomination for 



798 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

many years, but circumstances e\'entually persuaded him to join the Protestant 
Episcopal church, to which he became strongly attached and lie was confirmetl 
in 1874 and remained in that communion the rest of his Hfe. A lover of 
music, he possessed a splendid singing \oice and during most of his life he was 
a member of choirs, first in the Methodist and later in the Episcopal churches. 
His health had been gradually failing through many years and for almost 
three years prior to his death, which occurred on Xovemlier 8, 1887. he had 
been disabled from regular work. His wife, Eugenia Mott, was born at 
Frederickstown, Ohio, on June 3. 1837, tlie daughter of Egliert Benson and 
Mary (Winterbottom ) ]\Iott, who, in 1843, moved witli their four children to 
Auburn. Indiana, at which time Mrs. Hodge was Init six years old. Here 
she was reared and passed her early womanhood except two or three years 
spent in completing her e-lucation at Wyoming Seminary, Kingston. Tennsyl- 
vania. where she graduated in 1837. It was at this school that she first made 
the acquaintance of Chester Prentice Hodge, to whom she was married in 
April, 1863. She and her husband lived at various places in northern In- 
diana, where he was following his profession of teaching, but eventuallx 
located on the Alott farm north uf Aulnirn, which was their liome from that 
time for many years. Here her }-oungest child, Teresa, died in 1884. Her 
•eldest living son, Egbert, at attorney of Chicago, died in 1893. and lier mother 
also died in 1803. Slie spent the last few winters of her life in Kirkwood. 
Missouri, with her daughter, Julia M. Plodge, a teacher there, her death oc- 
curriiig at the latter place on January 8. iQii, at the a.ge of sevent>-four 
year-;. Of her nine children, she was sur\"i\ed b\- her daughter. Julia Mott. 
now a Bible teacher at IManila, Philippine Islands, and a son. Chester James, 
who lives on the old farm known as Greenhurst. in I'nion township. Dels all 1 
county. She was a woman of unusual .gifts and rare virtues. Her friends 
were many nnd lier life of childlike faith was full of gracious ministrations 
to those aljout her. leaving behind her a host of blessed memories. She was a 
poet of exceptional facility of expression and a gift of reaching the heart, her 
poems being admirably written and possess rhythm and meter. The .\iott 
family have for many years been prominent in American life, and Mrs. 
Hodge is related to several well-known peoi)le. Ann \\"interbottom Ste\ens. a 
famous author, her aunt; Jolm (irenxille Mott. her only lix'ing l)-;ither, of 
Chicago, a man of affairs, well known in business circles and others of e(|ual 
prominence. Specific mention to the ^lott family is gi\-en elsewhere in this 
work, therefore further detailed mention of the family will not be made at 
this point. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 799 

JOHN S. POTTS. 

From remote antiquity agriculture ha> heen considered an honorahie 
vocation, and in all ages men ot" sterluig worth and iuimane impulses, as well 
as those of energy and thrift, have been tillers nf the soil. The free, out-door 
life of the farm, besides inspiring new life and hoi)e. has a tendency to de\elop 
and foster independence of mind and self-reliance, characteristic of stmng. 
virile manhood, and no greater blessing can befall a boy than to be reared in 
close touch with nature amid the healthful labor> of the held. JMom this 
fruitful soil and air spring in a large degree the moral bone and sinew of the 
country, and the majority of America's great warriors, wise statesmen, re- 
nowned scholars and distinguished men of letters, as well as the great captains 
of industry and leaders in the domain of thought, were born and reared on 
the farm, and to this fact is largely due the eminence to which they have at- 
tained. The well-known sul>ject of this review is one of DeKalb county's 
representative agriculturists and as such has met with deser\ed success. Ik- 
stands high in the esteem of his fellow men and as a liroad-minded. pro- 
gressi\e citizen, fully abreast with the times, exercises a wholesome niflucnce 
in the communit}-, besides being a factor of no little weiglit in the ])ublic affairs 
of this township and county. 

John S. Potts, of Fail-field township, DeKalb comity. Indiana, was born 
in Lawrence county. Illinois, on January 3], iBf)^., and is the son of Wilson and 
Louisa (Pitman) Potts, both of whom were natives of the state of ( )hio. 
Wilson Potts went to Illinois in a \-ery early day. settling in Lawrence county, 
where he followed farming and where le liecame a prominent and respecteii 
man in the cominunity. To him and his wife were born four children, 
Priscilla, Ella. John S. and .\nn.a. 

John S. Potts secured his education in the ])ublic schools of Lawrence 
county. Illinois, and at the age of twelve years came to DeKalb county, 
Indiana, making his home with John Potts. He was reared to the life >\ a 
farmer and has followed this \ocation during all of his active years, in which 
he has been very successful and is now the owirt of one hundred acres of 
land in Fairfield township, to the cultivation of which he is devoting himself 
assiduously and with practical ideas and up-to-date methods. He carries 
on mixed farming, raising all the crops common to this section of the country 
and also gives some attention to the breeding and raising of live stock, which 
he has found to be a very important and profitable adjunct to farming. 

In i88s Mr. Potts was married to Barbara .\. Ziegler, the daughter of 



800 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Samuel and Elizabetli ( Melton ) Ziegler. who were old and prominent families 
in Delvalb county. To Mr. and Mrs. Potts have been born the following 
children: Gro\-er C, Cora.M., Bessie E.. "Flossie M.. Louisa E.. John E., 
Sannicl \\'.. X'esla E. and Charley V. 

Politically, ]\lr. Potts has been a life-long supporter of the Democratic 
])art\-. in the success of which he has been an important factor, especiall)' in 
local elections, and he is at present a member of the county council, in which 
posiiicin lie is rendering efficient service to the county. He has succeeded in 
life because he ])0ssesses to a notal)le degree those qualities which will insure 
success in an\' undertaking, persistenc)' in action, a clearly defined purpose and 
correct business methods, and because of these qualities and his high personal 
worth he has won an en\-iable standing in the communit\- ^xith which he has 
been identified for so man\- xear-. 



ISAAC M. THOMAS. 



It is by no means an easy task to describe within the lifnits of this 
review a man who has led an acti\e and eminently useful life and by his own 
exertions reached a position of honor and trust in the line of industries with 
which his interests are allied. But biography finds justification, nevertheless, 
in the tracing and recording of such a life history, as the public claims a cer- 
tain interest in the career of every individual and the time invariably arrives 
when it becomes advisable to give the right publicity. It is, then, with a cer- 
tain degree of satisfaction that the chronicler essays the task of touching 
briefly upon such a record a^ ba-^ been that ni the subject who now comes 
under this review. 

Isaac M. Thomas, the well-known ice manufacturer of Auburn, is a 
native of Stark county, Ohio, wlierc his liirth occurred on October \(>. 1841. 
The father, John Thomas, also a nati\e of Ohio, was a prominent ministei' 
of the United Brethren church. He came tn Delxalb county, Indiana, in the 
early days, settling on the Grogg farm, which he afterwards sold, and bought 
a farm near Feagle's Corners. Richland township, and subsequently they 
moved to Elkhart county, this state, w here he engaged in agricultural pursuits. 
He also traveled as an ordained minister of the United Brethren church. 
going to various parts of the state, and was well and widely known as a suc- 
cessful minister of the gospel, doing much effective and valued work in this 




MR. AND MRS. ISAAC M. THOMAS 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. <Soi 

line. As a farmer he also succeeded well, exercising fine jiulgnienl and lieing 
progressive in his ideas. His death occurred in 1905. He nianied .Mary 
Grim, who also was a native of Stark county. Ohio, and whose death occurred 
in 1S41. John Tiionia'^ was tiu'ce times married, tlie first union l)ein.i; to 
Mary Grim, by whom he had three children, John, who died while servint^ in 
the army; Joseph, and Isaac M.. the iminecHale sulijeci of this review, llv 
his second marriage, which was to Julia Ann Ponies, wlio died in 1S97. .Mr. 
Thomas became the father (^f six cliildren, Simon, i)a\ id Henry, i'",h/alieth 
(deceased), Julia Ami, Mary and Jacob. Air. Thomas w;l^ married a iliird 
time where he was residing in Kansas, and to ihi^ union were horn two dnl- 
dren, Benjamin and Amanda, lioth of wlnom li\ e in ixansas. 

Isaac M. Tliomas came to HcKall) count) ni 1S35. when ;il)oiit fourteen 
years of age, and ga\e liis attention to tarmint; |unsuits until his marriage in 
1865, W'hen he engaged in the saw-mil! lousiness at \ul)urn. This line of Inrsi- 
ness engaged his attention during the following six years, at the end of 
which period he became the station agent for the I'ort Wayne & Jackson 
railroad, now known as the Lake Shore. 1 le w;is the first agent appointed at 
this place and held the position four years. He then engaged in the threshing 
Inisiness in this township, running the threshing outfit for twelve .seasons, and 
also engaged to some extent in farming. He then retired from the thresh- 
ing business and again eiUered tlie saw-mill 1 r.siness. w liicli engaged him 
for about eight years. .\t tlie end of that ])eriod he Mild his s;iw-niill interest 
and engaged in the manufacture of .artificial ice near Auburn, then known as 
Auburn Junction. Tins business, which is now in its eighth \ear. has enjoyed 
a healthy and steady growth from the beginning. ;md is now one of the most 
important industrial concerns in this locality. Mr. Thomas Ii.as as partneis in 
his enterprise his sons, John C. ami .\rthur 1.. 

Mr. Thomas is an intelligent and well-read man. ha\iug supplemented a 
good common school education with two terms in the Auburn high school. 
after which he enga.eed in teaching schfjol for two terms prior to his mar- 
riage, he then taking a live interest in local public affairs, .and from iH^j to 
1876 rendered efficient service as trustee of I'nion townshi|). rolitically. he 
is an active supporter of the Trohibition party, believing the temperance 
f|uestion to be the greatest issue now before the .\merican people. Religiously, 
he is a member of the Church of r,od at .\uburn, and is an ordained mini.ster 
in this church, being also an elder in the churcli. in which he is acti\e and in- 
fluential. 

(51) 



802 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

In 1865 Isaac M. Thomas was married to Sophia Buss, the daughter of 
Christian and Margaret (Stnlev) Buss. Mr. Buss was born in Switzerland, 
and as a young man came to America, locating first in Ohio, where he fol- 
lowed the carpenter trade, which he had learned in his native land. He mar- 
ried Margaret Staley in Ohio, and continued to follow his vocation until 
coming to Richland township, DeKalb counl\ . wliere he engaged in tlie 
erecting of barns. He here bought eighty acres of land cm which he engaged 
in farming, and also ran a saw -mill. The farm which he purchased, has on it 
an old water power saw-null, which he later replaced with steam ])ower. 
This saw-mill is still standing and is in operation the greater |)art of the 
time. Mr. Buss died in the summer oi 1867 i.n his home farm in Richland 
township. His wife, who also was a native of Switzerland, came to America 
with her father and two brothers, who located in the state of Ohio, where her 
marriage occurred. She died in 1874. To tin's unirm were Ixirn thirteen chil- 
dren : Sophia, Christian, Samuel; Henry, deceased; Mrs. Mary Sherlock, 
who lives in Auburn, Indiana ; Mrs. Clara Tahnum, who is a widow and 
lives with her sister, Mar\-, in Auburn: Maggie; Ida, deceased; and there 
were five others who died in infancy and youth. Mr. Buss was an active 
Democrat in his political affiliations, and took a li\e interest in local affairs, 
though he never held public office. To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have been 
born six children; Laura Margaret, deceased; John; Mrs. \"iola Kessler. who 
lives near Auburn, Indiana, and is the mother of one child. .Arthur; Saloma, 
at home ; and Vesta, who died in infancy. Saloma has for four years been 
connected with the office of the ice plant. 

Mr. Thomas is a man of kindly impulses, and because of the s])lendid 
relations that he has sustained with those about him he enjoys to a marked 
degree the confidence and regard of the community. Even-temi)ered, scru])u- 
lously honest in all his relations with life, hospitable and charitable, his many 
kindly deeds have been actuated chiefly from his largeness of heart, rather 
than from any desire to gain the approval of his fellow men. His record is 
too familiar to the readers of this work to reipiire a fulsome encomium here, 
for his life speaks for itself in strrmger terms tlian the biogra])her could em- 
plo\- in polished ])eriods. 

John C. Thomas was born on January ig, iSho. at Auburn, and li\ed 
with his parents until i88c). when lie went to Topeka. Kansas, as operator and 
became manager for the Postal Telegraph Company, which position he held 
successfully for fifteen years. In IQ04 he returned home and immediately en- 
gaged in the saw-mill business with his brother. Arthur, and his brother-in- 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 803 

law. He later went mto business with his father and brother Arthur in the 
ice manufacturing business, and they are still acti\ely engaged in this enter- 
prise. At the same time he is continuing the saw-mill business with his 
brother and brother-in-law, W. H. Kessler. Mr. Thomas is a man of good 
education, having attended the common schools and also learnings the tele- 
graph profession, which he followed, as above stated, for many years, enjoying 
the confidence of his employers and holding high official position with his 
company. Politically, he is a Republican. On May 15, 1894, John C. Thomas 
married Maggie Aldridge. the daughter of John and Sidena (Innis) Aldridge, 
and to them have been born five children, Marie, George, Ralph, Mary, who 
died in infancy, and Margaret Grace. 

Arthur L. Thomas was born on November 7, 1872, at Auburn, and re- 
ceived a good practical education in the cnmnKin schools of his home neigh- 
borhood. His first acti\e Inisiness \\a^ in connection with a saw-mill, in 
which he took a one-third interest and later bought a one-third interest in 
the ice business which had been established by his father, and is still actively 
engaged in both enter])rises. He is a man of industrious habits, good business 
judginent. and because of his upright character and genial nature he enjoys 
the friendship of all who know him. Politically, he is a Reimblican. though 
with no political aspirations. In ujo; Arthur 1.. Thomas married Maude 
Musser, the dau.ghter of Jacol) and Lesina ( Rock ) .Mus-er, and they ha\-e two 
children. Arnold and fharles Y. 



ORLANDO ELLIOTT. 

It is with marked sati-friction that the binLMaphcr adxerts to the life of 
one who has attained success in any voration rei|uiring dehniteness of ])ur- 
posc and determined action. ."^ucli a life, whetlier it lie one of calm, consecu- 
tive endeavor or of sudden meteoric accomiilishments, must abound in both 
lesson and incentixe and ])rove :i guide to young men who.se fortune^ and 
destinies are ■^till matters for llie future to deterninie. The subject of this 
sketch is distincti\eK one of the representati\e agriculturists of DeKall) 
count\-. l-"or a number of yeru- he directed his efforts toward the .goal of 
success and bv patieiU continu;mce in well <loing succeeded at last in overcom- 
ing the manv obstacles bv which his i)athway was beset, and is today con- 
sidered one of the foremost farmers of the county. 

Orlando Elliott was born on Xovember 12. 1859, in Coshocton county. 



f504 DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 

Ohio, and is a son of Nathan and Jane (Ling) EUiott. Xathan Elhotl, who 
was also linrii in Coshocton county. OlnO, followed farmin,;:;- pursuits through- 
out his active life, and when the suhject of this sketch was aI)out fi\e years of 
age, or in 1SO4. the family came to Del\:dl) count}', where the father liought 
eighty acres of land in l-'airfield township in iSfij and mo\ed onto the same. 
Howe\er, he sold this farm and hought one hun<lre<l and twent\- acres known 
as the Barker farm, near Summit, and lived there until ahout 1898, when he 
sold this tract to John Conrad and mo\ed to Jackson count}', thi-^ -tate, where 
he bought one hundred and sixt}' acres of land to which he mo\ed : hut resided 
there onl} a few \\ eeks, when, in the spring of mni. his death occiu'red. He 
was one of the lirst settlers in l)eKall) connt\, the jotu'ney from Ohio h-iving 
heen made h}" wagon to this localit}', the mother and children coming by train. 
Jane (Ling) Llliott was al<o horn in (.'oshocton count}, Olho, anrl her death 
occuri'ed on tlie llarkcr farm near Sumnht in 1880. She was a hard-work- 
ing woman, a true hel]imate to her iiushaud. and lier loss was keenly felt by 
him and the sur\i\ing children. They became the parents of ten children, 
namely : .Mar}-, deceased; Orlando, the immediate suljject of this sketch; 
Mrs. Nancy 1). Uufner; Lmma, deceased; Mrs. Zora Meek; John, deceased; 
James; Jesse; Cora, deceased, and Jennie, who died in infancy. 

Orlando Llliott wa^ reared under the parental ro. d' and secured a good, 
practical education in the con'imi]n schools of his home neighborhood. He 
was reared to the life of a farmer, and followed this vrjcation practical!} ail 
of his acti\e vea.rs. .\t one time he owned fort}' acres of land east of Snm- 
niit which he traded for his present farm of eighty acres in 1803. and event- 
ualh' he bought twent} acres additional oi¥ of the John (iramling farm adjoin- 
ing his own tract. Tlie latter purchase included a barn which Mr. Llliott 
moved to his ])resent farm and remodeled it. Mr. Llliott is jirogressive in his 
agricultural methods, giving proper attention to e\er\' detail of his work, and 
has maintained his farm at the highest standard of agricultm-al excellence. 
the buildings being kept in good re]);dr, the soil well-drained and tiled, and the 
fences in good shai)e. so that the whole estate presents a pleasing aspect to the 
passer-by. The residence which was on the farm when he ])ought it is a 
large brick structure, well-arranged, and provided with modern conveniences, 
and it is considered one of the best homes in that section of the township. 

On March 7. 1881, Orlando Llliott was united in marriage with Lliza .\. 
Gramling, daughter of John and Mageline ( h'retz ) ( iramhng. John 
Ciramling was born in Penns}'l\'ania, but in his }-outh mo\ed from that state 
to Stark couiitv. Ohio, thence to DeKalb count}' In wagon and canal boat, com- 



DEKAI.U COUNTY, INDIANA. 805 

ing here when quite yciuni;. He was reared to the hte nt a tanner, and also 
gave some attention to the vocation of carpentering, at which lie was an ex- 
pert. He owned forty acres of land near Summit, to which he gave intelligent 
direction, and was numhered among the enterprising and influential citizens 
of his locality. He is now deceased. His wife, whose maiden name was 
Mageline Fretz, was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and came to DeKalb 
county in 1854 when about twelve years of age. She is still living. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Elliott have been born twehe children, namely : Carl, deceased ; 
Mrs. Mary Mageline Lemmon ; Mrs. h^lsie (Ireer, deceased; Mrs. l.ulu 
Zonker: John, deceased: Walter, deceased: .Mrs. Blanche (ionser, Jesse. 
Jennie, Mildred. Clarence and I'^dna. 

Politically, Mr. h'lliott is an acti\e sujjporter of the Republican party, 
and has been prominent in local affairs, having ever given his supi)ovt ti 
ex'ery movement looking to the .advancement of the welfare of the com- 
tiiunity in general. Religiously, he is an earnest member of the Christian 
church, to which he gives a liberal support, while in all things relating to the 
moral, social or educational advancement of the community, he is an active 
figure. Mr. Elliott is descended from sterling old stock, his father havin.g 
•evidenced patriotism of the highest order when on November 14, iSd^. he en- 
li.sted at Camp Chase, in Ciim]Kun A. Sixtv-ninth battalion Ohio X'olunteer 
Infantrv. He was comnn'ssioned as second lieutenant, b'ebruary (1. i8fi4. an 1 
served under General (irant until his nnister out on the 13th of Se])tember, 
1864. he having enlisted fortv-one days service. 



ADAM LEINS. 



In examining the life records of self-made men it will invariably be 
found that indefatigalile industry has constituted the basis of their success. 
True, there are other elements which enter in and conserve the advancement 
of personal interests, perseverance, discrimination and mastering of expedi- 
ents, but the foundation of all achievement is earnest, persistent labor. .At 
the outset of his career the subject of this review recognized this fact and did 
not seek any royal road to the goal of prosperity and indejiendence, ;ind the 
result is that he is now numbered among the progressive, successful men of 
DeKalb county. 

Adam Leins was born October uj. 1873. the son of John (\. and Rosen" 



8o6 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

(i\lillerj Leins, botli nati\es of (ierniany, the subject first seeing the light of 
da\' in Noble county, Indiana. John G. Leins arrived in America when he 
was a young man and after locating in DeKalb county endured the struggles 
and hardships of home-making, he finall\- being successful and earning the 
respect and admiration of his fellowmen. To the father and his faithful 
helpmate were born twelve children: ^[rs. Roseta Sclnirr li\es in Richland 
township; Mrs. ^^far)' Iio\'arter is deceased: Mrs. Kathren Schoup li\-es in 
Richland lownslii]): George V. and Henry also li\-e in Richland towiishi]); 
William lives in Fairfield; John F. lives in Richland township; Afanda is de- 
ceased; David lives in Fairfield; .\tlam: twci cliildren died in infancy. 

The subject of this sketch secured his education in the common schools 
of DeKalb county and followed farming in his younger days. He served two 
terms as township assessor in Richland township, having been elected to that 
responsible office on the Democratic ticket. 

On January 6, 1898. occurred the niarviage df Mr. l.ciii< tn Myrtle A. 
Rohm, she being the daughter of .^inmn anrl Lydia i Trcesh I Rohm, he a 
native of Kno.x county, fVnns}'l\ania. and she of Stark ciamty. Ohio. To 
-Simon and T.ydia Ruhm were Imrn fi\e children. Mr. and Mrs. Leins have 
been l)lessed liy the ])irth of three children: \udre\ .\.. wlm was li(.ni Fcbru- 
arv 2, rSgg; Ralph .\.. liorn March i 1, lO^.v ^n"' ^■^"Y ^ ■• I''"'" Sejitemlier 23, 
I0T3- 

Mr. Leins is at present the owner of eighty acres of l:nid, which he has 
brought to a high state of culti\'ation. The place has been improved by the 
erection of convenient and substantial buildings and the general anpearance 
of the farm indicates that an up-to-date and progressive man is at its head. 
The Lutheran church recei\es the acti\'e encouragement and support of the 
subject and family. Politically, be is allied with the Democratic party. 



ARTHl^R G. D ANTFLS. 

The subject of this review is one of the sturdy spirits who has contributed 
largelv to the material welfare of the communitv where he resides, lieing a 
farmer and stock raiser, and as a citizen be is public spirited and jirogressive 
in all that the terms imply. For a number of vears Mr. Daniels has ])een 
activelv identified with the ugriculUir;d interests of DeKalb county, and be is 
the owner of a very desirable landed estate in Smithfield township. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 807 

Arthur (i. Duniels was horn mi llie old Danifls farm in section j'l, Sniith- 
liciil townsliip. Di^K.-ill, iniint\ . Indiana, on Aui^nst ] j,. 1S54, and i^ the sun of 
Reulien (i. and Snsannc ( I lahahaiii^h ) Daniels. Air. Daniels was ruared 
nnder the ]iarental roof and secured his education in the di.strict schools of the 
cuniniunitv, his vacation periods heing employed in assi.sting his father in his 
farm work. After his marriage in 1875 Mr. Daniels farmed the home place 
on shares with his father, he and his wife residing in the old hr)nie. as his 
mother had died several years prior. He continued farming on shares nntd 
May 19, 1887, when he lionght the home farm of one hundred :ind sixtv acres 
from his father and ga\e untiring devotion to its cultivation and improvement. 
A few years later he bought thirty-eight acres adjoining his farm on the south 
and is thus now the owner of ahont two hundred acres of as fine farming lind 
as can be found in DeKalh connt\. lie is not satisfied with mediocre ac- 
complishments in any line and has not only maintained the productive capacity 
of his farm u]) to the highest standard, lint has also given some attention to 
the aesthetic si<le of life, maintaining the home in sncii a wnv as to male it 
attractive to the passer-h\- and also to the fam)]\ . The large rmd vvell 
arranged house is set amidst a cluster of fine -had.e trees, while the lawn is well 
kejrt and ornamented with shrubbery, the interior of the house being char- 
acterized l)y tasteful furnishings an.d an air of comfort which ap])eals to the 



caller. 


Mr. and Airs. 


Daniels 


mo\-e 


in the best 


S(Kial 


circles <: 


>f the 


com- 


munity 


and in their 




\n bomi,' 


llie s| 


)irit of old- 


time hi 


os])it:dit\ 


■ is e 


xer in 


evidence 




















On 


Septemlier 


25 


. iM- 


\rthu 


r (i. Danie 


Is was 


marrie. 


1 to 


.Marv 


Lucimla 


1-razer, who 


1 w 


;is born r 


n Will 


i;nns count\' 


, Ohio. 


and is ll 


ic dai 


iiglitev 


of jacol 


) Israel and 


T^>- 


dia ( Si)a 


ugler) 


Frazer, xvl 


10 ;ire 


mentioni 


■d on 


other 


pages in 


this work. 


Tf 


1 Mr. and Mr-. 


Daniels ha\ 


e been 


born three children. 


namely : 


Pearl is tli. 


e w 


ifeof W 


'alter 1 


\. Fretz. a 1 


furnitui 


■e dealer 


and I 


inder- 


taker of 


.Sidney, Obi' 




uid they 


have a 


son, r^.berl 


I: Mallei is the • 


aife . 


if La- 


Kov Waterman, of 11 


lud 


Ison. Indi 


:uin, w 


here he is c; 


ishicr , 


.f the Hr 


idson 


F.ank. 


and thev 


- are the jian 


I'm 


S of two 


sons, 1 


-toss and Xi 


-al : Ha 


zel. wh.. 


is at 


home 


with her parents, is 


att 


en.ling Ir 


igh scl 


10, ,1 ,-,t Wit 


erioo a 


nd will : 


-radu 


ate in 



the spring of 1914. 

In the ci\'ic life of his comnnmity .Mr. Daniels has long lieen an im- 
portant and influential factor, being an ardent advocate of temperance prin- 
ciples and of public righteousness, in the interests of which he has long taken 
an active jiart. He and his wife are members of the P.arker .Methodist 
Episcopal church, in the pros])crity of which they are interested and to which 



8o8 DEKAI.B COUNTV. INOIAXA. 

they contribute of tlieir means. I-'ratenially. Mr. Daniels is a nienii)er of 
Lodge Xo. 205. Knights of Pythias, at ^\■ate^l()0, in the work of which he is 
interested. He is a well educated, symmetrically de\elo])e(l man and keeps 
abreast of the times in his knowledge of current thought, and because of his 
earnest life, high attainments, well roundetl character and large influence he 
is eminently entitled to rej^resentation in a work of the character of the one 
in hand. 



enterpn 



.AXDRKW SCFTii'"Kl.l. 

DeKalb county. Indiana, is characterized by her full share o 
ing and progressive farmer>. who lia\e been the niainsta\- and liackbone of 
the wonderful development which has marked this section of the state during 
the past few decades, and today among this class stands .\ndrew Schil"fli. 
whose finely improved and culti\ated farm lies in Smithhcld township, where 
he enjoys a high standing among his fellow citixens. 

Andrew Schffli was born on jaiunry _>;. 1S74. in .\lsace. ( ieinian\ . w hicli 
formerly, howexer. belonged to b'rance. and is one of nine children born to 
John and X'ictoria ( Hahn 1 .Schillli. both aUo natives of .\lsace. the f.ather 
born in 1S37 and the mother in 1844. the latter being a daughter of ( ieorge 
I lahn. John Schiflli and N'ictoria ffahn were married in their native countrv, 
and in iSSi tlie\- and their children came to the Tnited Stales, at which tin:e 
the subject of this sketch was but se\ en years di age. .\ndrew well reniem- 
])ers a stormy day on shipboard during their voyage when, l^ecause of the high 
waves which broke o\'er the ship, the passengers were not allowed on (lec!<. 
However, he disregarded orders and went out to the end of the deck, where 
he ran great danger of being washed overboard. He was fountl liy a sailor, 
who ga\e him a liberal spanking and sent him to a safer spot. L'p'm their 
arrival in tile I'nited States, the Schiffli family came at once to DeKalb count\. 
where the father bought twenty acres of land in the northern part of Smith- 
field township, about one-half mile south of the coiuit\' line, .\fter remaining 
there four years be sold that -place and bought forty acres of land in section 
1 I. on which onl\- about se\en acres had been cleared anil on which was a big 
liouse. The greater ])art of the land was co\ered with swamji water and 
brush, and so bad was the condition that the cows mired in the barn lot. In 
the hope of improving the condition they moved the house, log at a time, to 
a better location, and gave their attention to the ditching and draining of the 



DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 809 

soil. At the beginning it wa.s necessaty to go through \\ater waist deep to get 
the cows. Eventually bv tireless effort, conditions were inipro\ed. and when, 
about fifteen years ago. the big ditch was put through their land, the soil 
rapidly became more cultixable. and now the farm is one of the best in the 
localitx . From the time they came to this land until i()00. it took al)out all 
the efforts of the faiiiil). including the help given by the boys who worked in 
the shops, to pa_\- off eight buudrcd dollars owing on the ])urchase of the farm. 
In K.KK) Mr. Scbillli brilt a good bank liarn : in k^oj a s]ilendid bouse, and in 
lyt-W a bog liouse. They are now pi-ospering and reapin;..; the re-ult of their 
former years of strenuous entleaxor. The farm is well sup])lied with all the 
implements necessary for intelligent labor and, under the wise direction of 
Mr. Scbiffli. the farm is one of the liest in the townshi]). To John and \'ic- 
tona .'-'cbinii wnc boi u nine cbil.ireu. n;iuicl\ : Pdizabub. the wife of |o-ei)b 
llapst. of (iarrett; .\bittliias, who dwus ninety-two and onedialf acres in the 
eastern part of Sniithhi.'ld tdwnslup: Andrew, the immediate subject of this 
sketch; lunil. who owns a farm ni.rlb of T.arker^ church: August, who livts 
on the home farm: .\(la. the wife of Louis Steinkohl. of South I'.end, Indiana; 
Theresa. l\lary and Louise, who are unmarried: Theresa at home: Mary and 
Louise, residing at South I'.end. and one child, a boy. who died in Msace in 
early infancy. The father of these cbildren died, in \i)oH. ;ind bis widow is 
still residing on the home farm. 

Andrew Schiffli lived at home until attaining bis majority. ha\ ing al)l\ 
assisted his father in the efforts to reclaim the farm and he secured what 
education was pos-^iblc in the district scboob. After arri\-ing at legal age 
he started work on bis own account in the railroad shops at Garrett, where he 
remained nine years, and then during the following four years he engaged in . 
farm work by the month, .\fter his marriage in fqcS be began farming on 
the Taylor farm in l'"ranklin tow nship. but two years later mo\ed to the George 
Shoner farm in section \ t,. Snu'thfield'tow nship. where be is now engaged in 
the operation of one hundred and forly-tbree acres >,i land. His earl\ farm- 
ing efforts under bis father's direction were strenuous \ears. but tbe\ well 
qualified him for the later duties of life, and now he is achieving a s])lcndid 
success under favorable conditions. He keeps bis farm ui)-to-date in all jiar- 
ticulars. using none but the best of farming implements, keeping high gratle 
live stock and giving his personal attention to every detail of the farm work. 
Steadv. industrious and exercising sound di'^cretion in his labors, he so main- 
tains the fertilitv of the soil ;is to realize abundant crops, and among his fel- 
low agriculturists he is held in esteem because of the splendid success he has 
achieved. 



8lO DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 

In 1908 Mr. Schiffli married Katie Shoudel. the daughter of Alichael 
Shoudel, and to them have heen born two children, Agnes and Wilfred. Mr. 
and Mrs. Schiffli and their children are members of the St. Michael's Catholic 
church, in the success ni which they are interested and to which they con- 
tribute of their means. Mr. Schiffli has gained his success through his own 
efforts, is regarded as a man of splendid character and is highly esteemed by 
all who know him. 



GEORGE MAY. 



It is proper to judge of the success and the status of a man's life by the 
estimation in which he is held by hi^^ fellow .citizens. They see him at his 
work, in his family circle, in his church, at his devntiDUS, hear his views on 
public cpestions, observe the outcome of his code of morals, witness how he 
conducts himself in all the relations of society and civilization and thus be- 
come coini)etent to judge of his merits and demerits. After a long course of 
•years of such daily observation it wuuld be out of the question for his neigh- 
bors not to know his worth, liecause, as has been said, "Actions speak louder 
than words." In this couniv there is nothing heard concerning the suliject 
of this sketch but good words. He has passed so many years here that his 
worth is well known, but it will be nf interest tn run oxer the busy exents nf 
his life in these pages. 

George May was born on January 3. i85_i. in b'.rie cnunty, .\ew ^'ork, 
and is a son of Valentine and Magdalene ( Kuhn 1 \\:\y. Both of these par- 
ents were born in .\lsace, France, where \'alentine grew to maturitv and spent 
seven years in the French army. About 1850 he came to America with his 
parents. Mr. and 'Mts. Rhinehart May, locating in Erie county. Xew "N'ork. 
There, after reaching the years of maturity, he married Magdalene Kuhn, 
the daughter of Anthony and Christina Kuhn, and there he spent the re- 
mainder of his life, being engaged in farming, his death occurring on Ma\- 1, 
1903. His w-idow is still living and resides at the old home in Erie county, 
being now eighty-two years old. Mrs. May's mother. Christina Kuhn. died 
on .Mav 5. loii. at the remarkable age of one hundred and three years. 
Christina, the mother of Mrs. Christina ( Steinmetz ) Kuhn. lixed to lie one 
hundred and ten years old. She died three days after the battle of \\'urth, 
where the Prussians so decisively defeated the French, her death being caused 
by fright when the house in which she was living was shot to pieces over her 



DKKAI.n CXILNTV. INDIANA. 8ll 

by tin- cannon lialls ni tlu- conllictini;- armies. .She had practicaUv l)een free 
of ilhies.s (hiring lier entire hfe. 

George May remained at the parental humestead in P^rie county, XeW 
Alork, until t went}'- four years old. ha\ing received his education in the district 
schools of that localit}'. in young manhood he learned the l)lacksniith"s trade 
and was busily engaged at the forge, his early life being characterized b)- 
persistent industry. In J'ebrnary. 1877, he came to DeKall) count}-. Indiana, 
locating in Smithfield townshii), where for a year or two he farmed on shares. 
In April of the year of his arrival here he married Agnes Shoudel, the daugh- 
ter of Matthias Shoudel and sister of Michael L. Shoudel, whose sketch ap- 
pears in this work. .She was born in Chicago and was lirought to this locality 
when about two weeks old, her parents settling in Smithfield township among 
the earl}' pioneers, .\bout five years after his marriage George M;iy l)ought 
the farm where he now resides in section 14, Smithfield township, and to this 
he has since devoted himself willi the most persistent energ}- and with \ i^ry 
gratif\'ing results. The land wliich he mwus is characterized b\- great fertilii>-. 
a qnalit}- w hich he has maintained !>}■ careful rotation of crops and fertilization 
when necessary and he has made many substantial and permanent improve- 
ments, having erected most of the buildings and rebuilt the barns. The gen- 
eral condition of his farm l)espeaks for the proprietor a spirit of thrift and 
progress which have won for him a conspicuous ]ilace among the county's 
most enterprising agriculturists. 

•Mr. May is a citizen of broad \iews and of pulilic spirit and one who 
lakes ])ride in the jirogiesv nf his tnwn-hi]) and the enhancement of the ])ul)lic 
weal. In 1900 he was elected township assessor and served in this office 
four years and also ser\'ed one }-ear as a member of the county council, having 
i>een elected in i<)04, but resigning at the end nf cuie vear's ser\-ice. He is the 
solicitor for Smithfield InvMisliip for the ^futual l-'ire Insurance (_"ompan\- for 
DeKalb countv and also for llie .\lulu;d e'wlune Insur.-ince CV)ni]i:in\- of Indi- 
;uia. and in this line is building u\) a large Inisiness. I'l <litically. he is a Demo- 
crat just as long as his party insists on putting up good men for office, but is 
independent when it comes to the choice of men for whom he shall vote. 

Til Mr. and Tvlrs. Mav ha\'e been born the following children: Mike, 
who lives in Buffalo, New York, married Carrie Housw'orth, and they have 
three childien. Marian. Gertrude and .\rthur: f^ena is the wife of .\ndrew 
Zircher. who li\es north of Summit in Smithfield township, and the\- ha\'e 
three children, Michael. Christina and Mary; John, who lives west of his 
father, married Mary Dapp, and they have two children. Agnes and Esther; 



8l2 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIAN/K. 

Kate is at home with her parents; Annie is the wife of George DelucenaN'. of 
the northern part of Sniithficld townsliip, and has fonr children, I'Vances. 
Ehner, Leo and Mary; Marx- is at home \\ ith lier parents. Mr. .Ma\- and his 
famil\- are active members of the Cathdhc clun'cli, of wliich lie was the ycjnng- 
est member when it was organized in this locality and of which, he has been 
an earnest supporter and attendant since. Mr. May and his wife mo\e in 
the best social circles of the community and are extremely popular. Mr>> 
Mav is a lad\- of refinement and culture, her unassuming manner, cluirming 
personality and excellent traits of character gaining for her the friendship of 
all who meet her. Mr. Ma\- i- an honest and upright man of the strictest 
integritx" and n<ibly ha- he earned the wholesome re]nitatiou whicli is hi-. 



FR-WK WWI.KF.R. 



DeKalb county is fa\ored in numbering among its enter])ri>ing farmer- 
and |)rogressive men of affairs the well known and highly esteemed gentleman 
to a brief review of wdiose life and achie\ements we now direct attention, his 
well improved and valuable farm being one of the attractive places of .Smith- 
field lownshi]), where he has maintained liis home for many years. 

I'rank Walker was bom in March, 1X77. on the well known Walker 
farm in .Smithheld township, DeKalb county, Indiana, and is the son of b'-li 
and Su.san ( Wilderson ) Walker, bdi Walker was born in 1S44, in Smith- 
field township, this county, and was the -on of b)hn R. and Catherine ( Krum- 
rine) Walker, the former of whom was born in N'ork county, Pennsylvania. 
and whose father was a native of hjiglaud. Catherine Krunirine was of 
German descent. Kli \\'alker was reared on th.e home farm, and in iSfifi 

'olumbiana county, Ohio, the 
rtin, she ha\'ing come to De- 
They located in Smithfield 
ice. .\fter his marriage Fdi 
1 for three \-ears, ;mil in 1S72 
distance north of Waterkro, 
where he has resided for o\'er forty years. He put in many \-e;ir- of hard 
and strenuous labor during the pioneer period and when but a \-outb he 
hauled many loads of wheat to Fort Wayne with oxen, the trip requiring three 
days and but few houses being passed on the way. The roads were only trails 



married Su.san 


Wilderson, who was born in C' 


daughter of M 


;irtin and Barbara (Crook) :\lai 


Kalb county w 


itb her ])arents in ab )ut 1S31. 


town-hiji on a 


farm adjoining the Walker pi; 


\\'alker farmed 


on shares on the old home farm 


bought the far 


m where he now lives a short 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 813 

and were in such a cnnditiou that at two hills on the journey he was compelled 
to carry half of the load ui^hill a sack at a time. lie has for many years been 
active in the Democratic party, having held various (iffices, was supervisor for 
two years, justice of the peace for fourteen years, and a member of the board 
of county commissioners for one term. To him and his wife were Imrn six 
children, namely: Mary, the wife of William I'.acluel. lives one and one- 
half miles west .if V.Vi Walker. ;;nd they have l\v.. smus. Marrv and W'rne: 
Dora, the widow of Dou'^la^ Kelly, who was killed Iw a lallin- tree about ten 
years a,;,ni, and left one ^ .n. Walker Kellv. and a drni^'lUer, l-jnma : his 
widow afterwards niarne.I (-lark CaniiiliLll and liws near her father: the 
danj^hter. Emma, died from the effects of scaldin.i; in 1013: I. aura is the wife 
of Bert Campbell, and lives three-quarters of ;i mile nortli and one mile west 
of her father, and they !ia\-c two son-;. Edward and J<•^r^- : Cerand:! i^ the wife 
of David Hamman. and they ha\e two children. Lester and M.aliel : k'rank 
married Dora Gfellers. and they h:i\e tlux-e sons. I'lovd. l\usse!l and Carl: 
l^aisy is the wife of Wid Childs. and the\ live on the home place with her 
father, and have a son. Ral])li. Eli Walker is ;i member of the !\ni,^hts of 
Pythias and Masonic onlei-, while he and his wife lielon.<; to the I'ytliian 
Sisters and t'le Order of the l'"astern Star. 

Erank ^^'alker was reared on the farm of his father, where he re- 
mained until twenty-two \ears of at^e. lie secured his ])relimiuary tr:iinin,e^ 
in the district schools and afterwards attended the Tri-State Xormal School 
at AnL;(ila. Indiana. When he was twent\-one years of a.t^e lie rented a farm 
and o])erated it on shares with Ins fatliei'. The next year he boui^iit eighty 
acres of his father's farm :uid on tins he now resides, and to the cidti\ation 
of which he o-i\-es his undivided attention. I'roi^ressive .and up-to-date in his 
ideas, he has made inanv ])ermaneut and substantial im])rovenieuts on the 
l)lace. which is now numbered [iuioul;' the best t.anns in the comnnuiitv. In 
I goo Mr. Walker built the spk-ndid residence in wluch he now resides, and 
three years later erected a large and commodioirs bank barn, besides which 
he has made main- other improvements which have added to the value and 
attractiveness of the farm. In igoC) he Iiought eighty acres from W. fl. 
Eeas, adjoining his father on the south, and is now the owner of one hundred 
and sixty acres lying in close proximitv. one hundred and thirty acres of 
which is tuider acti\-e cultivation. 

On [anuarv in, i(;oo, Erank Walker was married to l)oi;i Cifellers, tiie 
daughter of b'red and Mar\- Tifellers. who are mentioned elsewhere in this 
wfirk. and to this tmion have been born three cbildien : kdovd. horn De- 



CI 4 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

cember 12. 1900: Russell, bom August iS, 1904, and Clark, Ijorn August 10, 
1908. 

braternally, Mr. Walker is an active and appreciative Uiember of the 
Knights of P_ythias, and in his daily life endeavors to e.xemplifv the sublime 
teachings of that order. He has been successful in bis financial affairs and 
lives in a home which is characterized by furnishings of taste and elegance, 
and among the lu.xuries which he enjoys is an up-to-date automobile, this 
being but one of the many things whicli characterize him as a man of pro- 
gressive tendencies. He has attained success through his o\\ n efforts, having 
been dependent practicall\- upon his own resources since attaining manhood, 
and because of his business success, integrity of character and genial dispo- 
sition he has won and retains a host of warm ])ersonal friends throughout this 
section of the countv. 



ELI WALKKR 



This xenerahlc ;ind honored pioneer of DcKall.) count} is approaching 
the iisalnu'-t's span of three score year- and ten. but i- still hale and vigorous 
and finds a full measure of contentment and serc-nit}' as the shadows of his 
life begin to lengthen frc.im the west. He has made his days count for good. 
has accjuired a competenc}- and is satisfied in that he has done the best possible 
and has wronged n(i man in thought, word or deed. He has been a life-long 
resident of DeKalb county and has here aci|uired a good farm, reclaiming 
much of the land himself and being one of the sterling old citizens of this 
locaHty. 

Eli Walker was born in 1844 in Smithfield township. DeKalb county, 
Indiana, and is the son of John K. and Catherine ( Krunu'ine ) Walker. John 
R. Walker was born in ^'ork countv, ]'enns\lvania, in 1808, and was there 
reared and married to Catherine Krunirine, who was born in Maryland in 
1810. In i8_:;3 thev mo\ed to Columbiana cuintx. Ohio, and lived there until 
their removal to DeKalb countv in 1N44. when .Mr. Walker bought one hun- 
dred and si.xtv acres of land in section 35, Smithfield townshi]). Mr. \\'alker"s 
father, Nicholas Walker, was a distiller and in his youth be had learned the 
business and followed it a number of years in Ohio. He was a native of 
England. Catherine Krunirine was the daughter of George Krunu-ine and 
wife, both of whom were naitves of German)-. When John R. W'alker pur- 
chased his land in Smithfield township it was as the Indians had left it. with 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 815 

no improvements uliatever and a vei_v small patch of ground cleared. There 
he made his permanent home, cleared and cultivated the soil, and spent the 
remainder of his life, he and his wife dying there. They were the parents of 
seven children, one of whom died in infancy, the others being Mrs. Sarah 
Vogtman, Manuel, Amanda McF.ntarfer: l.\(lia. who died in infancv: 
Humphrey, who died in Ijoyhood; lili and (icurge. ()\ thc^c, imh" I'.li. 
George and Mrs. \'ogtman are lixing. 

l-;ii Walker was rearetl on the hume farm, where he li\ed until his mar- 
riage in iSOG, when for three years he farmed on his father's place on the 
shares. In 1872 he bought the farm where he now lives, located a short 
distance north of Waterloo, which has been his home for- more than four 
decades. He retains a strong recollection of many of his experiences in pio- 
neer days, among which is the fact that when a youth of but fourteen or 
fifteen years he hauled many loads of wheat to Fort Wayne with oxen, the 
trip requiring three days and but few houses passed on the way. Tw o hills 
over which he journeyed were so steep and rugged that he found it necessary 
to carry half the load uphill a sack at a time. In those early days the only 
roads were blazed trails and Mr. Walker well rememl)er> the first train that 
went through on the .\irhne railroad. .Mr. Walkei' at one lime owned three 
eighty-acre tracts of good land, but he has let his children have all but eighty 
acres, which he retains on the home place. 

In 1866 Eli Walker was married to Susan Wilderson. who was born in 
Columbiana county. Ohio, the daughter of Martin and Barbara ( Croiik ) 
Wilderson. .She came to DeKalb count}- with her ])arents alx)ut 1851. the\- 
locating in Smithfield tow'nship on a farm adjoining that of Mr. Walker 
There her parents made their permanent home and there her father died. 
His widow and children then spent five years in Elkhart, lint at the end of 
that period returned to DeKalb count}- and the mother resided in {iranl lown- 
shi|) until her death. 'I'o Mr. and Mrs. Walkei- have been born the following 
children; .Mary, wife of William liachtel. and the} lia\e two soii>. Harry 
and Verne: Dora is tb.e widow of Douglas Kelly, who was killed by a falling 
limb about ten years ago. leaving a son. Walker, and a daughter. Emma, and 
the widow- afterwards becan-ie the wife of Clark Campbell, and she lives near 
her father; Laura is the wife of P.ert Campliell. of ihi^ township, and they 
have two sons, Edward and Jerry; Ceranda is the wife of David llamn-ian, 
who is represented elsewhere in this work, and they have two children, Leslie 
and Mabel; Frank, who married Dora Gfellers. living north of Mr. Walker, 
has three children, Flovd, Russell and Carl; Daisv is the wife of Williard 



8l6 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

(liilds, and li\es i m the liMnic i)lace with her father, and thev have two chil- 
dren. Ralph and Hazel. 

l-'or many \-ears Mr. Walker \\a.>^ \-ery actixe in the snpport of the 
Demncratic ]iarty and held a nunilier of inipurtant local uttices. inedudinj; that 
of supervisor for two years, justice of the peace for fourteen years and in the 
fall of 1907 was elected as a member of the hoard of county commissioners, 
assuming the duties of his office in January, 1909, and serving until January. 
1911. During this term he helped prepare the plans for a new^ court house 
and a new building at the county farm, and so conducted his official duties as 
to avoid any cause fur criticism. It is noteworthy that u])on tlie com])letion 
of the new Iniihhng at the county farm it was (lisco\-ered th;it he and his as- 
sociates had c<in'p]eled it at a much less cost than the original appinpriation. 
Fraternallv. Mr. Walker is a member of the i\nigiUs of P}-lbia^ and the 
l'"ree aiid Accepted Alasons. and he and his wife bcdong to the F\\thian Sisters 
.-Mid the Order of the Eastern Star. .Mr. Walker has been first|)f all an hon- 
oralile and U])right citizen of noble aim and worthv pur])o>e. iirogressive in his 
ideas and enteri)rising in carrying out his well-devised ])lans. He has liter- 
all\- grown up with the county in which lie w ns born and has witnessed its 
remarkable growth and development, contributing of his energies the mean- 
while to bring a1x)ut the high state of ci\'ilization for which DeKalb county 
is now distinguished. All movement-- having for their o])iect tlie advance- 
ment of the public welfare have received his cordial endorsement, and his 
mfluence has ever been ))olent for good in his communit\ and to those with 
wlioni lie has had Inisiness or other relations. As a neighl)or or citizen, as a 
liusliand and father, he has been all that he should be in these several capaci- 
ties and his career may be studied witli jirotit by the \-oung man wdiose char- 
acter is vet to be formefl and life w ork acliieved. 



W^TLL].\M WOl.l-K. 

There is no calling, however bumlile. in which enterprise and industry, 
coupled with a well directed purpose, will not be productive of some measure 
of success and in the pursuit of agriculture the (jualities mentioned are quite 
essential. Among the well known and highh- respected farmers of DeKalb 
county who have attained to a definite degree of success in their line and who, 
at the same time, have greatly benefited the community in which they live, is 
the gentleman to a review of whose character the reader's attention is now 
directed. 




MR. AND MRS. \VIIJ>IAM WOl.Fl 



DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. Si/ 

William Wolfe was born on February 24, 1866, on the old Wolfe lionie- 
stcatl in TVanklin tow nship, DeKallj county, Indiana, where he was reared and 
he received his education in the Franklin Center school. He has never made 
but one move from the old homestead and that was to the place where he now 
resides. His father died when the subject was hut eighteen years old and 
thereafter he lived with his mother five years, or until his marriage in 1889, 
and then he and his wife lived on the old homestead until the year 1901, in 
which )ear Mr. Wolfe mo\cd to his present attractive place of forty acres in 
Franklin township, where he now resides. This place when he acquired it 
was without improvements of any sort, the farm being badly run down, but 
by dint of the most persistent energy, strenuous effort and sound jutlgnient 
he has improved the farm, increased its fertility and by proper attention to 
its operation has developed it into one of the good farms of the township. In 
addition to his own operations, he is associated with his brother, Sanuiel. in 
the operation pf a corn busker and wood saw and other lines which are re- 
quired by the farmers of the community and they have been successful in 
these things. Mr. Wolfe ha? built a fine barn, thirt\--two by forty-four feet 
in dimensions, has set out an orchard, erected many substantial fences and in 
all things possible has made his farm w hat it should be. 

On February 17, i88c), at Waterloo, Indiana. Mr. \\'olfc was married to 
Minnie (iurtner. who was born in Stcul^en count}'. Tndian;i. on .August i, 
1 868. Later the ])arents nio\ed to DeKalb ci unity, where she became ac- 
(juainled with her future husband. To them ha\'e lieen bovn the fallowing 
children: Bessie Leone' Ijorn >.larcli 12. rSgo. liecame the wife of Lee 
Hodge, and they have one child; ]Mar\- May, who was born January 14, i8c;2. 
married Bruce Lower, and the}- ha\e one child : Dellie R., burn Septen^ber 7, 
1896, died at the age of two years, and Clarence, born Septemljer 3, igo^. 

Politically, Mr. Wolfe is a Deriiocrat, although he is not a hide-I)ound 
partisan in any sense, as in local elections he generally votes for the man 
whom he deems best ((ualified to fill the office, irresjiective of party lines. 
Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at 
Hamilton, in which lodge he has passed through the chairs and lie maintains 
a live interest in the workings of this order. Mr. ^^'olfe is a man of man}- 
praiseworthy traits, being scrupulously honest in all his dealings with tlie 
business world, generous and pleasant, possessing rare fortitude and good 
iudginent. advocating wholesome politics and clean living and honesty in 
business, and it is needless to add that such a man has hosts of friends and 
stands high in the estimation of all who know him. 
(52) 



8l8 DEKAI.B COl'NTY, INDIANA. 

HARRISOX .M. DAXIRLS. 

It is a pleasure to investigate the career of a successful self-made man. 
Peculiar honor attaches to that individual who, beginning the great struggle 
of life alone and unaided, gradually overcomes unfavorable environment, re- 
moves one by one the obstacles from the pathway of success and by the master 
stroke of his own force and \-itality succeeds in forging his way to the front 
and winning for hini.'ielf a coni])etency and a position of esteem and influence 
amnng h\^ fellnw men.' Such i> the record of the popular citizen i>t Sniitii- 
field township tn a brief -synopsis of wimse life and character the reader's 
attention i> Jierew itb respectfulh' inxited. 

Harrison M. Daniels wri-^ Ixnn m Snnthtield township. Ikd^ali) cnunty. 
Indiana, on Marcli 31. iS^j. the >-iiii r^i l\ful>en (1. Daniels, who was a 
])roniinent citizen and pioneer agriculturist of this county. The suliject was 
reared on his father's farm, and in iSjj, when twenty years of age, went to 
Wisconsin, where he sjient a \-ear working at the mason's trade. He then it- 
turned home and until iNSi he and his lirotiier, Arthur, were engaged in the 
operation of ei.t;lU\ acrc-s of land which they Irid jjurchased together. Idien 
for a year the subject rented farming land ni h'ranklin townshi]). this count)-, 
but in March. iNS.;, lie went to Waterloo, wliei"e during the following year 
he was variously engaged, working on the lake Shore railroad ]'arl of the 
time, giving some attention to farming and also engaging in the buying of 
timber. He then rented a farm one mile and a half east of Waterloo, whicli 
he o;)erated a year and then Ijuugbt it. remaining on the place about three and 
one-half vears longer. In the fall of i8()_' Mr. Daniels bought tlie farm 
where he now lives, which had lieen formerlv owned iiy Daac Snnth. This 
farm comjjrises one hundred and twent\' acres of hue land, in ad lition to 
which Mr. Daniels also owns sixty acres less than a mile east and thirty acres 
north of this, comprising a total acreage of two hundred and ten acres, h'airly 
progressive and u])-to-d;ite in. bis ngricultural methods. Mr. Daniels has. by 
indomitable industry. sturd\' ]ierse\erance and good management, attained to 
a large success in his vocation, and the general api)earance of the land as well 
as the attractive residence, commodious barns and other details of his place 
indicate him to be a m;in of good judgment and excellent taste. 

On Se])tember j;. 1S73. Mr. Daniels was united in marriage to .Mary 
Ellen Lower, the daughter of Jacob and ^Margaret Jane f Holmes) Lower. 
She was born and reared on the north edge of Grant township, where she re- 
sided with her parents until her marriage. To this union have been born four 



DEKAI.Il COUNTY, INDIANA. 819 

children: Claude 1... hum June 8, 187'), married Maude Link, and li\es in 
thi.s townshi]): they ha\e one sun, (ilen: Ethel, the wife of William Hartnian, 
of Fairfield township, has four sons, Kenneth, Raymond, Lester and \erl ; 
Dora is the wife of Carl Dilgard. of Sniithfield township, and they ha\e one 
daughter, Bernadine: Ruth is the wife of Ross Hise, of Bucyrus, Ohio. .Mr. 
Daniels' protracted residence in this county has made his name w idel\ and 
favorahly known throughout this section. His life and the liislcjry of his 
locality have heen pretty much the same thiuL',. lie has seen the community 
grow from a comparati\ely insignificant settlement into one of the most 
prosperous of the commonwealth. He has lieen one of the community's 
humhlest lahorers and wisest counsellors; his has lieen a long life of honor an<l 
trust, and no higher eulogy can he |>ass(.-d upon him than to state the simple 
truth that his name has never lieen con])led v, itli anything .hsi-e])Utahle. aii'l 
that there has ne\'er lieen llie shadow of a stain u])on his reputation for 
integrity and unflinching honesty. He is respected hy all w h < know him ;md 
the county of DeKalh can hoast of no hetter man or move enterprising 
citizen. 



A CO I! LOWI'.K. ]\< 



Sniithfield townsliip. DeKalh coiintw Indiana, furnished a home for many 
a pioneer who settled within its hoinidaries w ith no capital sa\ e the intelligence 
and jjhysical ahilitie-- that were the gifts of his Maker and later attainetl a 
coni]!etenc\- and a position of influence in the localit\- in which he chcjse to 
reside that, in after years, redounded in an cnviahle re])utation for himself and 
his descendants, .\mong these old and honored pioneers was the gentleman 
whose name appears at the he;id of thi- hrief review, who was a native oi 
the old Buckeye state, hut wlio spt-nt nearly a half centnix of his life 11 
Indiana. 

lacoh Lower. |r.. was horn in Columhiana count}-. Ohio, in i8i(j, and 
was a son of lacoh Lower, Sr., a nati\e of Holland, who married a Miss 
Sayner. He was reared in Columbiana count}-, there received his education 
in the district .schools and on l'\-hruary _' 1 . 18:51). was married to Elizaheth 
Miller. In 1844 he and his wife came to DeKalh county, Indiana, settling 
on the Henry Rempis farm in Sniithfield t(iwnship, where he built two log 
houses and Ijegan life in true pioneer st\le. The development of a farm in 
this locality in that period entailed, an immense amount of the most strenuous 



020 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

kind of labor, for the land was densely covered with timber, which it was 
necessary to remove before any progress could be made in the cultivation of 
the soil. Here Mr. Lower's first wife died, leaving five children, namely: 
Airs. Melissa McCurdy, of Bncyrus, Ohio; Alonzo, of ^^'aterloo, Indiana; 
Mrs. Catherine .Schimpff, of Pleasant Lake; John, of Sheridan, Michigan, 
and Albert, who died in infancy. On January 6, 1853, Mr. Lower married 
Margaret Jane Holmes, who was born in 18.2S, at Melmore, near Tiffin. Ohio, 
and came to huliand with her parents in 1842, when she was fourteen years of 
age. Fi\e ciiildren were born of this second marriage, namely: Lsadore, 
who (lied in infancy; Mary Ellen, the wife of H. M. Daniels, of .Smithfield 
township, who is repre.sented elsewhere in this work; Perrv I., who died on 
March 3. 1909, at Alexandria, Indiana ;■ Dora, the wife of Frank Tuttle, of 
.Steuben county, died on January 23, 1901 ; Xancy. who (bed in iufanc}-. Tlic 
mother of these children died on August 30. T8O9. Mr. Lower persex'ered 
in his eiiforts to create a home in the wilderness where he first located, and in 
this effort was eminently successful and in tlie course of time found himself 
in possession of as fine a farm as could be found in this entire locality. Steady 
industry and rigid economy were prererpiisite to success. l)ut these (jualities he 
exemplified in a marked degree in his life, and be came to lie numbered among 
the successful farmers and representatiw citizens of bis communitw He 
carved for himself a permanent b-mie in ihe new country, accumulated a rea- 
sonable fortune and owned a splendid frirni, the im]iro\ Liiients including a 
large brick dwelling just east of Uniontow n on the nm-tli edge of Grant town- 
shi]i. He was a kind neighbor and friend, whom all could trust, and who was 
ever ready to help those in nceil aliout him. Oiu'et and uno-tent;ttious. ne\-er- 
theless he could al\\a}-s lie depended npim in the <i!])]ioit of e\'erv worthy 
movement for the benefit or uplift of the comniunil}. A man of strong 
domestic tastes, he found hi> greatest pleasure about his own fireside with his 
loved ones about him. In Iiis younger life he was a strong and vigorous ilian. 
and at one time walkc-d all the way to Columbiana county. ( )hio, ;md returned, 
and on reaching home, found that their liain- bad died while he was awav, 
but of which fact he had not learned because of the slow transit of the mails at 
that period. The demise of this honored pioneer occurred at bis home here on 
January 5. 1889. and his death was universally considered a distinct loss to 
the comnnmity in which he had lived, and which he had honored by his citizen- 
ship. He was respected by all classes and conditions of people, possessing a 
personality that won for him many friends, and those who remember him 
now speak in high terms of his many fine (pialities and his upright character. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 82 1 



JACOB I. FRAZER. 



A noble soul, as \\ell ;is a niany-siiled and interesting character, was re- 
nio\ed from the scenes of earth when Jacob 1. i'ra/.er answered tlie snninions 
liiat precedes the last long sleep. As he enjoyed a wide acquaintance and was 
generally popular, the public at large felt a sense of loss, and unusual honors, 
for a private citizen, were paid to his memory. But only the widow, who had 
shared his home, and a select coterie of his intimate friends were able to tell 
how kind was the iieart that had been silenced forever by the grim "king of 
terrors."" Space forbid'- a full stnd\ of his life and character, such as their 
merits would justif}, and nothing more can be attempted in this memorial 
than the merest outline of a few of the more important features. 

Jacob I. Frazer was born on August 7, 1818, in Columbiana county, Ohio, 
and his death occurred at his home in Waterloo, Indiana, on January iq, 
i8()8. at the advanced age (if se\ent\-nine years. When lie was' a lad of but 
four years of age. his parents moved to Stark county, Ohio, where he was 
reared to manhood, receiving his education in the district schools. In 1839 
he was married and the following \ear he entered a tract of forty acres of 
land in Williams rounlx . Ohio, to which he nioveil in 1 S4 1 , and there began 
the struggle of pioneer life. In those early ila}s life on the frontier meant a 
succession of hardships and trials which would utterly discourage the average 
farmer of the present da\'. Init se\"ent} \ears ago. realizing the golden o])por- 
tunities that lay before them, the bold pioneers literally took their li\-es into 
their own hands and, persevering amid the dangerous and discouraging cir- 
cumstances in which they were placed, carved out for themselves not only 
homes, but fortunes for their descendants. Mr. l'"razer was eminently suc- 
cessful and lived in Wilh'ams count), Ohio, locating in Smithfield township in 
1875 O'" ■'876 just north of tlie bihn ( '.impbell farm. There he remained 
about five years, when he nio\ei! to Waterloo, where he resided up to the time 
of his death, lie was a man of sterling c|ualities of character and by his in- 
domitable will, sturdy industry and sound business methods he attained to a 
fair competenc}- as regards this world's goods, his last days being free from 
embarrassment. 

On October 14, 1830, ^Ir. iM'azer married Lydia Spangler, and to tlieir 
union were born the following children: Elias S., Josiah B., Leander, Will- 
iam \\'., John W., Harriet AT., Mary L. and Martha M., the latter dying in 
1883. Elias, who was a soldier in the Civil war, later went to Kansas where 
he became an undertaker and furniture dealer and his death occurred in that 



822 DEKAI.B COUNTY. INDIANa! 

State. He was a man of genial and hospitable (jnalities. generous w his 
friends and ever ready to lenrl a helping hand to those in need: Martha M. 
became the wife of Frank Renipis. of Sniithfield townshij). this county, and 
died on October 7. 1883. at the age of twenty-two years; bisiah. I.eander and 
William live in Kan.sas; Harriett is the wife of William Wartenljee and lives 
in. South Dakota: .Mary L. is the wife of .\rthur G. Daniels, of Smithfield 
township. In 1888 the mother of tliese children was claimed bv death, her 
l)assing a\\a\ bein^ consiflered a distincl In^s to the cnnimunit}- in which she 
had li\ed. Slie was an earn.est. faitliful member nf the Reformed church, 
which she ;ind her luisband bad joined in 1S41 and of which tbe\' were 
f;iithful members throughout their lixes. \fter sexeval vears of loneliness. 
Mr. Krazer married Margaret Smith, who sur\i\'es him and is lining at 
Waterloo. As a farmer Mr. j-'razer was successful and industrious and at 
all times enjoyed the res])ect of lii^^ fellow agriculturists. He was also a suc- 
cessful \eterinarv surLaoii. Hi- life was a busy one. hlled with action and 
the world wa> better for Ins ba\ iug li\ed. .\s a citizen n jue occitjiietl a more 
conspicuous i)lace in. the conbdeuce of the ])ubbc and as a neighbor he was 
long lo\ed and honored b\ the ]ieo]ilc of his !ocabl\ . 



RFX'BEN GR.A.XT I).\.\11:LS. 

Change is constant and L^cnt-r.al, generations ri^e and i)as- unmarked 
away, and it is the dul\- of posteritw as well as a ])resc!U gratification, to 
place njion llie ])rinte(l ]i- ge a true ri-c(ii-d of tbf lixe^ of tho-e who ba\e pre- 
ceded us on the stage of action and left to their descendants the memory of 
their struggles an ! acbie\ eiiiLiits. The \ear- of the honored subject of this 
memoir were a ])an of the indis'-obible chain which link- the annals of the 
past to those of the latter-day jirogre-s :uid ])rospeiit\. ,iiid the history of 
DeKalli coiiutv would not l;e com])lete without due reference to the long life 
Mr. Daniels li\eil and llie success which he achiexed as an earnest, courageous 
laborer in one of the most important fields of human endeavor. Mr. Daniels 
was a man of more than ordinary distinction, from the following facts : He 
lived to a remarkable age, being past ninety-five years of age at the time of 
his death: he was the second permanent settler in Smithfield township. Isaac 
I>. .Smith, after whom the township was named, being the first; and in the 
early. life of the community be was one of the leaders in the work of improve- 
ment and progress. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. Sjj; 

Reuben (iranl Daniels was a Yankee by iiati\it\, baviuii' been burn ni 
\enihint .hi \],ril lo, iSi^.an.l wa^ the son ,,t James an(i .Man Daniels. At 
the riLje of eit^lit \ears he was taken by his parents lo Orleans, near .\'ia.i^ara, 
Xew York, wiiere he remained until twenty years of age, when he iiKned to 
Lenawee mnnty. Michigan. There, two years later, he married P.elsev Ran- 
dolph I'ambum. of Tecuinseh, .Mieliii^an. In iX;^; Air. DanieK came to De- 
Kalb county. Indiana, with the intention of entering a tract of gt.i\ernment 
land. bor this ]inrpose he made several trips to bt. Wa\iie, in each instance 
hnding that the site selected by him bad already been entered. After many 
trying experiences, he hnally entered one hundreil and sixty acres of land in 
Smithtield township. He was accompanied here liy his brother-indaw . Ira 
Camburn, who also eiUered land, and together thc\- l)uilt a primitive log cabin, 
'"doorless. without upper Ibxjr and without dau])iug." They were not denied 
plenty of fresh air, for the wind bad free circulation in all direction.s through 
the cabni. To this frontier home Mr. Daniels brought his family on January 
-'8, 1838. They brought with them two cows and two calves, and .Mr. Daniels 
carried the calves, turn about, most of the way from Michigan. He was a 
stron.g, robust man. well fitted by u;uurc for the rugged life in the wilderness 
to which be now de\oied lumself. Conditions were far from pleasaiU and 
tliscomfoit was the rule. It is relaied, thai at one time Mrs. Daniels found a 

ship was their daughter Lucinda. who snbsci]uently liecame a success fu! 
teacher in the jjublic schools of the comity. In 1839, the year following the 
settlement of the family here, Mr. Daniels and Isaac Smith built the first 
school house here, a log structure which stood on a corner of IMr. Daniels" 
land. Mr. Daniels sowed the brst wheat in the towushi]). and at the first elec- 
tion in the townsbij). in 183(1. when only li\e \ ites were cast. .\ir. Daniels 
was elected justice of the ])eacc. o\ er a large territorx. His lirst official act 
was tomarry a cou])le at .Story Lake, m b":iirl)eld towusliip. whilber he went 011 

the hog. he returned home with. ml bis fee. .Mr. Daniels was the lirst p.ist- 
master of rni.mtowu. which is n.iw the first ward .if the t.iwn .if W.alerloo. 
the (iftice being at hrst located at his f;irm b.ime. .\t one time the .ifhce was 
robbed .if twent\-five cents and .Mr. Daniels |)rom])tly gave chase to the 
cidprit and compelled him to refund the m.ine\. He was also the leader of 
the band of Regulators, who were .irganized to op])ose the lawless gang of 
horse thieves, counterfeiters and other criminals who at that time infested 
this locality and made life anything but comfortable for the better element. 



824 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Many secret meelings were held l)y the Regulators, many niiclnight rides taken 
in pursuit of the thieves, and at une time tluv found a wash boiler full of 
counterfeit money which had licen buried in a swamp. (Jn October 10. \H(>^. 
Mr. Daniels was elected count}' commissioner and it was during his member- 
ship on that board th;it the county treasury was burglarized. He held the 
office during three years, at a period when there wa^ much important wurk be- 
fore the commissioners, .\fter his remo\al to Waterloo, L'nion towu'-hip 
having been di\ided, he was elected the first justice of the iieace for ( irant 
township and held the office a numljer of years \\ ith credit to himself and the 
satisfaction of his fellow citizens. To Mr. Daniels also belonged the distinc- 
tion of ijerforming the first marriage ceremony in Smithfield township, the 
contracting parties being Norton RIake and llulda I'olmes, who were united 
in 1839. 

To Reuben and ISetsey Daniels were born seven children, as follows: 
George, who was killed in the battle of Chickamauga; James lived in Michigan 
until reaching maturity, then went to [Minnesota, where he engaged in busi- 
ness as a caqienter and contractor, and at his death, in 1013, he was the owner 
of eight hundred acres of land: Mrs. Lucinda Daniels, of Minneapolis who 
was a teacher for many \ears in DeKalb cotmt\- : Sal)ma died in young womsni- 
hood; Julia, the widow (if Aliram McKntarfer. lives in Waterloo with her 
daughter, Mrs. Ed Musser: Ancie is the wife of Orlando Smith, of l-'air- 
mount, Minnesota: Sylvia is the wife of .\ll)ert .McDonald, of (irishen, Indi- 
ana. The mother of these children died on May 25, 1850, and on M.arcli jo. 
185 1, Mr. Daniels was married to Mrs. Susan (Holobaugh) Sayner. She 
was Ijorn in Stark county, ()hi(.), wdiere she was reared and where she mar- 
ried George Sayner, with \\lioni she came to DeKalb county. He bought a 
farm in what is now ( iraul township and li\e(l there until his death. They 
became the parents of three children, of whom two died in childh<iod. and 
one is living, Mrs. I'rances Heard, of .\sliley. 'l"o Reuben and Sn>an Damel> 
four children were born, nanielx : llairismi M.. who b'w-s on the faiin ori-in- 
allv entered b_\' Isaac B. Smith, in section jt,. Smithfield township: .Arthur (i., 
who resides on the old Daniels homestead; Jessie is the wife of John J. Baxter, 
of Waterloo: Nellie, deceased, was three times married, first to Ira Shock. 
later to William McHench. and lastly to Mr. Cressy. who survived her. Mrs. 
Susan Daniels died on Octolier 15, 1876, and Mr. Daniels remained on the 
old farm in Smithfield township until 1883. when he moved to Waterloo, 
where his death occurred on June 6. igo8. in the ninety-sixth year of his age. 

Religiously, Mr. Daniels was an active worker in the L'nited P)rcthr;n 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 825 

church for nirmv years. Inil late in life lie liecame a l)elie\er in spiriiualisiiK 
He was of a pecuharly even teniperanienl. always kindly ami cmisiderate in 
his relations with others, and the relations between himself and the nienihers 
of his family were very afi'ectionatc. He was a man of marked doniesiic 
tastes, his most enjoyable hours being spent about his own fireside in the cum- 
panionship of his family. His life was a long and useful one to the highest 
degree, and no man ever lived in his locality who to a greater degree enji)\ed 
the absolute confidence and regard of the people generall} . In all that con- 
stituted true manhood and good citizenship he was a worthy example, his 
career being characterized b\- (lut\- well performed, by faithfulness to e\er\- 
trust reposed in him, and by industry, thrift and wisely directed efforts. 



VERNE ELSWORTH HARDING. 

That the plenitude of satiety is seldom attained in the affairs of life is to 
be considered a most lieneficial deprivation, lor where ambition is satisfied and 
every ultimate end realized, if such be possible, ajjatby must follow. b~ffort 
would cease, accomplisbment be prostrate, and creative talent waste its ener- 
gies in inactivity. The men who ha\e imsbed forw;ir<l the wheels of progress 
have been those to whom satisfaction lies e\ cr in the future, who ha\'e 
labored continuously. alwa}-s finding in each transition stage an incentix'e for 
further efifort. J\Ir. Harding is one whose well directed efforts have gained 
for him a position of desirable prominence in the agricultural circles of De- 
Kalb county, and his energy and enterprise have ]>een crowned liy a gratifving 
degree of success. 

\'erne Elsworth Flarding is a representative of one of the old pioneer 
families of DeKalb county, his grandfather. Dimick Harding, having been 
one of the first settlers of Richland townshi]). He was bi>rn September t2. 
1803. in New ^'ol•k. came to I.aGrange county. Indiana, in 183J. settling near 
Lima, now Howe, moving from there to I^ichland township, DeKalb county, 
in 1 841, settling on the tract of land now owned and occupied by the .subject 
of this sketch, and it is a noteworthy tract. The farm has been owned and 
occupied by the Harding family continuously for seventy-two years. Dimick 
Harding was married to Sarah Pike in LaGrange county. Indiana, in 1826, 
and to this union were born the following children: Levi. Samantha. Sabra. 
William Wrilv, Solomon, Elmira, and Albert, all deceased. Of these children. 



826 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Solomon was the father of tlie suhject of this sketcli. He married Sarah 
W'ilHam, Wrily Solomon. h:imira and Albert, all deceased. Of these children, 
Mary- J., Martha E.. Frank .M., Delbcrt H.. \'erne Elsworth. Rosa Evelyn. 
Dennis V. and Pearl I)., all of whom are deceased excejuinj,' \'erne and 
Dennis. 

\>rne E. Harding was horn on the old homestead in Richland town- 
ship, this county, on July 24, 1865. He was reared under the parental roof. 
securing a good education in the public schools, and has always gi\en thought- 
ful and intelligent direction to the vocation of farming, to which he was 
reared, and he has achieved a most eminent success in this point. The dav is 
past and gone when the farmer is looked down upon by other professions, for 
the progressi\e and up-to-date farmer of today has asserted his place among 
the leading producers of work, and among the most serviceable of vocations. 
Mr. Harding has made a close and critical study of agricultural means and 
methods, w hicli he lias in many ways demonstrated by his own experience as 
an agriculturalist, and he ha> for many years been numbered among the pro- 
gressive and inlluential farmers of DeKalb county. He has been ofificially 
connected willi the farmers' institutes of both the townshiji and count\- at 
large, and has made many iiistructi\c and effectual addres-i-s in the farmers 
of his county. l*'or a numl)er of years he has been a solicitor for the DeKall) 
Mutual h'ire lusurruice (./om])any. and in many ways has dtnionstrated busi- 
ness abilit\ of a higli (irder. He owns one hundred and twenty acres of 
highly imj)r()\ed land in Richland townshi]). to which he gixes his attention, 
and here he has achieved a noteworthy success. Ik- carries on general farm- 
ing, raising all of the crojis common to this locality, and also gives a proper 
share of attention to the raismg of Ine stock, one of th.e most imjiortant 
auxiliaries of successful farming. I'Mlitically. .\lr. Harding is an earnest 
Republican, while, fraternal!), he i> an acti\e and inlluential member of the 
Knights of Pythias, belonging to the subordinate lodge at Corunna. 

On December -3, |SS<). X'erne \i. Harding was united in marriage to 
Belle Cox. and to this union were born three children: b'orest C. Mary 
Myrth ( deceased 1. and .\nnise Luella. The son, Forest C. Harding, was 
married on December 23. r()ii, to .Mary J. bioren. and they lia\e one son, 
Dale Clifford. l)orn .March 22. k;!^. In all the elements that go t<i make 
upright and correct citizenship. .Mr. Harding -taiicK forenm-t. and by his 
earnest support of all worthy improvements, hi- own business success and 
upright character, he has earned and retained to a marked degree the esteem 
and confidence of the community in which "his entir elife has been spent. 



DEKALB COtNTY, INDIANA. 82/ 

D.WIl) R. KOSHT. 

W'lu'tlKT tile flemeiUs nf Miccess in life are innate attrilmtes m' the 
iiulixidiial nr whether the\ are (|uickene<l l)v a jirucess of civcinn^laniial de- 
velupnient, it is inii)ossihle ti) elearly determine. Vet the study of a suecessfu\ 
life, \\hate\er the held nf endeavor. i> none the less interesting and ])rofital)le 
by re;ison of existence of this same nncertaintx'. So nuiehin excess of those 
of snccesses are the records ni failnres or seini-faihn-es. that out; is con- 
strained to analysis in either case antl to determine the measure of causation 
in an approximate way. But in studying- the life history of the well known 
resident and ])0])ular citizen of Si. joe, whose name formsthe ca])tion of this 
article, we find many qualities in his make-up that alwa_\'s gain definite success 
in an\' career if properly tlirected, as his has evidently been, which has 
resulted in a life of good to other-; as well as in a co;nfortal;le competence t<i 
himself. 

David. R. Kosht. who is successfully engaged in the mdliug Iuihucss at 
St. Joe, was I)orn in Union township, DcKalb county, Indiana, on the jjth dav 
of .\pril, 1883, and is the son of Simon 1'. and l\lizaheth I Krabill ) Ko^ht. 
Simon P. Kosht was lioni in .\sliland county. Ohio, on August 24. 1S58, the 
son of Daniel and Elizabeth ( La>h ) Kosht, the former a nati\e of I'ennsyl- 
vania and the latter of Ohio. Daniel Kodit came to DeKalli cauitv m i8hr). 
settling in Union townshi]), where he f(.)llowed farming all his life, .\mong 
his children was Simon I'eter. who received his education in the common 
schools and then took up farming, which vocation he has acti\el\- followed 
since, lie is the owner of seventy-four acres of land and has been successful 
in his material affairs. To him and his wife were born two chilrlren : Da\id 
R., the immediate subject of this sketch, and Annie Maw who became the wife 
of l^athrou Flindeman, of Concord township, this county. Politically, .Simon 
P. Kosht is a Democrat, fraternally, an Odd kVllow , and in his religions 
belief he is a memliei- of the Christian chiu-cb. 

David R. Kosht received his education in the common schools of Wil- 
mington township, this county, and was reared to the life of a farmer, which 
upon attaining mature years he followed for about six years in Wilmington 
and Concord townships. Tn January. 1912. Mr. Kosht engaged in the milling- 
business at St. Joe. in which he is still engaged and in which he has met with 
a well deserved success. His mill is well equipi')ed for general custom work 
and Mr. Kosht .gi\-es his undivided attention to his business interests. prom])t- 
ness and goofl work being his watchword. 



828 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

On November 11. 1905, Mr. Kosht married Dona F. Engle, the daughter 
of Martin D. and Harriet (Howey) Engle, who were early settlers of DeKalh 
county and successful farmers. To Mr. and Mrs. Kosht have been born two 
children, Margaret and Phyllis, both of whom are at home with their parents. 

Politically, David R. Kosht has been a life-long supporter of the Demo- 
cratic party, actively interested in its success and he performs to the extent of 
his ability his duties as a citizen of the community. Fraternally, he is a mem- 
ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while his religious adherence 
is with the Christian church at St. Joe. Personally, he is affal)le and popular 
with the people of his locality and ready at all times to encourage and aid all 
laudable measures and enterprises for the general good. Bv a life consistent 
in motive and because of his many fine qualities he has earned the sincere 
regard of all who know him and his success in his chosen field of endeavor 
bespeaks for him continued ad\ancement and the highest sphere of usefulness 
in the business w nrld in the future. 



PERRY D. DFPF\^" 



To a great extent the prosperity- of the agricultural sections of our 
country is due to the honest industry, the sturdy persistence, the unswerving 
l^erseverance and the wise economy which so prominently characterize the 
farming element of the H(3osier state, .\mong this class may he mentioned 
the subject of this life record, who. In- reason of years of indefatigable labor 
and honest effort, has not only acipiired a \\v\\ merited material prosperity. 
but has also richly earned the highest esteem of all with w horn he is associated. 

Perry D. DePew , a successful farmer and public-spirited citizen of Key- 
ser township, was born on June 27, 1876, and is a son of Samuel and F^annie 
(Mason) DeFe\\'. Samuel DePcw, who was born and reared in Stark county, 
Ohio, to the age of ten years, was a son of Joseph and Nancy ( W'atson ) De- 
Pew, who, aliout 1855, came to DeKalb counts', Indiana, and bought a tract 
of land in the northwest part of Ke}ser townshi]). Here they developed and 
im]3ro\-ed a fine farm and spent the remainder of their tlays, the mother dying 
on that farm and the father in this count\ al-n. \\'hen Samuel DePew was 
about seventeen years of age he heard the call for defenders of the national 
honor and responded promptly, becoming a memlier <jf I'ompany 1'', One 
Hundred and Twenty-ninth Regiment Indiana Volunteers, with which he 
participated in many of the most important battles of that great conflict. l)eing 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 829 

in the ser'.-ice I'our _\ears. at the einl oi which time he receixed an lioiiMrahle 
discharge and returnecl U> tlie pursuits i)f peace. ( )n coming hack In the old 
home in Key.ser township he hough.t tlie estate from h.is parents and h\ed there 
until 1899, when he moved U< Auburn and spent the remainder of his days, his 
death occurring there in 1910. On July 12, 1867, Samuel DePew married 
Fannie Mason, the daughter of Abraham and Anne ((juince) INiason, the 
latter's parents being natix-es of IJncolnshire, England, where they were mar- 
ried and where five of their children were born, the father being a farmer in 
his native land. In 1857 they came to America and located in Richland 
count). ()lni>. where the father followed ditching for a year, then rented a 
farm and in i8i')i mo\ed to DeKalb county, locating at Corunna on March 
4th of that year. For three years he operated rented land and then bought a 
tract of forty acres tw-o miles east of Avilla, where he remained three years. 
He then bought fifty acres of land three miles southwx-st of Avilla and later 
added forty acres adjoining. l-Aentually he s(jld that tract and bought eighty- 
two acres of land in the same neighborhood, but finally mo\ ed to Avilla, where 
he bought a home and lived until his death. After that e\ cut his w idow lived 
with her children in Auljurn until she passed away. Their daughter, now the 
widnw of Samuel DePew, lives on the home farm with her son. Perry, the 
subject of this sketch. The place is well improved, including an attractive 
and well-arranged brick residence, good barn and outbuildings and in many 
other ways the farm is numbered among the attractive and profitable agri- 
cultural estates of the county. To the culti\'ation of the cild home farm, 
l'err\- DePew, the immediate subject of this sk-etch. gives his earnest attention 
and is numljered among the ])rogressi\-e and ui)-to-date farmers of the town- 
shi]). lie is a well educated and s_\-mmetricall\- developed gentleman, w ide- 
aw.nke to all the current issues of the day, and takes a deep interest not only 
in the improvement of his material estates, but also in the advancement of the 
highest and best interests of the entire community in which he lives. He 
is one of six children born to his parents, the others being Mary, wife of John 
Cook-; I'rank: Martha, the wife of William Cook: Xettie, the wife of Levi 
Shirk: Belle, wdio now lives in Cleveland. Ohio, the su!)ject of this sketch 
being the youngest in the family. 

On December 6, 1899, Perry DePew married Essie B. Law'head, who 
was born at St. Joe, this county, the daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Keagy) 
T,a\vhea<l, who now reside in Richland township, this county. To Mr. and 
Mrs. DePew have been b.irn two children, Ralph and Harold. Mr. DePew 
is a representative of one of the honored old families of this communitv and 



830 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

has abl\- sustained the enviable rei)utation which his forbears won during 
their residence here, his efforts being always exerted toward the advancement 
of his own interests as well as those of his fellows. Because of his genial 
disposition, agreeable nature and his kindly attitude to those about him. lie has 
-won many warm friends and numbers h\< ac(|uaintances throughout this sec- 
tion of the county. 



WII.LIAAI ili-:.\"R^' I'.ACHTKL. 

Among the citizens of Smithlicld township. DeKalb county, Iniliana. who 
have built up a comfortable home and surrounded themselves with valuable 
landed estates and personal property, few liave attained a higher degree of 
success than the subject of this sketch. With few opportunities e.xcejn wliat 
his own efforts were capable ot mastering and with many discouragements to 
overcome, lie has made an exceptional success m life and in his old age iia> 
the gratification of knowing tliat the community in whicli he reside- has been 
l)enefited by bis presence and counsel. 

WiUinm Henry Bacbtel is a native of DeKalli county, hrliana. liorn on 
-March \j. 1X1.3. ..n a farm in Smitblield towndiip and is a son of ilciiry and 
Mary (Aloyer) Bachtel. Henry Bacbtel. whose death occurred on Julv _'_:;. 
1913, was born in Holmes county, Ohio, on I'ebruary 19. 1829. the son of 
George and Catherine (Mummaw) Bachtel, both of whom were nati\es of 
Pennsylvania. He was reared in his native county and came to DeKalb 
county in 1850. where lie was employed at tlic trade of a Ijlacksmith. whicb lie 
had learned in his home communitx' and in which he had l)een employed since 
the age of nineteen years. He followed this pursuit at .\ul>urn for a great 
many years, and in iXto l)ought the Mortorff farm near Summit, comprising 
one hundred and t\\ent_\- acres, whicb be o])eraled until the fall of 18; :•. at llie 
same time giving some attention to the trade of blacksmith. In, the latter year 
he bought a farm of one l:undred and lwent}-four acres south of \\'aterl')o. 
to which he gave his attention and to which lie added by later ])urcba'-e-. In 
1865 Mr. Bachtel was drafted for the war, Init sent a substitute in his stc.id. 
He li\ed on this latter farm, now l<n<iwn as the Bachtel homestead, until bi^ 
death, which occurred on July 23. nji.v His wife, Mary (Moyer) liachtel, 
to whom he was married on .\])ril _'(;, 185J, died on March 13, i8(;3. Mr. 
Bachtel had improNcd his farm, erecting the liuildings now upon it. among 
the structures erected bv him being a barn fourteen by thirty feet in size, and 



DK.KAI.H fOU.N'TY. INDIANA. 83 1 

which was added tn until it imw iiie:i.snies forty h\ >e\ eiit\ -six I't-t-t. and in 
other ways he made many substantial improvements which indicated him tn he 
a man of progressive ideas and np-td-date in his tendencies, .\fter the death 
of his wife, Mr. Bachtel made his home with his son on the old homestead. 
He was a sober, earnest, hardworking man, rei;arded as one of tlie forem ist 
farmers in the community, and was a loyal and acti\e member of the L'nited 
Brethren church. To him and liis wife were born nine children, two of whom 
died in infancy, the others being Delilah, the wife of Robert Patterson, who 
is a shoe dealer of Waterloo: Emanuel, deceased: John Wesley, who li\ed U) 
manhood near Waterloo and died in igo8. at his father's home: .\lahala. the 
wife of Henry D. Shoemaker, of Smithfield towushi]). this countv ; William 
H., the immediate subjert of this sketch: Ada 1"., the wife of Daniel Dilgard. 
of Montpelier, (3hio : lunnia. who died at the a.i^e of twenty-five years: Albert. 

on the old boiuestead. 
crn il farmstead, sicurini;- his 
1 teaching .schools in different 
iths, farming in summer. In 
u's present farm, on which he 
;nidin^ timber and se\enty-six 
the oldest in the townshij). 
burned on July 30. 1913, and he is now engaged in the erection of a new one. 
which, when completed, will be one of the finest in Smithfield township. 

On March jj. i8g2. Mr. liacbtel married .Mary jane Walker, the daugh- 
ter of b^li Walker, who is re])resented elsewhere m this work, and therefore 
.Mrs. Bachtel's personal famil\ histor\ will not be repeated here. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Bachtel have been l)oru twi) children, Harry Earl and Pastel \'ern. 

I'olitically. Mr. Bachtel has given his support to the Republican party 
consistentlv since attaining his majoritv and has been active and influential in 
its supjiort. l'"raternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias at Water- 
loo, being interested in the workings of that order. He is essentiall}- a man 
of affairs, of sound judgment, keen discernment, farseeing in what he under- 
takes and every enterprise to which he has addressed himself ha's resulted in 
satisfactor\- financial returns. His success in life has lieen the legitimate 
fruitage of consecutive efl^ort, directed and controlled by good judgment and 
correct principles, and because of his high f|ualities of character he is emi- 
nentl\- deser\-ing of the confidence and regard which are bestowed upon him in 
the communitv in which he resides. 



who died ) 


In childho,,d. 


and Ik-rt. who is li\ii 


Willi: 


nn 11. I'.acht' 


i-'l was reared on the ] 


education 


in the comnn 


>n schools and enga^iei 


townshi])s 


in the coiuit 


\- during the winter n 


1894, two 


years after 1 


us marri;ige. lu bough 


located in 


i8g_'. 1-our ; 


;icres of ibis 1 md is in 


acres und( 


-r cultixatioi 


1. Mr. Ilachters bar 



832 DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. 

MARTIN C. SHEETS. 

Conspicuous among the representative men and public-spirited citizens of 
DeKalb county. Indiana, is the well known gentleman whose name forms the 
caption of this article. He has made his influence felt for good in his com- 
munity in Jackson township, being a man of sterling worth, whose life has 
been closely interwoven with the history of the community in which he 
resides and whose efforts have always been for the material advancement of 
the same, as well as for the social and moral welfare of his fellow men. The 
well regulated life he has led, thereby gaining the respect and admiration of 
all his fellow citizens, entitle him tu representation in a laiographical work of 
the scope intended in the present work. 

Martin C. Sheets was born on June 29, i860, on the farm where he now 
resides in Jackson township, DeKalb county, Indiana, and is a son of Christ- 
ian and Margaret (Carr) Sheets. Christian Sheets was born in Ashland 
county, Ohio, and upon attaining mature years learned the trade of miller, 
having engaged in the operation of a grist mill in his community. He also 
followed farming to some extent, but in 1846, when about twenty-three years 
of age, emigrated from Ohio to UeKalb county, Indiana, and here bought the 
old Parks farm of one hundred acres, which was then practically all covered 
with timber. Here he cleared a space for a cabin and entered u])on the 
strenuous task of clearing the lantl and putting it in cultivation. Later he 
bought eighty acres adjoining on the east and in 1864 again engaged in the 
milling business, which he continued for about ten years, running the old 
grist mill in Auburn. A new mill now stands on the site of this old mill, 
which for many years was a well known landmark here. His death occurred 
on September 12, 1882. Margaret (Carr) Sheets, who also was born in 
Ashland county, Ohio, accompanied her husband to DeKalb county, and here 
became very active in assisting him in his work in connection with the inau- 
guration of a home in the frontier. She was a good woman and enjoyed to 
a marked degree the confidence and lo\-e of those with whom she came in con- 
tact. Her death occurred on Ma\' 15, 1895, on the homestead where she had 
spent so many active years. To ]\Ir. and Mrs. Sheets were born six children, 
namely : Hulbert Luther ; Mrs. Sarah Huffman, who lives in Auburn and is 
the mother of three children, two living and one deceased ; Amanda, deceased ; 
Martin C. the immediate subject of this sketch: Mrs. Maud P. Blankenship, 
of Chicago, Illinois, and a child who died in infancy. 

Martin C. Sheets was reared on the home farm, received his schooling in 




MARTIN C. SHEETS 




MRS. ANXICK SHEETS 



DEKAI.B COINTV. INDIANA. 833 

llie township schools and I'mm Ijoyluiod cU-voleil his ailention maiiil\- to 
farming pursuits. He also learned the trade of carpenter and cement worker, 
and in the latter line did many jobs of work throughout this locality. He 
worked on the old home farm in Jackson township and has spent ptactically 
his entire life there. He cleared thirty-five acres of the last eighty acres his 
father bought and also about twenty-five acres of the first one-hundred-acre 
tract. The old residence on the home place, in which the subject was liorn. 
has since been remodeled by him and substantial additions made to it, and the 
other farm outbuildings, such as the barn, have been remodeled, the latter 
being changed into a modern hank barn. Mr. Sheets has given marked evi- 
dence of his progressi\-e spirit by building the first and only cement l)lock silo 
in the count}-. He is the owner of one hundred and seven acres of excellent 
land, which is maintained at the highest standard of agricultural excellence, 
and which by its general appearance of neatness and prosperity makes a favor- 
able impression on the passerby. About fifteen acres of his land is covered 
by excellent timber and is considered very valuable. He also farms twenty- 
five acres belonging to his sister, Maud. 

On May 25, 1884, Mr. Sheets was united in marriage to Annice Rus- 
sell, daughter of William and Sarali ( Wicks ) Ru^st.l!. William Russell was 
born in .\shland county. Ohio, comini;- in }oiith to l-ort Wayne, huliana, 
with his parents. bAcntually lie took u]i llie xncation of a farmer and mo\-ed 
to Green township. Xo])Ie county, Indiana, wiiere he followed the profession 
of stationary engineering, operating in the saw mills of that county. His 
marriage to Sarah Wicks occurred in 1857, and his death in 1864. He had 
two children, Annice, who became the wife of the subject of this .sketch, and 
Mrs. Francis Haney, who lives in Albion, Noble county, this state, and is the 
mother of two children living and one deceased. Sarah Wicks was born in 
Allen county, Indiana, near Huntertown. and came to Xoble county in 1842. 
After the death of her husband she came to live with lier daughter. Mrs. 
Sheets, where she still resides. To Air. and Mrs. Sheets ha\e been born two 
children, Florous, who remains at liome and assists in the farm.w(M-k. and 
Russell, who is a draughtsman for the Pullman Car Company at Chicago. 

T^olitically, Martin Sheets is a supporter of the Democratic party, while, 
fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias at .\uburn and the 
Benevolent and Protective Order of VAks at Fort Wayne. Mrs. Sheets is a 
member of the Presbyterian church and is also identified with the Pythian 
Sisters. She is a well educated and cultivated woman, antl has been a true 
(53) 



834 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

and appreciative helpmeet to her iiusband in his work. Slie enjoys a wide 
acquaintance throughout the community and is well liked by all who know 
her. Mr. Sheets is not only an excellent man personally and a hustler in his 
business affairs, Imt in the civic lite of the cnmniunitv he has taken a large 
interest and gives an uneijuivocal su|)port to every movement intended to 
advance the social, mor.-il and educational welfare of his fellow citizens. 



\VlLi.i.\Al .SCOTT FORNEY. 

"The life of the scholarly or jjiofessirtnal man seklom exhibits any of 
those striking incidents that seize upon public feeling and attract attention to 
himself. His character is generally made up of the aggregate qualities and 
qualifications he may pos.sess. as these ma}- be elicited by the exercise of the 
duties of his vocation or the particular profession to which he mav belong. 
But when such a man has so impressed his indi\-irlnalit\' ujion his fellow men 
as to gain their confidence, and through thai confidence be retained in im- 
portant positions, he becomes a c<)ns|)icnous li-me in the bodv politic of the 
community. Tlie su])icct of tb.i> review is one of the scholarly men of his 
county, who, not content to bide his talents amid life's .se(|uestered ways, liy 
the force of will and a laudable ambition forged to the front in an exacting 
and re.sponsible calling and earned an honorable rcinUation in one of the most 
important branches of public service. A well-educated, symmetrically developed 
man, his work as an educator has for many years been of such a high standard 
of excellence that his position in the front rank of his profession has long been 
conceded. Keeping abreast of the times in advanced educational methods, and 
possessing a broad and comprehensive knowledge, he is, because of his high 
attainments, a well rounded character and of large influence, eminently en- 
titled to representation in the annals of his county. 

William Scott Forney, the present efficient superintendent of the high 
school at Ashley, Indiana, was born on October ,:;. 1882, on a farm in Smith- 
field townshi]). PcKall) county. Indiana, and is a son of .\dam .\(lic and 
Nancy (Cole) b'ornew \ilam .\. Forney was born in Stark county, Ohio, 
about ten miles east of I'anton. on \]>ri] jj. 1847. and was the son of llenry 
and Nellie X. (Marks) l-'orney. Ileiu'v b'ornev was liorn near llarrisburg, 
Pennsylvania, .s])ending his boyhood days in that state and came with his 
parents, Henry and Mary (Ritter) Forney, to Ohio, where they settled on a 
farm. There he followed the trade of brick making. Tn 1849 he came to 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 



^35 



DeKall) county. Indiana, the trip Ijeins,^ niadf by hnat from Toledo, thence by 
canal to Fort \Va\ne and by was^on from that city to DcKallj county. They 
settled on a farm of tln'rt\- acre^, all of which was covered with tinil)er and 
located in Smithtield l.iwnship. This land .\lr. [■'orney cleared and put in 
good condition and also assisted in cIcaiiuL; land lor John Hamman, a far- 
mer owning land adjoining, lie folldwed the brick-making trade here also 
and was one of the most ser\ice;d)Ie men in the early life of the community. 
His death occurred in iNf)^ nn the homestead farm. His wife, whu \\;is a 
native of Ohio, was married in iS^f) to Henry l-'orney. and she. ton. was a 
leading factor in the early life hei'e. .assisting not unly in the rearing of a large 
family, but in the general work of the farm. She was a ipieen td her chil- 
dren, who adoreil her as a nu>ther and who found in her a sympathetic help- 
mate and companion. Her death occurred in 1884 on the homestead farm. 
To Mr. and Mrs. b'orney were born twelve children : One w ho died in in- 
fancy, Julia Ann, John, Elizabeth, Henry and .Samuel are deceased; Adam A. ; 
Jacob, who is a farmer in La(iran,ge county. Indi.ana. married l<".lizal)elh W al- 
ters, and they have one c-liild : Abra.bam. a farmer near .\slilev. Indiana, mar- 
ried Anna Zent. .-mil they ha\e two children: 1 )a' id. a carpenter at .\shley, 
Indiana, marrietl Maggie Hum[)hrey : Mary Ann. who is ilie wife of William 
Stoleberger, a farmer in LaGrange county. Indiana, is the ninther of two 
children: William is a farmer in Kosciusko counlw Indi.ana. married Maggie 
L}'ons. to which muon has h^en born one child. \dani .\. l-'orney was about 
tw^o years of age when he came with his parents to DeKalb county, Indiana, 
and he received his education in the township schools, working on the home 
farm as soon as old enough to assist in the work and also learning the brick- 
mason trade. He remained on the parental homestead until attaining his 
majority, and after his marriage, in iSSr. he bought forty acres of land 
across from the homestead farm, which he ditched, tiled and fenced, and on 
which he built a splendid residence. He is still active as ;i farmer on this 
place, which he has developed into one of the best farms in the community. 
He has taken an im])ortant ])lace in the ci\ic life of the comnninilv. ha\ing 
ser\-ed two terms (six years) as supervisor of Smithtield townshi]). He has 
been an active supporter of the DenKirr.-ilic parlv .and. tliongli nut a member 
of anv church, has been a Lutheran in his religious faith. 

On July 21, 1 88 1, Adam A. Forney married Nancy Cole, the daughter 
of Smith and Mary (Whistler) Cole. Smith Cole was a native of Seneca 
county, Ohio, and was reared to the life of a farmer. He came with his par- 
ents to DeKalb county in young manhood and here followed agricultural i>ur- 



836 DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 

suits until his death. On October 12, i86_'. he was drafted at Waterloo tor 
militar)' service and went to the front as a private in Company D, Thirtieth 
Regiment Indiana \'ohinteer Infantry, under Capt. Wheeler W. Griswaldt. 
He w-as discharged from the service in Tennessee on July 30, 1863. He was 
twice married, having six children by the first union, namely : Ellen. Will- 
iam, Sarah, Elizabeth, Mary Ann and Nancy M., and three children by his 
second union, Edward, John and Katherine. To Air. and IMrs, Forne\- were 
born seven cliiklrt-n; William Scntl, tlie immediate subiect of this -sketch; 
Cora B., Herljert. Worthy, Ear!. Adam Moyd and Nellie. 

William .Scott Forney received his education in the schools of Smith- 
field township, graduating from the Ashley high school in 1903. He then 
taught school at .Smithfield Center for one term and four terms in the graded 
.schools at Ashley. In 1908, soon after liis marriage, Mr. Forney went to the 
Philippine islands with his wife, as supervising teacher, having about thirty- 
five native teachers under his charge, and during the three years in which he 
held this position he pcformed s])!endid service in advancing" the educational 
.status of the locality in which he was placed. Returning to the United States 
in 191 1, in the fall of that year he entered lud.iana L'niversity at Bloomington, 
and two \ears later he graduated with the degree of ISachelov of Arts. Re- 
turning to .\sliley, Indiana, he here assumed the ])osition of supeiiutendent of 
tile liigli scliool. to whicli he had l)een chosen, entering u];on liis new duties on 
Se])teml)ei' 13. H)i3. He has dcmonstrale<l his enu'nent htness for the posi- 
tion, and through his untiring efforts and able management the high school at 
Ashley has advanced to position among the foremost high schools of this sec- 
tion of the state. A constant student and dee)i reader, Air. Forney keeps in 
close touch with the most advanced thought relative to pedagogical affairs 
and gives thoughtful and intelligent direction to the school under his charge. 
He has won the favor of patron and pupil and exerts a beneficial influence on 
not onlv the educational but the private lives of those under his care. 

On .\pril 19, 1908, ^^''illiam .S. Forney was married to Ina Gurtner, the 
daughter of Henry and Joan (Clark) C.urtner. Henry Curtner was born in 
DeKalb county. Indiana, and during his active years followed farming pur- 
suits, though he is now retired and is living at Hamilton, this state. His 
wife, who also was a native of DeKalb county, died in September, 1885. Mr. 
riintner was twice married, having five children by the first union and three 
bv the second, these children in the order of birth being named Helbert, Mrs. 
Minme Wolfe. Mrs. Ella Arnold. Havid. Mrs. Hattie Miller. Mr^. Irena Fee. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 837 

Freeman, deceased, and Ina. Mr. and Mrs. lM)rnev are the parents of a son. 
Paul. 

Politically, Mr. l-"oriiey is an active HeniDcrat and, fraternally, a mem- 
ber of the Knights of Pythias. \ man (if kindl\ impulses and liumanitarian 
spirit, lie take.s a deep interest in e\erythin,!.i- jiertaining {n the welfare (if the 
community in which he resides, rmd is numbered anionic the representative 
citizens of his locality. 



EZRA D. H.\RTMAX. 

Among th(i>c wIk. have -tood as distinguished t_\])es of the world's 
workers was the late judi^e I'zia I). Haitman. who was one of the ahle and 
honored lawyers of northern Indiana. He was ;i man of tine intellectual at- 
tainments, of most gracious personality, of >tr(in'4 and nohlf character, and 
one who labored with zeal and devotion in tlie jiursuit oi his xcjcation. .\s 
one of those vvlio liave lent ('ignilv .and honor to the legal profession in In- 
diana and who lirought to his chosen vdialKJn the strength and devotion of a 
.great soul and a gri^at mind, it is most consonant that an extended tribute to 
his memory ]k- entered and perpetuated in this history. 

Kzra 1). Hartman was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, on Mav if). 
i<S4i. and die'l at his Ikjuic in Auliurn. in(li:ina. on .\lav (>. ujo^. He was the 
son of .\liram and Catherine ( Rn.-sein I lartnian, who are referred to specif- 
ically in tile sketch of Joel E. Hartman, elsewhere in this work, therefore 
further mention will not be made of them in this connection. The subject of 
this sketch was brought to DeKalb county, Indiana, in 1847 with his parents 
and received a good common school education, in addition to thorough 
courses in commercial work and the study of law. He completed his law 
cour.se in the L'niversity of Michigan, and in June, i(S(i2, was admitted to the 
bar. However, soon afterward he felt called upon to enlist in his countrv's 
defense, and in August. iSdj. he assisted in recruiting a companv which was 
assigned to the One Hundredth Regiment. Indiana \'olunteer Infantry, with 
which he went to the front. He was commi-'^ioin-d lieutenant of his comjianv 
and was later ])ronioted to the rank of ca])tain. He ex])erience(l many hard- 
ships and discharged his duties with a fidelity and bravery which earned for 
him the commendation of his superior officers. However, his military service 
was the ultimate cause of Iiis death, for he there contracted diseases which 
undermined his constitution and from the effects of which he suffered until 



03° DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

the time of hi> decease. In i8f)6 Mr. Hartnian located in Waterloo. Indiana, 
where he he^an the active practice uf his i)riitessiiin and the same year was 
nominated on the RepubHcan ticket for representative against Hon. Freeman 
Kelley and, after an active campaign, was successful at the polls. In the 
fall of 1867 he was elected ]>rosecuting attorney of the fourteenth judicial 
district, composed of the counties of DeKalb, Steuben, Lagrange, Noble, Elk- 
hart and Kosciusko, serving three years in this position and discharging his 
duties with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his fellows. He con- 
tinued the practice of law in partnership with j. L. Mnrlan, in Waterloo, In- 
diana, until 1S71, when he moved to South I'.enil. but two vears later he re- 
turned to DeKalb county and formed a partnership with Hon. J. E. Rose, of 
.\ul)urn. which continued until 18X1. In 1 8(;8 Mr. Hartnian was nominated 
in convention held ui the \\ ;iterloo opera house for judge of the thirty-fifth 
judicial circuit, comjjosed of Steuben and DeKall") counties, and was ti'ium- 
jihantly elected. During his term of othce he was at times inca])acitated for 
the discharge of his ofticial duties because of his failing health, but he demon- 
strated a wonderful tenacity and will power and oftentimes presided over the 
court when almost any other man would have felt unable to be present. He 
was conscientious and carefully guarded the public interests as judge in ren- 
dering decisions and gave eminent satisfaction both tn counsel and litigants. 
He manifested a thorough knowledge of the law and had a remarkable com- 
prehension of the main ])oints at issue when a case was presented in his court. 
Kindly and considerate of the attorneys in his court, he was in turn treated by 
them w itli a rexercuce almost amountin-^ to ;iffectiou. as his death was con- 
sidered not only a distinct loss to the coniniuuity, but to many of the attor- 
neys of DeKalb county hi> j)assiug a\\a\- was held to l)e a personal bereave- 
ment. 

On October 15. i8()8. Judge Hartiuan was married at Hryan. Obit), to 
.Mary Cunningham, to wliicli union were born three children. .Maliel, Waiter 
C. and Hubert Ezra. Mrs. llartman died a nuniljer of years ago. and there- 
after Judge Hartman made his home with his daughter, Mabel. Fraternally, 
he was an enthusiastic meml)er of the Masonic order, having attained to the 
degrees of the Royal Arch, and was also a member of the Cirand .\rmy of the 
Rejiublic. Religiously, he was a member of the Presbyterian cluu-cli, in which 
he held the office of elder. He was a faithful supporter of the church's inter- 
ests, and in church. p(:)litical and pri\ate life alike he was consistent in his 
motives and actions. ne\er \ioI:iting the conticlence which the |)eople unixer- 
sall\- held in him. Fie was a fair, honest and able iudge. a bra\e and courag- 



DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 839 

foiis sdklier. a gnoil citizen in the lirDadest sense i>t the term, and a friend 
wild never violated any ccnlidence jjlaced in him. In all that constitutes true 
m.anhond ;ind t^oixl citizenship he was a wurthx example and mme stood 
liiijlier than he in the esteem and conlidence of the circles m which he mii\ed. 



FRANK C-. HOFFKLDHR. 

One of the nati\e sons of l)el\alh count\ who has remained and made a 
success of life right here in his uwn community r;ither than bein,<i- lured away 
to some distant locality hy the '"wanderlust spirit," there to seek ;m uncertain 
fortune amid strans^-e einironmcnt. is hiank (_'. I idtt'elder, a farmer of Smith- 
tield township. He has worked hard for what he has and he is deservin.? of 
the competence and the valuable propert\- that are today his. 

Frank C. Hoffelder was liorn on April 3. 1874, on the old home farm of 
his parents east of St. .Michael's church in Smithfield township. DeKalb 
county, Indiana. His parents were John and Frances 1 Miller) Hot'fekler. 
long prominent and successful residents of this locality and who reared their 
families to lives of respectability and honor in their respective comtnunities. 
Frank C. HofYelder spent most of his life until his marriage on the home 
place until, when about twenty-two years old. he worked for about sixteen 
months in tlie P.altimore iS- Oliio railro.-id shops in (iarrett. and was also em- 
jiloyed on a farm near Traverse City, Michigan, about three years. In the fall 
of igo2 Mr. Hoffelder bought eighty acres of land in section 3. and the l:idy 
who afterwards became his wife bought the eighty acres adjoining. In June 
of the following year they were married and immediately located on the sub- 
ject's farm and began the task of clearing the land and i)utting it under cul- 
tivation. Fouisa Dapp. who liecame Mr. FTofTelder's wife, was a daughter of 
.\lois Da])]) and a sister id' Henry Dajip. in whose sketch elsewhere in this 
work is more detailed mention of the family history. .\t the time they located 
on their new land the only improvements were a long stable and a little old log 
cabin which had been built nearly a half century before, the ceiling of which 
was so low that a man could hardly stand upright in it. The entire tract was 
l)racticallv a wilderness, not having been drained and being mostlv swamji 
land, but Air. IToffelder by the most strenuous labor succeeded in clearing it. 
ditching and tiling it and creating one of the best farms in this section of the 
count\-. He now has nearly one hundred acres under cultivation and has 
erected a comfortable and ;ittracti\e residence, substantial and commodious 



840 DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. 

barns and other outbuildings, and is following his agricultural oiierations 
along the most modern and ui>-to-date methods. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Hoffelder have been born five children ; Helene. Plsther. 
Johnnie, Frances and Agnes. Politically, Mr. Hoffelder is a Democrat and 
takes an active interest in political affairs, though not in any sense a seeker 
after public office. Religiously, he and his family belong to th'e Catholic 
church, to which they contribute liberally of their means. Personally, Mr. 
Hoffelder is kn(.)wn to be a ni;ni of -crupulously lionest jirinciples, generous, 
kind and always readv to do hi-; full share of tlie common duties of citi7.en- 
ship; in short, a genial, broad-minded man, whom t(i know is to admire and 
esteem. He has been very successful in his operations and has won the con- 
fidence of all who know him, owing to liis honorable methods and ui)right life. 



ALEXANDER PROVINES. 

DeKalb county, Indiana, enjoys a high reputation because of the higii 
order of her citizenship, and none of her citizens occupies a more enviable 
position in the esteem of his fellows than the gentleman whose name appears 
at the head of this sketch. A residence here of over si.xty years has given his 
fellows a full opportunity to observe him in the \arious lines of activity in 
which he has engaged and his present high standing is due solely to the hon- 
orable and upright course he has pursued. As a leading citizen of his com- 
munity he is eminently entitled to representation in a work of this character. 

Alexander Provines," who resides in Auburn, hut owns a fine farm in 
section 9, Jackson township, this county, was born in Rowsljurg, Ashland 
county, Ohio, on July 18, 1848, the son of .Mex.inder and Dorcas (.Adams) 
Provines. These parents were born respectively in Washington county. I^'enn- 
sylvania, on January 31, 1818, and Ashland county, Ohio, on January 16, 
182 1. The subject's grandfathers, Robert Provines and Hugh Adams, were 
;born natives of Ireland and the latter was a soldier in the war of 1812. In 
April, .1853, Alexander Provines, Sr., settled on a farm of one hundred and 
■sixtv acres in section 9, Jackson township, DeKalb county, Indiana, where he 
spent the remainder of his days, and where the subject of this sketch was 
reared to manhood. He received his education in the district schools during 
the winter months, while his summer vacations were spent in work on the 
farm up to his twentieth year, when he began teaching school, follow ing this 




MRS. RHODA PROVINES. 




ALEXANDER PROVINES 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 84I 

vocation during the following ten winters, one of which, 1870, was spent in 
•Cass county, Nebraska. Mr. Provines has been prospered in his life's voca- 
tion and is now the owner of one hundred and thirty-four acres of splendid 
land in section 9, Jackson township, a part of which comprises the farm on 
which his father first settled. To the cultivation of this place Mr. Provines 
devoted himself untiringly and with eminent success until October, 1902, 
when he relinquished the labor of the farm and moved to Auburn, where he 
is now living in honorable retirement, although he still maintains supervision 
over the operation of his farm. The latter is well tiled and in good state of 
cultivation and has been nuniberetl for many years among the best farms of 
the community, being productive and well improved in every respect. Mr. 
Provines owes his success almost entirely to his own efforts, for he was one 
■ of the beginners in this locality, enduring t]:e liardsiiijjs and privations of the 
pioneers, clearing and improving his farm and educating and rearing his 
children to honorable manhood or womanhood. 

Politically, Mr. Provines is affiliated with the Republican party, and was 
appointed a member of the township advisory board and was also appointed 
to fill a vacancy in the county council, holding the latter position when ap- 
propriations were made for the present magnificenl new court liouse at Au- 
burn. Though Mr. Provines is not affiliated with an\ church, he has alwa\s 
taken active part in Sunday school work and has the greatest respect for 
religious societies and appreciation of the work which they have accomplished. 
On November 7, 1871, Mr. Provines married Rhoda S. Knight, a native 
of Elkhart, Indiana, and the daughter of Michael and Sarah (Johnson) 
Knight, who formerly resided in Concord township, this county. To this 
union have been born the following children ; Harris G., of Welch, Okla- 
homa; Effie, the wife of Samuel F. Morr, of Fairfield township, this county: 
Lola, the wife of Wesley Carper, of Columbus, Kansas; May, the wife of 
Claude C. Moore, of Washington ; Roy. who is operating his father's farm in 
Jackson township; Dorcas, the wife of Otto D. Sherer, of .\uburn : Emma, 
who died on November 20, 1912: Edna, who is unmarried and is at jiresent 
teaching scho(.)l at Bedford, Indian.a. Mr<. Provines died on October ;v 
1912. Mr. Provines is a splendid example ot tlie \irilc, progressive, self- 
made man who believes in doing well whatever i-; worth doing at all. a man 
of keen discernment and sound judgment, broad-minded and at the same time 
a follower of the principles embodied in the Golden Rule in all his relations 
with his fellow men and, therefore, enjoys their confidence and good will. 



842 DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 

FRANK YARDE. 

In nearly ever}' community are individuals who by innate ability and 

>lieer furce uf character rise atxne their fellows and win for themselves con- 
spicuous places in public esteem. While Frank Yarde, a progressive farmer 
t)f Keyser township, DeKalb couiit\'. (l<jes not court such a distinction, yet it is 
e\-i(lent that he has won a larger amount of success than the average farmer 
and that thi> has been done b\' liis own unaided efforts, since it has never 
been liis nature to depend on anxonc. During the long period of his resi- 
dence in this vicinity his life has l^een closely interwoven with its material 
growth and development, while bis career as a man of affairs has been 
synon_\'mous with all. that is upriglil and honorable in citizenship. 

I'rank N'arde was l)orn on January ti, 1861. in Richland township, 
DeKalb county, Indiana, and is the sun of John and i^ydia Ann ( Houser) 
\'arde. The family is descended from good old English stock, the subject's 
paternal grandfather, lolm ^■arde. having lieen l)orn in Devonshire, England, 
on March 12. iSu. His parents died when he was a child, and he was reared 
by his mother's sister and gi\en a collegiate education. When sex'enteen years 
of age he began teaching scliool and followed that \-ocation for thirty five 
A-ears. He married Marv Symonds, also a native of Devonshire, and to them 
were born twehe children. ele\en daughters and a son. In August, 1852, Mr. 
Yarde l)rinight his family to the United States, locating first in Summit 
conntv, Ohio, where thev remained a month, and then came to DeKall) county 
and here bouglnt hftv acres of unimproved land, where he purposed making 
his pcrmanetit home. After ijayiug for this land lie had alxmt seventy-five 
dollars left, and, ha\ing use of Ijut one hand, the 1)urden of the work of clear- 
ing and improving this land fell to bi-^ s,,n. John, junior, then a lad of about 
si.xteen vears. The latter was l)orn in Devonshire, England, on November 
17. 1836, and received a good education in the public schools, making rapid 
advancement so that before he was sixteen years of age he had taught .school 
for thirteen months. He accompanied his parents and assi.sted materially in 
the improvement of the DeKalb county farm. On October 10, 1858. John 
Yarde, junior, was married to Lydia .\nii Houser, who was born in Wayne 
countv, Ohio, on July 12, 1840. a daughter of l)avid and Rebecca Houser. and 
to this tmion were born six cliildren : Martha. bTank. l^avifl. Nettie. Henry 
and f.evtlia. ALartha becar.ie the wife of William imler and lives in Rutler 
township, where he is a successful farmer. Tlie\- are the parents of three 
children. Frank, the immediate subject of this sketch, is next in order of 



UEKALK COUNTY, INDIANA. 843 

birth. l)a\iil is rfprt'scnted in a personal sketch ilsewiiere in tliis biH.>k. 
Xcttic married Georoe Kelhaiii, a farmer near Swan, DeKalb count}', In- 
diana, and tliey have three eliildren. }lenr\- is also represented individually 
elsewhere in this \olume. ISertha became the w i i'e of Ira (jrogg, a farmer 
living in lUitler township, this cunntw :md the\ are the parents of three chil- 
dren living and one deceased. 

I'^rank Varde was reared under the paternal roof, and received his edu- 
cational traming in the schools of the localit}'. As early as possible he gave a 
hand to the operation of the home farm, assisting his father imtil his mar- 
riage, when, in the spring of 1S87, he moved to his present location, which 
he rented from his father until the hitter's death in 1000. when the subject 
purchased the farm and ha- -in.cc gi\cn hi- undivided attention to it. The 
tract contains one huntlred and si.xty acres of land, and added to which .Mr. 
Yarde, in 1893, had bought an eighty-acre tract adjoining on the east. This. 
however, he sold in 1910 and l)ought the eighty-acre tract known as the old 
Leeson farm. He has added to this until be is now the owner of four hun- 
dred and si.xty acres of as good land as could be foiuid in the townshi]). It 
■is well drained, fenced, and the residence, barn and other outbuildings are all 
of a substantial character, so that the place presents a pleasing aspect to the 
l)asser-b_\-. He is owner of three hundred and sixty acres of land in the 
homestead place lying close to Garrett, the other hundred acres lying west of 
Garrett, -\bout twentv-five acres of his land is timber and is considered a 
ver\- \aluable tnict. Progressive and enterprising in his methods, Mr. Yarde 
has. by dint of the most persistent industry and careful attention to details. 
achieved a noteworthy success in his vocation, and today is ntuu])ered among 
the leading a.griculturalists of Keyser township. 

On September 23, i88fi, .Mr. N ardc was miirned to Alice .Smith, daugh- 
ter of James L. and .Xnianda 1 Sherrick ) Snuth. the former a n iti\ e of IVuu- 
sylvania and the latter of Glark county. Oluo. |;uul-> L. Snuth was born on 
|ul\ 13. 1837. the son ui Jo-e])h and Aruue ( ( iuist ) Snu'th. also a native girl 
of the Keystone state, the father of Luiglish and the mother of Scotch descent, 
his paternal ancestors coming to .America with William I'enu. In 1839 the 
parents moved tf) Columluana county, Ohio, and when sixteen years of age he 
went to Stark count) , that state, serving three years as apprentice at the car- 
ijcnter's trade. \t tins trade he was employed as a journeyman until attaining 
his majority, when he engaged in business for himself, and in 1863 he moved 
to DeKalb couutw Indiana. bu\ing one hundred acres of land in Keyser 



isbip. a part 



)f Garrett. Me rented hi 



§44 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

farm and worked at his trade until 1875, ^vhen he sold out and bought the 
farm, one hundred acres of which is in that township, where he afterwards 
resided. He married on October 4, 1858, Amanda, the daughter of Samuel 
and Leah ( Baker) Shirk, and to them were born nine children : Samuel, 
Isaiah J., Elmer, Harrison H., Alice E., Reuben, Ida W., Ella and Minnie. 
The father's death occurred in 1901 on the home place in that township. His 
first wife died in 1877. and in 1878 he was married to Priscilla \\ yant, who 
was born in Champaign county, (3hio, in 1847. and to them were born six 
children: Arta .Ma_\-. Cora. James M.. Francis. Kffie and Jennie. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Yarde ha\e been l)orn four children : Jaw Roy, John and Ida, the last 
two being twins. 

Politically, Mr. Varde has given his support to the Republican party. l)e- 
lieving that the past record of this political organization entitled it to the 
support of all thinking men. Religiously, he is a member of the Alethodist 
Protestant church of Altona. a suburb of (iarrett, l)eing one of the trustees of 
that society and taking a strong interest in the welfare of the organization. 
In everything pertaining to the upbuilding of the community Mr. Yarde has 
been found loyal in his support and.no worthy cause has appealed to him in 
vain. Genial and unassuming in his manner, he has earned and retains to ;i 
marked degree the respect and friendship of all whom know him. 



JOEL E. HARTMAN. 



The prosperity and substantial welfare of a community depend \ery 
largely upon the character and enterprise of its leading citizens. It is the pro- 
gressive, wide-awake men of affairs that make the real history of a county 
or state and upon them also rests tlie responsibility of .gi\'ing moral tone to 
the lx)dy politic, of directing thought and shaping opinion, and of taking the 
lead in all progressive measures for the public good. To this class of strong, 
virile men belongs the well known and enterprising citizen whose name ap- 
pears at the head of this review, an individual of sterling character and sturdy 
worth, whose influence has always lieen on the right side of every moral issue 
and whose name stands for what is best and noblest in manhood. 

Joel E. Hartman was born on October 3. 1843. in Lehigh county. Penn- 
sylvania, the son of Abram and Catherine (Russell) Hartman. Abram Hart- 
man, who was a native of Pennsylvania, migrated in young manhood to 



KALB 


COUNTY, 


INDIANA. 










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Ohio, and from that state came 
he bought eighty acres of la 
tentii.ni and also ga\e scmie 
ill the .Metlmdist climcli. I 
occurred in August. iSjo- < 
the father of sexeii children. 
riage and li\es in .\shle\". li 
Catherine Russell were as 
children, li\-es on a farm clo 
man at the I^ckhart .\uto Manufacturing Company, .\ulnun, lii(lian;i. is mar- 
ried and has six daughters: the other children, hesides tlie suliject of this 
sketch, are ;ill deceased, namely: Wesley. Priscilla and Calvin. 

Jiiel !•'.. ilartman was reaied on tlie iiaternal farmstead and secured his 
education in the di.stricl schools. In iSfq Ik- was diafled at Kendalhille, 
Indiana, and was assigned to the I'ifty-third Regiiiient. Indiana N'olunleer 
Infantry, under Captain Kingston, the command heing assigned to (niieral 
Sherman's arm}-. Mr. Hartman took part in maii\ of the most important 
campaigns of the war, being in thirteen different states, spent two weeks in 
doing garrison dut}' on the Atlantic coast, was transported from Charleston, 
Virginia, to Moorehead City, South Carolina, meeting General Sherman at 
the coast. His command fought at Kingston. Moorehead City and [■laleigh, 
Xorth Carolina, and also t(X)k part in the several engagements against (Jen- 
eral Jolmson. His military record was an excellent one in e\ery respect and 
he was hoiiorahlx' mustered out at Washington, D. ('., in June, iS'15. After 
his discharge from military ser\ ice Mr. Hartman returned to DeKall) county 
and settled on his |jresent homestead farm of one hnndred and sixty acres in 
.Smithfield townsliip. which he lias iiii])ro\e(l in many res])ects until now it is 
one of the best farms in the townsliip. The ]>uildiiigs are all substaiiti.al in 
character, the large, roomy, modern i)arii. erected in iS()_', being oik- of its 
features. He takes great pride in his farm and li\e -lock imd has achie\ed a 
sjilendid success in his vocation. The residence, which is attractive and con- 
veniently arranged, is iirovidpd w ith many modern accessories and, taken as a 
whole, the farm is a credit to Smithfield townshij). In rgn Mr. Hartman 
purcha.sed eighty acres of land across the road from his present homestead, 
on which his daughter, ATertie. now li\ es. 

(^n October 5, 1X63. Mr. Hartman was married at .\uburn, Indian.a, to 
Sarah (iusliwa. the daughter of riiilii) .and Mary (.Moore) Gushwa. Mr. 
Gushwa. who was a native of Ohio, nioxed to DcKalb county in 1835. locat- 



846 DliKAl.R COrXTV, INDIANA. 

ing on a farm twn miles iiurtli (if dirunna. Indiana, w liere lie aci|uireil the 
ownership of one luinch-ed and sixty acres of land. This land, which was 
bought at a cheap price, was densely co\ered with timber, most of t\ hich Mr. 
(lushwa cleared from the land and put the -oil in excelk^nt condition foi' culti- 
\ation. Ill 187;, he sold fort\- acres off the sitle of the farm to his wife's 
eldest brother, jacolj. 1 k' ga\e his acti\e \e:irs to the cultivation of this farm 
and (lied there in the fall of i8S,S. His wife, who also was a native of Ohio, 
acconipanietl her husbaiul on their long, tiresome journex by wagon and ox- 
team to their new home and here she proved a true hel])meet to her husli:ind, 
assisting liini in his work and encouraging him b_\- her counsel, and by her 
life in the comniunit\ she became beloved In- all who knew her. iier death 
occurred on the old homestead in the fall of iS(;_'. To them were born ten 
children, all of whom were liorn in Ohio, with the exceiition of the youngest. 
One of these children died in infanc}' and of the others, six are now deceased, 
Jacob, Elizabeth, b.ihn, Susan. Thili]) and I'lenjamin. The three living are 
Jonathan, who is an old soldier and lives at Corunna. and wlio is married and 
has two children, Charles and bjlward: Marv Ann, the wife of David l.ibv. a 
farmer at W akarusa, Indiana, and who w.'is a soldier in the (,'ivil war. having 
served three vears. They have five children, lliree sons and two daughters. 
All of Airs, llartman's In'others were veterans of the Civil war. 

To Mr. and Afrs. llartman have been born eight children : Or]jlieus : Delia, 
deceased: William, lizra. .Mary Catherine, .Mertie. buK-ry and X'esta. Of 
these. Oi'iilieus, who is married and is operating a farm at Maurice, Michigan, 
is the father of seven children, four sons and three daughters; William, who 
also is married, lives on a farm in I'airfield townshi]), DeKalb county, and 
has four sons: Ezra, who remains unmarried, lives at home with his parents: 
Mary Catherine is the wife of Robtrt Lockhart. who is represented elsewhere 
in this work, and they have five children, three sons and two daughters: 
Mertie is the wife of Sherm;m Porter, a farmer, and they live on a farm ad- 
joining her father's homestead: luuery is a .Methodist minister at Evanst(jn, 
Illinois. He is married, but has no children: X'esta is the wife of luxrl 
Hughes, a farmer in .Steuben countv, this state, and thev have one child, a son. 

Politically, Mr. Hartman is a Republican in his views, but he lias been 
too busy a man to devote to public affairs, although at all times giving his 
su|)])ort to everv movement which promises to benefit the comnuniitv in any 
way. Religiously, he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to the 
supi)ort of which he contributes liberally of his means. Ouiet and unassum- 
ing in his attitude, he has earned bv his earnest and consistent life the warm 



DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. S47 

regard of all who kimw him. Mc-thndical in business, strict in his cnmicticms 
as to right and wrong, genial and cnmpanionahle, he has earned the high 
standing which he enjo_\s and is right full\ nunihered among the I'epresentatix-e 
men of tins section of the connt\. 



EDWIY ERWIX. 



Edwin Erwin. one of the substantial farmers and progressive citizens of 
Smithfield township, DeKalb county, Indiana, was born on November 8, 
1838. in Stark county, Ohio. Later he moved to Henry county, that state, 
and from thence came to DeKalb county, Indiana, in 1853, in company with 
his parents, who bought eighty acres of land near Waterloo, this county. .\ot 
an inch of this land had been cleared,' the only improvements being a log 
house and barn, and here they lived about three years, when the father traded 
the farm for a store in Uniontown, Indiana. He o])erated this store success- 
full}' for three }'ears and then traded it for a farm of sixty acre^ north of 
\Vaterloo. lulwin Erwin worked on different farms in this coimt}-, and e\ent- 
ually bought the farm of sixty acres from his father, William l*!rwin, and 
kept the .satne for two years, finally selling it to Jacob Shuman. He then 
bought forty-seven acres of land in section 16, Smithfield township, to \vhich 
he some time later added forty acres more. The original forty-seven acres 
was largely covered with timlier, i\hich he cleared from the land and then 
erected a number of good, permanent farm l)uildings. He mo\ed on to this 
farm in 1883, and about three years later moved to the forty acres adjoining, 
on which he now lives and which he has successfully cultivated, it being now- 
considered one of the choice farms df Smithfield tnwnship. 

In 1868 :\Ir. Erwin married Elizabeth McEntarfl^er, whn was h..rn .)n 
Octnber 30, 1S44. in DeKalli cnnntw ihe daughter of Michael and .\nnn 
Marv (Hamman) McEntarffer, who emigrated from St;irk county, ( )hio. 
She has spent her life on the farm, assisting in the improvements and up- 
building of the same. They have become the parents of seven children : 
Lottie: .Mlison, deceased; .\rthur, Alina, Maude. Thomas and Byrd. Of 
these. Lottie is married; .\rthur is married and farms the home place, which 
the snljject has rented to him: he is the father of two children. Charles and 
Minnie: .\llison died at the age of nine years: Mina became the wife of Ira 
Bachtel, a farmer near Waterloo, and is the mother of two children. Rhea 
and Mildreil; Maude became the wife of Lewis Ritter. a farmer in Steuben 



848 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

county, tliis state, and tliey have t\\o children, Alarcekis and Irene; Thomas 
Hves at lionie with his parents and is unmarried; Bertie l)ecame tlie wife of 
(iarry Ritter, of Montpelier. Oliio, and they have two children, (jerald and 
\elnia. 

i'dliticall}- the suhject of this sketch has during the major part of his 
life heen an adherent of the Republican party, but it now independent in 
j.i 'lilies, c^pecialh- in local affairs. He ser\ed as a member of the advisory 
board ui the township for eight }-ears, and is still influential in local affairs. 
KcliginusK-. he is not nnw a member of any church, though he gi\es his sup- 
pmt til c\cr\' moral (|uestiiin liefnrc ihc people. Socially, he is a member of 
the (inmil Army of the Re]iul>]ic ])()st at Waterloo, this membership l)eing 
pai"licularh ci:)ns(inant from the fad that in September. 1861. he enlisted as a 
member iii the .'second Regiment Indiana Cax'ah^y at old Camp AIort(3n. In- 
dianapolis. Indiana, under Colonel ilridgeland. His regiment went out as an 
independent command, furnishing its own horses and guns, but later an order 
was issued that no independent regiments were allowed by the government, 
and the horse and guns were sold to the go\ernment and the men went out as 
a Milunteer regiment. 'Sir. F.rwin served o\er three years, and was nnistered 
out in ( )ctobi.T. iNi'14, at lndiaua))oli^. lie saw much active seivice. taking 
l)art in a uuml)er of the most imporlaiil lialtles of that war. and attained to a 
higli iilaci' in the esteem of hi^ fellow couu-adcs liccausc of his faithfulness 
.and courage in liattle. (Juiet and unassuming in his disposition. Mr. Erwin is 
well liked by his neigbliors and exerts ,a benehcent influence on e\erythiug with 
which he is connected. 



CHARLES S. ARFORD. 

it is proper to judge of the success and the status of a man's life by the 
estimation in which he is held by his fellow citizens. They see him at his 
work, in his familv circle, at his devotions, observe the outcome of his code of 
morals, witness how he conducts himself in all the relations of society and 
civilization, and thus become competent to judge of his merits and demerits. 
The gentleman whose name forms the caption of this brief biography has 
spent many long years of toil and association with the people of this com- 
munity, and on account of his worth of character, his earnest work for the 
uplift of his fellow men and his broad sympathy and generosity, nothing but 
good report is heard of him. 



iiKKAi.i; ^.•|l^.\■•|■^. ixdiaxa. 849 

Charles S. Arford was born July 9. 1859. in Suiffnrd lownshiii. DcKalh 
county, Indiana, the son of Robert and Margarcl ( \\ ynitr 1 AriOnl. The 
father was born in Pennsylvania on Marcli 27. 1828. and died mi J.inuai\ 29. 
1906, while his \\\ie. who was horn in Oliio on .\])ril 15. 1827. died on Mareli 
2y, 1890.. They were the parents of the folljow inti' chil(hx'n : I yriis S., born 
Sei)tember 18, 1851, died Se|)tenil)er 18, 1854: M.ary i"... burn jul\ 7. 1853, 
who married Gideon !'. Mackbn and lives in Id.irula. Aiabel v., b,,ni Mareb 
2, 1856. married. Adam II. 'i"instiii;in and resides al HamikMn, iu(hana; 
Winheld W., born I'ebrnary o. 1X5S. died l''el)rnary 7, 1858: Ch.-irles S.. the 
subject of this sketch: Gyrene A., burn Xovember '22, [86t. ih'ed April 22. 
1871 : Elmer S.. born Septcml)er 29. 1807, died May 24, 1871. 

The early education of the suldeet was sj^ained in the eommou schools of 
DeKalb county, in Stafford and 'i'my iin\n-,hi])s. this beint;- supplemented liy 
t\\'0 years' study in the r'ullerjd.yh srhdnl. \fter r>im])letin,t^- his school work 
he took up agricultnre and \\a^ a \ahKil>le a>'-i<t;ni1 in his lather on the heme 
place until he reached the afie of twenty-li\e. 

On February 19, 1885, Gbarles S. Ari,.rd was married ic Su>an 1., 
Shade, the dau.u^hter of Samuel and Ann ( Sterkley ) Shade. 1 ler f.ather. wlm 
was born in New ^'ork stale on .XuL-nst 23. 1820. died .m .March ,S, r88fi. 
Her mother was Ijorn in Ontario, (an.ada. on March 31. iS.;2. and died on 
May 10. 1898. They moved from Ohio to DeKalb o.nntv in 1803. setllinsr in 
Richland township. To the subject and wife lias been born one child. .Mil- 
dred I-., the date <il whose birth wa> .M.ay 23, 0,02. 

b'or seven years .after the subject^ marriai;e-he rented his I'.ather's farm 
and verv successfully cultiv.ated the home pl.ace. after which time lie boui^hi 
the s])lendid land on which lu' now resides, consistin.s.;- of one hundred and 
thirty-two acres. Here he has a comfortable home and i^o, ,d .,ntl)uildin.Li>. 
his up-to-date and projiressive metbo<N of tillini^- the snil bavin- liroutjht him 
a sof>d competency. 

The Reiniblican l>art\ b,a< rei 
support, and he has been honored b 
responsible offices in the county. Ii 
township, his term of office extendii 
in Kiro. be \\;is elected .a member of 
hokls. -Mr. .\rford has f-r a luimb 

United Brethren in Christ church, havintj been elected a deIe.L;ale to the s^e 
eral conference of that religious 
(54) 



■eive.l the 


subject 


•s snltraKc a 


,• liis t'ellow 


citizei 


IS ])y election 


i r<)(X) be V 


.as sele 


■cled as assess 


li; o\er the 


period 


of four yi'ar: 


the county 


connci' 


1. which poMti 


;>r of years 


been a 


n active mem 


)a\intj been 


electe( 


1 a .lele-ale t, 


irganizatioi 


1 wind 


1 was held a 



850 



:TV, IXDIANA. 



Ohio, in May, 1909, and having been a tmslee of the Big Run cliurch con- 
tinuously since twenty-one years ago. He has served as superintendent of 
Big Run Sunday school for eight years. 

Starting in life with a good education, 'Sir. Arford has been a close ob- 
server of men and methods, and his extensive tra\els, from coast to coast, 
embracing three-fourths of the states and Canada, ha\e given him a \ie\\- 
point in the affairs of life which could not be gathered from mere book study. 
The mere fact that, after seeing so much of this country, he should be content 
to settle down and spend the remainder of his days here, speaks well for the 
county of DeKalb. He is a member of \\'ilmington Grange No. 2178. 
Patrons of Husbandrv. 



■J'HOM.VS HAM.MA.X. 



The uccupaliini of fainiing, lo which the major ])art of the Inisiness life 
of Tliomas Ilanini;ni, one of the well known and ])o])ulrir citizens of DeKaTTi 
•countx, has licen de\dteil. i-- the oldest pursuit for a Inelihood of mankiuil 
iuid llic one in \^ liicli he will e\tr be the most indepLndent. llis name has 
loni; lieen in^eparal:ly connected with the general growtii of DeKalb county. 
,)f which he is ;i natiw .-md where, in fact, he has >pent most of his life. 
While primaiih- attending to hi- own varied interests, bis life has been largely 
•dexoted to his fellow m;in. ha\ing lieen untiring; in his efforts to inspire a 
])ro])er respect for law and order and read\- at all times to uplift liumanit\- 
.alon,<i ci\'ic and soci.al lines. 

Thonias Hamman. a public-spirited citizen and a progressi\e and suc- 
cessfid farmer of Smithheld township, neKalb county, was bcsrn on July _>:, 
1866, on the old homt- place in this township, and i- the son of Thomas and 
Elizabeth ( Schuler ) Hamman. The suljjectV father was born in Osnaburt;' 
township, .Stark county. Ohio, on .\.pril 11, 1823, and his death occurred on 
August 8, 1897, at the age of seventy-four years. In the fall of 1847 '^^ 
came to section ]6. Smithfield township, DeKalb county, Indiana, where he 
became a successful farmer and stock r:iiser. -\t tlie time he entered upon 
this land it was liea\ilv timbered, and the following year he began clearing 
■ the same, the succeeding vears lieing characterized by toil of the most strenu- 
ous character. Init eventually the fruits of his labors were apparent and the 
farm became recognized as one of the best in the locality. The year he en- 
lered upon the land he began the erection of a dwelling, which he finished in 



DEKAI.l! L(HNTV, INDIANA. »5 I 

icS4y and which was llii- first frame liouse in Snntlilicld township. It was 
■eighteen by thirt\- feet in size, witli thirteen- foot ]Mi>ts. Durnit; tlie lir.>i .si.\ 
years Mr. Hamnian cleared sixty acres of liea\'ily limbered land and chopped 
the timber from one hnndred an<l fori\ acre>. In 1,^(14 he bnill a barn 
eighty-five by f<irt_\-lwo feet in si/e. which for a long time was the best in the 
township. The bmkbngs were of unnsnallx substantial and peinianent char- 
acter, and he was recognized in all dejiartments of his work as above the 
a\-erage in excellence, in 1850 he married h'lizabeth Sbnvler. who was a 
native of ^"ork- count}. I'einisyh.ama, and who came with her sicpfatber, 
Adam Hood, to DeKalb c.iunty m early days. He was the father of nine 
children. John. Henry, farolinc. Thomas, .Simon, Sanniel, I'Jiza and two 
who died in infai;c\. Mr. llamman became a member ai the Lutheran 
church when t\\ent\- years of ;i^e, and maint lined bis interest in religious 
matters throughout his matiue life. He w;is ;i noble man in his motives and 
actions, and through his jiersistence. industr\- and wise management of his 
affairs he was en:d)led to accumulate a fine ])ropert\-. He w;is a faithful hus- 
b;ind. ;i kind fatlur. accommodating neigliboi and enjoyed the conlidence and 
respect of all who knew bim. Mis wife was l,orn in >'ork county. I'ennsxb 
\ama. m i.S_y:;. and died ;il the old home farm in this county on .\]iiil ^. icoi. 
at the ;ige of sex enty-eight \ears. She mo\ed to IteKalb county in 1S4J. .and 
here was a consistent memljer of the Reformed clnn-ch. to which she .ga\e 
stanch and faithful allegiance throughout her life. 

Thomas llamman was reared on the old farurstead. securing his educa- 
tion in the comn;on schools ,,i' ilu- loc ilit\ , and from ;ui early age devoted his 
labors to the farm. In the spring of 1 SNj he left home and lived on a farm 
one-half mile south of the home jilace and which was owned bv bis father. 
Two years later this tract was deeded to him by his father, and he remained 
there se\en years longer, at the end of which time he sold the place to Josei)b 
llolil. and then b.ougbt eighty acres .sr>utli of the home ])lace, when' he lived 
one and one-half \ ears. He placed this tract in. good condition by draining 
and tiling the soil .and building good fences, .and e\entua!ly traded this tract 
for one hundred and si\t\- acres of Irmd aliout one .and one-h,alf miles west of 
the home place where he now li\es. .and on to which he mo\ed in iScjfi. At 
that time it was in a \-(.ry rough and um'n\-iting condition, llu' biu'ldings being 
poor and in other ways run down, Tn 1889 Mr. Hamnian built ;i splendid 
residence and in kjo^ a large and well arranged barn, the old liarn being re- 
modeled into a sheep barn, and the old resirlence that was on the place was 
turned into a hog barn. The farm is now generally recognized .as one of the 



0^2 DKKAI.B COUNTY. JNDIAXA. 

iifsl ill the li.wn-li!]). It.-, |)vc.-ein •.■■ .iidilinn heint;- secured ]>y llu- -uhiect^s hard 
work and caiuliil atlciitioii \<> e\cr\ dtlail of its nranas^enK-iil. It lias been 
very extensi\ei\ liled. one iield liavini; (A'er three thousand tiles. 

On October 14, iSSC), Thomas I lanmian was married lo .\lar\ ('liarlnite 
Ervvin, the daughter of Edward and Eliza (McEntarfifer j Erwin. who are 
meiiti(jne(! elsewhere in lliis work. To this nnion have been born two chil- 
dren. C'hloe. who is the wife of L'kweland C-etts. of r.a(iran,iie county. In- 
diana, and Dessie. the wife ot Ciaulbert Cleaty, of Smithtield township, this 
oniitv. and lliey lia\.- one chikl. lola. 

Politically. .Mr. llainnian is an e-irne-l supporter of the Democratic 
))art\. ihons^h. he has been too ln:<\ in his private afi'aii- li miii-le much in 
pobtirs. He is well bked th'-ouuboiit the coiiiinunitw and. ilion.yh a pniel and 
nuassnining man, be is pro.i^-ressi ve in his nielbofis and li.'is earned the conii 
ih-un- which is ociierallv bestowed in him. 



E. A. 1 kll'lJ'.TT. 

The hi.story of bini wh. .si- name he.ads tliis sketch is closely identified 
with the history of DeKalb countx. Indiana, wliuli has Imh.l;- bteii his home. 
He began his career in this localit\ and tinoin^hom the siibsei|ueiit years be 
has been clos(.ly allied with it- interests and upbiiildin.i;. 1 lis bfe ha< been one 

surate with his efforts, lie is of the 1iil;1k-1 ty))e of pro-rcssix x- citizen and 

l>rise and abiliiv have .-icliieved results that liave awakened the a.lmiration of 

.Mr. rn].leU. aiKJ in all the relations ,,f li fe - familx . cluircli. state and s,,ciet> 

endeared Inm lo all classes. I Ms inte-rilN and lidebt) have been manifested 
in every relation of life, an example wliicli lias been an iiisi)iration i,. dthers. 
and his influence lias been felt in the community lion, .red by bis citizenship. 
E. .\. Triplet!, one of the best known citizens ..f kichl.nid township, is a 
uatne of the county in which be now lives, and was liorn , .11 |nl\ J5. iSC);. 
He is a son of Charles H. and Sarah (Owens) Triplctt, both of whom were 
natives of Ohio. Charles H. Triplett was one of the first settlers of DeKalb 
county, having come here in 1849 i" childhood, his birth havin.g occurred on 



DliKAl.l! COL'NTV, INDIANA. <S5_:5 

February 14. 1N44. I U- romaiin'il in DcKalli cmnly Ln,t;a.i^e(l 111 laiiniii.i; 
until Oi-tolicr .'4. iSmj. when he wi-nl Id liKliaiia|)( ilis al tlir a.t;x- of ri.tiincvn 
years and enlisted a> u i)ri\ate in the 'l\\eiit\ -third r.atteiy, which was as- 
sii^ned t.. the Second liriKade, Third l)i\i>ioii, and ni the fall of iSfi,:; lie 
was confined for several weeks in the hospital at Indianapolis. He was, w hen 
ahle. assigned to foraye diitx. hut on acconnl of disaliilitv he was i^iven an 
honorable discharge on July _>, 1805. While in the field he took pari in some 
of the most hotly cf;ntested battles in which the armies of the South were 
engaged, being in the battles of IJuxzard Roost, Resaca, Dallas, .Altoona, 
Ivenesaw Mountain, Neuccr Creek, siege of 'Atlanta, C'olumbia, Franklin, 
Nashville and mnneroiis minor engagements and skirmishes. He came from 
sturdy ])areniage, his |)arents being Abraham and l-'.liza ijuddi 'I'liplett. 
both of whom are now deceased. 

On b'ebniary 3. 1X56, Mr. Triplett v as married to .Sarah Owens, who 
was i)orn on July J4. 1X4.. at llloomdale, Seneca counl\ . Ohio, the .iaugluer 
of lidmond and Lucy ( I'.eagel ) Owen. To this union were born three 
chilslren. ITlswortli -\.. James W. and .Myron 1). .\ lirother of the -subject's 
father, Joshua Triplett, was a veteran of the Civil war, serving as a pri\-ate 
in the Twelfth Michigan Cavalry, while the subject's grandfather was a 
cai)tain in the Me.xican war, and a great-uncle. Charles Triplett, serxed in 
the war of i8i_'. having been wounded at tlie l)attle of \'orktown, from the 
effect of which his death occurred. The subject's niililary ancestral history 
is -till further noteworthx from the fact that .his great-grandfather. William 
Triijlett. ser\ ed in the Re\olutionary war. while on the maternal -ide his 
wife's brother. Jolm. wa- a n'ember of the One llumired and l-orty-Seecmd 
Regiment of Indiana \"olunteer Infantry, while lier grandfathers on both 

H. Tri])lett's death occurred on .\pril 3, K)03, jh the sixty-second year of 
his age. His widow, who was !;orn on Jidv J.\. 1N4J. in Stnrk conntv, Ohio, 
is also deceased. For many years this worthx cou])le had lived just east of 
C'edar lake in Smithlield township. DeKalb county, retiring from active 
farm labor only when compelled to do so by defective eyesight. They were 
a kind and generous coujile. wlio enjoyed :it all times the res])ecl of all who 
knew them. 

E. A. Triplet! recei\ed his education in the common schools of DeKalb 
county, and during his earlier \ears followed farming, and at that time 
liecame settled m his conviction that ihv liasic art of agriculture atTorded not 
■onh- a sure income. l)ut an inde])endence which could not l)e found in anv 



834 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Other \'(;catii)ii. Therefore, he w isel_\- cunchuled to make this his li,fe work 
and has been eminently succcsstul in thi> pnrsuit. He is now resi(Ung- 
on his fine farm of (me huiKh'ed and ten acres in Richland township, where 
he carries on ,t<eneral farniin- and some stock raising, and where he has a 
pleasant and attracti\-e residence, snbstantial and well arranged barns and ont- 
bnildings, and where he enjoys life as only a snccessful i'armer can and to 
a degree which the city resident cannot fully appreciate. 

On July 25, 1889, Mr. Triplett married Annie E., the daughter of John 
Rinehart and Margaret ( Mart) Rinehart. Her father was born in Germany 
on March 31, 1832, and died on May 4, 1888, while his wife, who also was 
born in German}' on June 27,, 1820. died on March 9,1907. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Triplett have been ])orn three children: Orxille, born September 13. 1891. 
died on August ro, 1897: Hugh L.. born .\pril 29, 1893. ''"'' f^i'lena. born 
lebruary 20, 1895. 

Politically. Mr. Tri])letl gives hi- earnest supjiori to the Hemocratic 
parly, while, religiously, he is afblialed with the I'nituI P.retbren church, of 
which he b.i^ been a consistent and active niemlier for m:niy years. .Mr. Ti-ip- 
lett has been -ucce-sful bnancirdly. .and is toda\- numbered among the well-to- 
do men and re])resentati\'e citizen^ of |]ic commumtx' in which he resides. He 
is eutei'prising in all th? term im])1ies and public-siiirited. lending his aifl and 
influence to further all mea-ures for tlie general welfare, no worth) project 
ever appealing to him in va.in. He is a close observer of current ])ublic events, 
and has intelligent, well-defined views relative to all matters of interest before 
the people. A gentleman of strict integrity, he is held in high esteem by all 
who know him. and the conbdence which he commands has been fairly and 
honorabh earned. 



ROBERT Wll.I.I \.\l LOGKIl ART. 

The visitor to the highly nnprowd farm of this gentleman, in Smhblield 
township, buds it difhcult to realize it- former state and the manv bard strokes 
necessary to liring it to its present condition. There is little in the commodious 
residence, hue barns and outljuildmgs, cultivated fields and lowing lierds to 
suggest the pioneer period, but this beautiful place represents a link in that 
remarkable evolution which, in the lifetime of men -till living, has converted 
Indiana fr(im a wilderness to a snnling garden. 

Robert William Eockhart was born on Xovember 28. 1872. in the beauti- 



DEKALB COUNTV, INDIANA. 855, 

fill cit\ oT (rau hiV(l>\ ilk'. Ah JiUi^c iiiicry i.'cnuUy, Indiana, anil i> the >nn of 
William C. and .Man laizahelli i Hirkox) l...d<liarl. William M. i.M.-kliart 
was liorn un May Jj. iS,U. '''l 'l'i"<'.v, Richland county, ( )hi >. a .son of James 
and jane Lockhart. Jamo l.ockhart wa.-- ;i u;iti\c ni couuly Tyront, hcland, 
and was a s,,n of William and .Mary .\mi i .McLaren) l.ockhart. James was 
left an orphan in mfanc\ and learned the tiade nf ;i linen \ve:i\er. At tlie 
a.^e of t\venty-h\e he emigrated lo America, locating in I'ennsyK ania, where 
he worked for se\eial _\ car> and then le:irned the trade of a di~liller. I le was 
intensely loyal to his adopted country in her hour of need, heing a stroiit;' sup- 
porter of the Union and the Constitution. In 1S56 James and Jane (Mc- 
Bride ) l.ockhart came to Smithlield township DeKalh county, hrinji-ins:;- with 
them their .^..n. W iHi.am (/. The latter had fmm early childh..,,,! until his 
majority lived m Lexin-mn, ( )hio, wher. his father, ihrou-h the di~h one-ty of 
a partner, Jjecaine hanknipl. William (_'. and his brother mihly determined 
to pay the father's debts and this they did, thouoh it meant tremendnus exer- 
tion and untold Irn-.lships. TIk' linancial cnditiou of the faimly interfered 
with the e.lucation of the hoys who received very little schoolin- W illiam C. 
l.ockhart was a sold.ier for the L'nion durin- the C'ixil war, where he was 
se\'erel_\' wounded and was di-chari^cd from the service l.ecause of ])h_\sical 
di.sabilily after about lifteen months' -ervice. In 1804 he married l-llizahcth 
.Spencer at Sales\ille, Ohio, her death occurring in Octohtr, \H(ij. On May 
5, 1869, Mr. Lockhart married Marv Elizabeth Hickox, and to them was 
born, on .\o\ember jN, ]Xjj. a miu, the immediate subiect of tliis sketch. ( )n 
kebruary o, 1884, Marv K. (Tlickox) l.ockhart died, and on October 17. 
1887. Mr. Lockhart married Julia P. (ilickox) Osborn, a sister of his 
former wife, ller death occiu-red at Waterloo. Indiana, <in Decentber ifi, 
i8()i. and on lauuar\- 4. i8()j, he m;irried l''.li/al:eth Ames .\nsley. .\fter re- 
covering fiom lii- .-univ wounds, .Mr. l.ockh*irt resumed the lumber business, 
in which he bad been engaged before the war and was (|uile hea\-ily interested 
in this business for a number of years. In December, iSOi), be moved to 
C"iaw fordsville, Indiana, where be was engaged in the sawmill business, and 
in which he was \-ery i)rosperous, so that just prior to the paiuc of 187:; an 
invoice showed the busines- to be worth lu'nety thousand dollar.s, with many 
good contracts on hand. \loug with the panic came serious losses 1)\- tire, the 
mill in I'arke county and the dry kiln in Oawford.sville being burned, and 
man\- creditors failed to ]iay them what they owed. Thev had hard work 
stemming the tide. hut. extending their business to Towa, they liegan to recover 
hnancianv. when the Hood washed out a big jam of logs, the loss amounting 



S56 DEKAI.K COIjNTV, INMIIANA. 

to more Ihaii tweiny thousand dullars. in January, uSH^. Mr. Lockhart went 
rjut of luHine- and rL-iniMU-d lo i 1 aw 1 nnlsv ilk- and ui ilie spring of the fol- 
lowing \ear lie- moM'il 1,, Walcv!,,.,. vhvw he li\cd until his last marriage, then 
located in hairlk-ld ttAxuslnp. uliere he died uu I'ehruarv J3. ujic. at the age 
of sevenlx-lue years. \ .-((.d husiness man and indefatiguhle worker, he 
enjoyed the unner^al respect ol all who knew him. lie was a .Ma^.u and 
Odd Fellow and a reynlar atlendani of the liajitist eluuTli. Ijeing an enthusi- 
astic WDrker m ihe cau^e of temperance. 

Kohert W . Lockhart received a good common school educati<.n at Water- 
loo, Crawfor.is\ille and I )es Moines. Iowa, and was then em])loyed at diti'er- 
enl vocations and in diiTereni places until th.e fall prior to his man iage. and 
after thai e\ ent he f'cated. in i,S(j4. on th.e farm in h'airfield township, which 
he oiK-rated for nine years. lie fell heir to forty-fiNe .and onediaif acres of 
land from liis father, which he sold and then hought eighty acres of g()(.;d land 
in I'airtield township, hlveiitually he sold this tract and hought one hundred 
and sixt_\ acres if land in -ection 17. Smithtlek! townshi|). w.hich is the present 
homestead, and to ihi- lie has de\ote(i his nn;h\-ided attention, so that toda_\- 
th.ere are few famis in this favored section of Dei^alb county which are its 
ei|ual. It is known ;;s the old joti I",. Thompson Ik MTie.stead. .\'ot only lias 
the lertilit) oi the soil keen mainlained. hut the ijernianent impro\ements on 
the farm made kv .\lr. Lockhart ha\e heen notewortliy. The large. U|j-t(j- 

honse of modern and attiacti\e appeal ance. the uelLke]it fences and al! other 
incidental ;iccessorie-- of an up-to-date farm attract the attention of the passer- 
by, and aild to the \-ahie and de^^ira'iilit\- of tlie jtlace. \U-. Lockhart ha-; keen 
intensel\ ]irogre-si\e in e\er\ thing he lia^ d 'Uc and the liarn erected liy Joel 
\\. Thompson wa^ the first oue kiiilt along modern ideas in this townshi]). 

s])lendid reputation among his fellow agriculturists. 

On k'el.ruary J5. 1S04, Kokert W . l...ck]iart married .Mary t atherine 
llartman. the daughter of h n-1 !■'.. and .Sarah ((iuslnva) llartman. who are 
referred to elsewhere in tliis wnrk. To this union haxe heen horn six children, 
namely: Carl W".. Ralph Russell. Mary Dorothy, Eda Grace. Wilma, de- 
cea.sed. .and Roherl .Spencer, the latter heing the eighth generation of Roberts 
on the Alclindc side <if the family. 1 'olitically. Mr. Lockhart was formerly 
a Republican, but is inclined to the supjiort of the Progressive party, believing 
that the principles as advocated by Theodore Roosevelt and other distinguislied 
ad\ocates of Progressive princi])les to be the most conducive to the welfare of 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 857 

ihf American ]icu|)K'. Mr. I.ockliart \\a> appoiiUc-d lownsliiii OJinininecinan 
1)1' tlic l-Ii-pulilican pari\, hiii 111 1N98, because- (if pre^silly duties of his 
private business affairs he resigned the position after one year of effective ser- 
vice. Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of i\.merica at 
Ashley, while, religiously, though not a member of any church, his sympathies 
are with the Baptist faith. Mr. Lockhart has no special fads or specialties, i)ut 
content? himself with general farming- ojjerations. not neglecting stock rais- 
ing on a moderate scale, and altogether enjoy.- ilu" repnlalion of being a 
](aiiistaking and prudenl luisliandman. ilecause of his business success and 
his liij^h peisonal (|ualitie-. he is held in high esteem b\ Jiis fellow citizens of 
Snnthheld townsbi]) and is eulitled tr> rank among the representati\e men 
of his |)rofession m DcKrdb count\ . 



RDWAki) (■\.\l!'I!l'.i.l.. 

To indulge in prolix enconnnni of a life which 1- one of distinctive 
modesty and nnpretentiousness would be ni(.-t incongruous, .and yet in re- 
viewing the career of the -ubject of tbi> sketch, who is one of tb.e sterling 
agricidtunsts of Smiihheld lownshii). DeKalb county, and who holds a posi- 
tion of unei|in\ocal coniidence and esteem in the commu.nitv in which he has 
lung lived .-ind labored to so goorlly ends, iV(.-lini^s of admiration are ])rompted. 

l-.dward ( ampbell was born on August i.|, 1S41. m Sumnut county, 
Obi.,, and is the sciU of Abel and Jane (Taylor) Campliell. .\bel (■ampbell 
was born in Wasbinglon count\. I'ennsyl \ rinia. on October Jti. iS;.;, and 
when a bo\ mo\ed with his parents to Stark cotmty, Ohio, where he was 
reare.l and ni.arned on June in, iN^i, to J.ane Tavb.r. ais,, a native of Wash- 
ington count). I Vnns\lv;inia. born on .\lav -'5. iSij. In 1836 they moved to 
.Summit count), Ohio, .ml tber.cc to Deixalli count), making the journey by 
team, taking two w eel<s to make the trip, and locating on the southwest 
quarter of section jS. Smiibfield toNniship. on ibe utli of Ma)-, 1S47. This 
farm had been entered ni 1 S,V' bv b>bn Taylor, father of .Mrs. t ampbell. 
who sold it to .\ndrew- Moubn. from wbou! Mr. t'am|)bell bou.L;lit it. Six- 
teen acres were clearetl and there was a small, round-log house on the land 
into which the family moved. Mr. Campbell cleared .about se\enty-h\-e acres 
and erected good buildings, making it his home luitil his deatli, which oc- 
curred on November 9, iSfx). They had a family of eight children. .Miel 
Campbell was one of the most prominent men of his community and in 



858 DEKALB COUXTV. INDIANA. 

politics was first a Whig, but later a strong supporter of the Republican 
part}'. His death occurred on the day following the election of Abraham 
Lincoln to the presidency. His wife lived u> a ripe old age. her death oc- 
curring on the old homestead farm mi .Max jo, [yo^, wlien she lacked but 
twenty days of Ijeing ninety-one \e:irs old. Al)el Campbell followed actix'e 
fanning pursuits up to tlietinie of his death and served one term as trustee 
of Smithfield township. 

Edward Campbell was reared to the life of a farmer and was successful 
in his pursuit. He remained with his mother after his father's death and 
was drafted for military service during the Ci\'il v\ar. His mother being a 
widow with three children to can- for, the suliject felt it his duty to remain 
at home and help her, and he therefore purchased his release, obtaining a 
substitute at Waterloo, to whom he paid three hundred dollars. This money 
he was compelled to borrow and thus when he returned home he was three 
hundred dollars in debt. How ever, he went to w'ork in earnest on the home- 
stead farm and eventually rented one hundred and sixty acres known as the 
old Campbell farm, to which he kept adding by buying the interests of the 
other heirs. This farm he still retains and has maintained it through the 
years at the highest jjossible standard of excellence, so that it has been long 
considered one of the noted farms of Smithfield townshi]i. The place is kept 
well improved in e\erv respect, the old liuihlings lieing commodious and con- 
venient, the soil's I'ertililv l)cing conserved, and in every resnect Mr. Camp- 
bell has sh(iwn his ability a-, a progressive arnl enterjiri^ing farmer. 

On .Mav 4. iSf.3, .Air. Campbell married .Marinm Cbilds, daughter of 
P.. IC and jane .\. (Wood) C'hilds. Mr. Childs. who was a native of New 
"^'ork state, wa'- a farmer and a.bu worked at the carpenter trade, although 
agriculture comnianded the greater ]>art of !iis attention. He came to DeKalb 
countv. Indiana, in September, 1N47. Imying fortv acres of land in Fairfield 
township, which he traded five years later for one hundred and eleven acres 
in Smithfield township, to the operation of which he gave his attention until 
his death, which occurred in 1878. He was an active Repul)lican in politics. 
but held no public offices. He was xvell liked, thoroughly posted in all the 
branches of agriculture and was successful in his operations. He was a 
faithful member of ihe Methodist church. His wife, on coming w^est, came 
as near as she could to DeKalb county by canal boat in 1847, and prior to her 
marriage was a seamstress and also taught school. To Mr. and Mrs. Childs 
were born eight children: Theodocia, Marvin. Marium, Frances, Martha J.. 
Sarah A.. Henrv and Anson .A.. Theodocia became the wife of Henrv \V\\\- 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 859 

inji". and she imw li\L*s at l.dS Aiigele.^-, California, tier husband was a success- 
ful merchant in Iowa and died there, after which she mo\ed west. She had 
two children, .Arminta and William; Henry Charles is a railroad carpemer 
and lives in Hudson, Steuben county, Indiana: Sarah Childs became the wife 
of William Hefty, of Hicksville. Ohio, and they have four children,' three 
boys and a girl: Martha J. is the wile of Andrew Cole. ,ind llicy live in Idwa; 
ihey ha\e four children: Henry Childs, who operated tl;e home farm for a 
year, is still followin"; agricultural pursuits. To Mr. and .Mrs. Campbell 
have been born five children. IVank. F.lnora, .\lbertus, Clark and Thomas S. 
EInora is the wife of (Oliver 1 Human. :i car] enter at W .aurl.Mi. and tlie ■ ln\-e 
one child, Mary W. 

Politically. .Mr. Cam])bell i- an ardent RepuldicMi and has lie.n in- 
fluential in advancing the interests of that party in this locality. Fraternally, 
he has for a half century been an enthusia.stic member of the Masonic order, 
being the only survivor of the charter members of the lodge at Waterloo. On 
the 25th of August, IQ13, a party of thirty members of this lodge came to 
Mr. Campbell's home and presented him with a jeweled gold Alasonic em- 
blem bar |jin, which he ])rizes very highly. In e\'ery ])hase of life's activities 
in wliich lie has enga.ged Mr. Campbell has ijerfnrmcd his full jiart and. be- 
cause iif his genuine wiirtli, his business success and his int.'rest in the welfare 
(if the communitv. he i- deser\ing n\ the high i)lace he Ii >lds iu nulilic esteem. 



lOHX HOFl-I^I.nRR 



Among the snljsiantial men whose labor aiul influence ga\'e im]jetus t(> 
the agricultural interests antl general material improvements of DeKalb 
county in. \ears gone 1)\ ruid who todav f)ccupies a high place in the esteem 
of the communitv iu which he li\e^ is the worthy gentleman whose name 
introduces this article. Connected as he was for a period of vears with one 
of the most imjiortant official positions in the county and iirominently identi- 
fied with the material growth of his Incalitx. he has been a fnrcefnl factor in 
agricultural circles and a leading citizen in all that concerns the public good. 

John Hofifelder was born in 1843 i" south Bavaria, CiermanN . and is the 
son of Francis Charles HofTelder and wife. The subject was reared in his 
native land and received a good, practical education in the schools of that 
localit\-. remaining at home until 1870. In the meantime he had followed 



the \ocatii)ii ()t 


a farmei 


■ and also 


tlax and hi'iiip i 


n summer a.nd. spi 


^\intcr. Tins n\ 


as all d. 


.;ne by ha 


early ]ji(iiK-cT-~ in 


this con 


iur\ . e.xce; 


wDi-k. In the - 


nmmer . 


.1" 1X70 ? 


AiiH-rii-a. llu' lam 


ll Ml -,,U 


len ..ppurl 


Xew \nyk liarlu 


ir on An 


-nsl 7. iS 


to Smitliliehl to 


wnsliip. 


Dekalb c 


(jeriiiaii sotticinf 


nt. wbicl 


1 was loca 


ber. Thr lollov 


, in,i^ spri 


ng .Mr. 1 


Axhere for a seas 


on he \\a 


.s'e.npluye 


he returned to DeKall) c< 


)unly and 


place near where 


they no\ 


V live. In 


determined to t^o 


fnnher 


west. liUt 


in«- to sell liini ll 


,e place . 


.n which. 1 


perfornx-d an en 


(irmnns ; 


ainwnnt 


cent, on an a\er; 


i-e and , 


mly part . 


hard on this Jan. 


1 nearly 


seven yea 


ends meet. The 


low i);,r 


1 nf the 1: 


eonditiniis were 


mil \ ery 


])ronn'sin 


much l)ar,uainiii,;^ 


, in which Mr. 11 


and sa.i^aeity. he 


closed th 


e deal an( 


derness. bnt tu it 


is improN 


•emenl he 


energy that somi 


sh,,wed 


delinite ri 


re(|uired. hut some nf th 


e land wl 


e\entnally becani 


ic ol the 


' greatest 



inning and \\ea\ing it into cloth in the 
md. somewhat alter the fashion of the 
pting that it was done i)y organized shop 
.Mr. Hoffelder concluded to emigrate to 
unities, anil he reached L'astle ( iarden ni 
70. In Xtjvember of that year he came 
iiuiUx. Indiana, coming directly to the 
ed in the midst of a dense tract ni lim- 
lloffelder went l.i near (/leveland, (.)hio, 
.•d in farm work, but in Xovember. iS/t, 
he and his ])rother-in-la\v rented a little 
1 October. 1878. Air. Hotifelder had about 
his landlord requested him to sta\-. offer- 
he had been working. Mr. Hoffelder had 
f hard work, interest rales were len per 
n{ his land was cleared. He had worked 
rs, and had had a struggle to make b.nh 
and hail not been drained and altogether 
i,g for the near future. Howe\er, after 
loffelder showed good business judgtuetU 
1 secured the land. 1 1 was a regular wil- 
' at once a]ii)lied himself with a zeal and 
esults. .Much drainage and ditching was 
hich befoi'c had been the most worthless 
value. .Mr. Hoft'elder's jnirchase com- 
prised one hundred and twenty acres and to this he has during the subse- 
quent years applied his energies with a soundness of judgment that ha.s been 
productive of very gratifying results until today few farmers in his locality 
are held in higher esteem than he. He has erected a comfortable and altracl- 
ive residence, a commodious and well arranged barn, while the 1)ig \ard sur- 
rounding the home has lieen set out with lieautiful shade trees and shrubbery 
which adds greatly to the attractiveness a.nd \ alue of the place. In the s|)ring 
of 1912 Mr. Hoffelder planted six thou.sand nursery forest trees of various 
kinds. The following summer \\as extremely dry and many of these trees 
were lost. However, two thousand more were planted and fourteen hundred 
more will be planted in the spring of 1014. altogether covering aliout six acres 
of land. 



DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 86l 

l'(.liticall\. .Mr. 1 1. ilTcl.kT has been a lik-Iim;.; i )(.^ni< uTal. and in i88<S Ik- 
was c-lccti'il a tm-nihir uf ihe Ixianl of onuntx coninii-sidners and was lo- 
clected to thi.s otVicc. thus servin.ii' si.x years. Mr. Iloffelder's rcord as a 
county coniniissiiiner is <mu- of which he has jjnod reason tn lie ])niu<l. When 
he entered upon the (hities of his office Init httle real system ])revailed in the 
conduct of the county affairs. Bridges over the county were cheap and 
flimsy and were rapidly wearing out. new ones lieing needed. Mr. HofYelder 
had traveled over (lerniany while a soldier in the arm\ there and had also 
seen considerable of the country since corning to .America and knew pretty 
well what good liridges should be like. The commissioners determined to 
revolutionize the methods of doing !)usiness and to this end they insisted on 
expert advice and exact and complete siiecifications. competition on bids and 
in.spection of the wurk I'.eing done, which sliould be approved iiefore being 
paid for. .Ml these things tendeil lo not only secure a belter ipialilv of work. 
but also saved the county many thousands of dollars. l-~or this work alone 
Mr. lloftelder deserxes the exerla-^ting regard and commendation of his fel- 
low citizens. 

In 1873 ^'^^- Hoffelder married l-'ra.nces .Miller, who was born in 
Chicago. Illinois, the daughter of l-'rancis .Antone and Magdalene (Schnu'dt) 
Miller. Her parents were natives of Germany who came to America and 
settled in Smitbfield township. DeK'alb ouuilv. Indiana, where they spent the 
remainder of their lues. To .Mr. .-md .Mrs I lolTelder ba\c been liorn six 
children: iM-aucis (Miarles. who b\es near the I'.arker church in .Snu'tblield 
township, married l.onisc ' ).-ipp. and tliex have fwc children. Helene. b'sther. 
|ohn. l-ranci- and .\gue-; ('alberine died :\\ the age of sixteen vears: |ohn .\. 
lives with his father: Lena i^ :ds,. at home; !• ranees is the wife of F.mil 
Schitlle. who li\es north of the I'arker I'burch in Smitblield township, and 
the\- have five children. Carl. .\dol)ih. Raymon<l. deceased, John and Frances: 
.Mary .\. is the wife of I'red F.rooks. of Cleveland, where be is a successful 
en-ineer. an.l they ba\e one child. .Mary: Peter II. is al home with his father. 

-Mr. Il.iffeldir ;md hi- family are e.-irnest. faithful .iml prominent mem- 
bers ..f the Catholic chu'cb. lo ilie -npjiort of which the\ contribute liberally. 
Mrs. I'rances Hofifclder died January 2<>, 1895, and in 1897 Mr. Hoffelder 
marned Mrs. .M;,rv S. (M:iy) Cfeller. the widow of ITcderick C.feller. de- 
ceased. Mr. 1 loft'elder and the members of his family are po|)ular in the circles 
in which thc\- move and arc highly respected by all who know them. Mr. 
Hoffelder has attained success in spite of most discouraging circumstances. 
Conu'ng to a new countrv with no knowledge of its Irmguage. be was not 



<S6: 



nEKAI.B COUNTY 



able t(i speak Knglish until after fifty }ears (.)f age. but he now is able to con- 
verse with considerable freedom and speaks well. He has had a splendid ca- 
reer, including three mbnths' serxice in the German army, during which he 
took part in the war of r866. in which his country separated from the Haps- 
burgs of Austria, and resulted in the welding of the various states comprising 
the present German empire under the Hohenzollerns. Personally. .Mr. Hof- 
felder is a warm and true friend. Fearlessness is one of his marked charac- 
teristics and he hesitates not to do what he considers his whole duty regardless 
of the consequences. Above all, he has been a man of unqtiestionable integrity 
and unblemished honor and he will do nothing which will lower himself in 
his own esteem or that of others. His standard is high and he has always 
endeavored to live so that his examiilc may be imitated by the young men <>\ 
the rising generation. K\er ready to contribute of his means and innuencc to 
all objects for the material, charitable or religious welfare of the community, 
he is considered one of the most enterprising and progressi\c men of the lo- 
cality, and in a large sense he is and always has been a true benefactor of his 
fellow men. 



JOHX MATTHIAS SHOl'DEL. 

In placing the name of the late John .Matthias Shoudcl before the reader 

as (_)ne who si 1 for many years in the fnmt ran!; of the enterprising mtn 

of affairs and a leader in agricultural circles of DeKalb county. Indiana, 
whose inlluence tended to the upl)ui!ding of the locality of his residence and 
the ad\ancement of the affairs of his county, simple justice is done a liio- 
graphical fact, recognized throughout the community by those at all f iniili.-ir 
with his history and cognizant of the important part he acted in tlu- cinles 
with which he was identified. His career presents a notable example of 
those qualities of mind and character which overcome obstacles and w in suc- 
cess, and he was eminently deserving of the high place he held in the hearts 
of those with whom he was associated. 

John Matthias Shoudel was born in 1814 in Bavaria. Ciermany. and was 
the son of John Shoudel. He was reared and educated in his native land, and 
there, on reaching mature years, he married Magdalena Miller, a native of 
the same locality and a daughter of John Miller. Mr. Shoudel learned the 
trade of a weaver in his native land and also ga\e some attention to farmin'.;-. 
Tn 1854. desiring larger o])portunities for adxancement. he canx- to the 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. H(\] 

United States. .After spending a tew month.s in .Xew \nvk he went Im 
Chicago, and whiie living there, in 1855, he sent tor his family, who had 
remained in the fatherland. He was employed on the ducks in Chicago, hut 
in 1857 he joined, with four others, h^ank Miller, John Miller, Xavier 
Schmidt and P'rederick SchmiiU, and they l>r()ught their families to DeKalh 
county, where they htiught forty acres of land, for which they paid three 
hundred dollars, and thui they divided the laud lietween them, eight acres 
each. This land was loc.-iteil in section 13. Smithlield township, and had not 
heen disturl)ed liy Inuiiau hand since the red men left it. Mr. Shoudel at 
once cleared a s])ot on which he erected a log cahin. and ajiplied himself to 
the strenuous task of felling the timher and getting the land in shape for 
cultivation. His first winter's efforts am;)uuted to two acres of cleared land, 
and I'uring thai stason the main diet of the family consisted of corn hread 
and w ikl game, of which latter there was an ahundance. Eventuallv .Mi". 
Shoudel was ahle to 1ju_\- ;i yoke of steers, and after a while he secured a -^econd 
yoke, which greatly facilitated his lahors. Me managed well, was wisely 
economical and at len.gth was ahle to hii\- forty acres more laud, and with this 
as a nucleus his affairs assumed ;i promising aspect. Iu(kistry, persiNtence 
and good management were the essential (jualities which contrihuted to his 
success and he was alile to liu_\- more land from time to time until at the lime 
of his death he was the owner of two hundred acres of splendidly impro\ed 
farm land. John Matthias Shoudel died in 1880, and was sur\ived a few 
years by his widow, whose death occurred in 1886. 

In the affairs of the community Mr. .Shoudel took- a leading pari and n 1 
movement of any moment was launched without his assistance and co-opera- 
tion. When St. Michael's Cathiilic chrirch was instituted here during tke 
eighties. Mr. .Shoudel was one of the lhii 
bishoD of the diocese to establish the church 
of the leading members of the pari.sh. He 
comminiih'. ;uid to him many looked for ad\ 
affairs, and he e\er ]iroved worthy (jf thci 
fidelitv were manifested in e\'ery relation ol 
esty, his open-hearted manner, undisgui-ed and unaffec 
ants a sweet and lasting memory. 

To John Matthias and Magdalena Shoudel were born the following chil- 
dren : Baltzer, Michael L.. Matthias. Agnes and John, the latter dying at the 
age of twenty-two years. 



ecu ])crsons \\ 


■Ii!) recpiested the 


and for many 


years he was one 


as one of the 


oldest men in the 


ce and C(juusel 


in their tenii)oral 


confidence. 


His integrity and 


life, and his ]) 


lain, rugged k:i;i- 


\m\ unaffected. 


is to his descend- 



864 DEKAI.B COUNTY. INDIANA. 

HlLXin" .M. SHOWALTEK. 

Ainunji llii- sul>siamial men \\li(i--c lalmr and inllucncf have long given 
impetus to tlie agiicnltnral interesis and general material imprnxeinents of 
DeKall) eonnt\ in _\ea;~ gone ii\ and who loda\- occui)_v high jjlaccs in the 
esteem ol' the eomniunity in wliich Ihey live is the worth}- gentleman whose 
name inirodnres ihis rriirle. While lie h;is heen busy tilling the soil and 
raising a good grade of live stock, he has not ne,t,>lected his duties as a citizen 
and neighlioi, lait lias been a forceful factor m ;dl that concerns the jjuhlic 
good. It is lo such men as he thai onr modern ad\anced civilization is due 
and such men are wnrthy of the esteem tlial is .accorded iheMi 1:\ all and llieir 
records are worthy of pei'ijetnation. 

Henry .VI. Showalter was !)orn near Straslmi-g. Tuscarawas county. 
Oln... on June i. 1X^4. the son of Xoah and hdizahelh I Moore) Showalter. 
who were n:ili\es of ( )hio. The\ were reared and m.arried in that 
slate, coming to DeKalh countx m iS.iS an<l settling mu a tract of land in 

numi.er <>{ \e,ars. L.aler. ahout iSjd. he moved to Wihnin.L^tMn townshi]). 
where he settled m,, .a f.arm and spent the remainder of Ins hfc dC him and 
his wife were lorn three diild.ren. .\ancy l-.llen .deceased). Henry M. :md 
James W . 

The suhjecl ni this sketch received his education m the common sdio,,). 
of 1-ranklin l.iwndu]). and ajs,, ni the puhlic sch -mI. ,,: Umlcr and Waterloo 
lie then engaged 111 teaching scli..,-! f,,ur leinis. „, which he g,iine<l a high 

connected with saw mills, .at the end nf whicli tune lie returned to the home 
farm, tolhecultiv.atinnot winch lie has dev. .ted hmisel f CMUlinu. .UslV since and 
in wliich he has met with jirMiiounced suece-s. He imi only -successfully con- 
ducted the idTaiis connected with farming, and made manv ]ierinanent .and 
suhslanlial impi ov ements on the place, Init a numlier of v ears ago lie hegan 
the iin|)orlation of heavv draft horses .-md Shetland pomes. Me was one of 
the pioneers m tliis Imsiness and at one time w.is the heaviest importer in tlie 
I'nited States of Shetland i.ouies. of winch he has sold many thousands. He 
has handled the-e ponies for twenly-si\ years and is still aeti\ely engaged in 
the enterpri.se. 1 le has improved the Ineed s< , f.ar ,as is ix)ssihle by selection, 
and his patrona.^e has eMended over nearlv all the st.ates of the middle West 
and in many distant parts. 

On October r6, 1873, Mr. Showalter married Wilhelmenia. the daughter 



DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. (S65 

of I'.elthaser and Riiliua Alar-arctit ( Wiltnuui I I >ini:lciliiK\ llnth <ii ilicse 
parents were li.)rn in Witlenhni!^. (Ivrnian)-. and ni)'in cniii^ralinj; to the 
Initi'd Slates settled in I {■■Inus enunty. ( )hi(i. They were llie parents of one 
child. .Mrs. Sliowaller. I'.y a former niarri;ii;e Mv. l)ingle<hne was the father 
of eleven children. To Air. and Airs. .Showalter have heen liorn fonr chil- 
dren: .Aland, who is the wife of ( lark liidwn, of I'.utler, and lhe\ ha\e three 
children. Wan.la AlarKarette. Ka.l],li S. .and I uhi Air-inia. l.uln is the wife 
of \\'infred Powers Keep and they ha\e one child. F.dwin 11. .Myrtle is de- 
ceased. ITedcrick W. is at home with his parents. 

In local i)ul)lic affairs Air. Showalter has lon.t; taken a prominent part. 
having- a deep interest in e\erythin,-- that pertains to public Welfare, and he 
ser\-ed one term efhciently as a memher of the nd\isory lioard. roliticallw he 
is a Republican and lias long heen active in his party. l*"raternally, he is a 
member of the Free and .Accepted Alasons. lielonging to the blue lodge, the 
council of Royal and Select Ala-ters. the cbaiiter of Roval .Arch Alasons. the 
commandery of Knights Temjilar. and to the Scittisli Rite, in which he has ;it- 
tained to ihe thirty-second degree. 1 !e is also a meml)er of tlie .\o!ile- of the 
Alystic .Shrine, and -if the suborjlinate Itulge and encampment of the Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd IT-llows. Air. Showalter has been \ery successful in 
c\erytliing to which he has gi\en his attention, ;ind has acipiired interests 
aside ficmi those with his farm, being a stockholder ;ind \ ice-i)resideni of the 
b'irst -Vational Hank of P.utler. Mr. Showaltei-'s life has bevn an unusually 
active and useful '<\w. and though the limited sj)ace at the disposal of the 
writer i)ermits no more than a casual mention of the leading events in his 
career, sufhcieut has been said to slmw thai earnest em'.eavcir and honest\- oi 
purpose, rightly ap|)lied and persistently lollowcd. will lead to nn(|ualilied suc- 
cess. Air. Showalter is mllnential in local atTairs and is L.Ted upon as th,,r- 
ougblv in svmp.atln with ;nu niM\(_-ment looking toward the lietterment and 
advancement in any way of his communitv. where be has always been regarded 
as a man of sterlinii- honest\ and worthy of the utmost conlidence and respect, 
which his fellow citizens ha\e been free to accord. 



Aiicii.\b:i. I.. siiornbT.. 

.\o other jieoiile that go to make up our cosmopolitan civilization have 
better habits of life than those who came originally from the great (ierman 
empire. These people are distinguished for their thrift and hnnestw and 
(55) 



866 UEKAt.li COL'NTY. INIJIAXA. 

these two qualities alone in the inhabitants oi any countrv will in ilie end 
make that country great. W lit-n with these two qualities is coupled the other 
quality of sound sense, a strong ( ierman characteristic, there are attorded such 
qualities as will enrich am- land and ])lace it at the top of the countries of the 
world in the scale of ele\ate:l humanity. Of this excellent people came 
Michael L. Shoudel. who for niau\' vcars has been nue of the well known 
farmers of DeKalb county. Indiana. He comes of a race that produced tiie 
famous "Iron Chancellor." the ijreatest statesman, all things considered, that 
ever walked this terrestrial s])hcre. lie' conies of a race that is famous for 
its original investigations in the prol)lems of civilized life, such men as 
(ioethe and Ileckel, to .say nothing of a coterie of the greatest musicians of 
all lands and climes. The (iermanic Ijlood is found in the \-cins of tlie great- 
est men and women of this and former generations and the Shoudel family 
may well be proud of their descciU from such a race. The subject of this 
brief sketch is easily the peer of ;my of liis fellow riti/ens in all that con- 
stitutes right living and correct citizen.ship. lie is a close and intelligent 
obser\er, has read nuich, and t.'ikes jiains to keep himself well informed upon 
current events. I ie is (|uiet in demeanor, a thinker, and a man of deeds 
rather than words. I le is e-sential!y a man of the people becau.se he has large 
faith in humanitx and is o))timi^tic in his x'iews. 

.Michael L. Shoudel. who for man\- years has been oue of the best 
known and inlluential citizens of .Smithhehl lown.>hi]i. DeKall) count}. In- 
diana, was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1844. He is a son of Matthias and 
Magdalena (Miller) Shoudel, whose persoual sketch apjjcars elsewiiere in this 
work, therefore further mention of the subject's antecedents will not be made 
at this point. Michael L. Shoudel was about eleven years of age when the 
family emigrated to the Tnited States, locating in Chicago in 1865. Two 
vears later they came to the little patch of wild land in Smithheld township, 
DeKalb county, huliana, where tlicx- made a >tart in their struggle for 
financial independence in a -trange land. Her- tlie subject of this sketch 
performed his full share of the strenuous toil incident to the clearing of the 
land and putting it in shajie for cultivation, and he distinctly recalls lia\iug 
])lowe(l a si\-acre held which rci|uired ten davs' work with a yoke of o.xen, for 
the ground wa^ full of roots and stumps and ]irogress was e.xceedinglx' slow 
and wearing on both men and beasts. Soon after his marriage in 1S7J. .\lr. 
Shoudel commenced farming on his nwn account on fort}- acres of laud 
which he had received from his father, and as he was prospered in his under- 
taking he bought more land froui tin-ie to time, until he now owns two 



DEKAl.B COUNTY, INDIANA. S67 

luiiuirecl and eighty acres ot as fine land as can l)e found in DeKalb county. 
He is up-to-date and ])i-ciL;re^sive in his methods of wurk and ha.> achie\ed a 
distincti\e success in hi- \.nation. He has been a hi'.rd worker continually 
from his iirst inili:aion into the jjioncer struiigle and indeed in that early da\- 
at one time they would ha\e returned to Chicago if ihey could ha\e done so. 
btit the\- had not been able to make much progress and were not hnancially 
able to make the trip, so they struggled on and the struggle became a 
triumph. Mr. Shoudel. altliough about seventy years >M. is still active jilivsi- 
cally and is able to perform a good day's labor on the farm, lie has ne\ er 
been sick much and has always been active in anything to which he has aj)- 
plied his efforts. He has been an eye-witness and a particff:)ant in the wonder- 
ful growth which has characterized this section of the state and remembers 
well when Waterloo consisted of but three stores, a saloon, a hardware store, 
a dry goods store and a few buildings, and when the conrt house at .Auburn 
was a very primitive and poorly furnished affair. Mr. Shoudel had but limited 
educational op]>ortunities, never ha\ing attended school a day until after si.x- 
teen years of age. He then 'Started in the jjiinier and in lifty-eight days was 
in the third reader. The second winter he again attended school and worked 
hard to gain knowledge and has been a contiinial reader throughout his life 
and is today considered a man of wide and unusual information on man\ 
subjects. One of his leading (jualities is In's ])ersistency in his application to 
any task to which he applies himself and this has en.ab'led him to con(|uer 
where many others would ha\e failed. In the ptiblic 
munity Mr. Shoudel has for many yeais been an 
always exerted his influence in favor of such movi 
advance the best interests of the comnninity. 

Tn iS7_ .Mr. Shoudel marrieil Joann;i Reinig. • 
(iermanv. the daughter of b'rank and Joanna ( Lab 
to .\merica late in 1872 with licr nioiher. her father 
to this country. hlere they ajJiilied themselves ti 
as had their fellow citizens, the Shoudels, Millers and Smiths. To Mr. and 
]\lrs. Shoudel have been born eleven children, six boys and five girK, n.uiiely ; 
John, who lives on the Hezekiah l.eas farm, married Alargherita lloff. ami 
they have four children. .Albert. Clara, .\licliael and b'.sther; .\nnie is the wife 
of Frederick Gfeller. who lives s.mtb of the Calb.ilic church, and llie\ have 
eight children, b'reddie. Dora. Matthias. Mary. teha. ]u^t.-\yh. Ikrnian and a 
baby .girl; C.eorge. who married Mane lloff. lives ,,n one of hi- father's farm- 
near Summit, and b:i-< two children, \gne- and a baby boy; .Michael i- unniar- 



and ci\ic life t 


)f tin- com- 


illuential facte 


.r and has 


ments as ha\e 


tended to 


ho was born i 


n Havana, 


oise ) Reinig. 


She came 


laving already 


emigrated 


agricultm-a! 


o])erations. 



»0» DEKAI.B COUNTY. IXDIAXA. 

ried ami I'.elp^ his ("atlier niii the farm and aKo o])eratfs a thresliing machine: 
Mattliias. whn is alsci nnmarrit-d. is at hnmt-; Kate is the wife of .\ndre\v 
Shill'i, wh.d n\es two and nnedialf miles east of his father <<u tiie Slioner 
farm, and is the father of two children, Agnes and W'ilford; Lena. Mary. 
Caroline, Joseph and I<>ank are all n.nmarried and at home with their parents. 
The subject and his wife also reared h'red 1-dliott. who was hnrn Xii\emlier j6. 
1880, the son of George and Caroline ( Rennig) Elliott, the latter having 
given up her life at the birth of her son. hred hdli(.)tt died nn September 8. 
1910. Mr. Shoudel and the members of his family are all connected with the 
Catholic church, in the prosperity of which they are deeply interested and to 
the support <<( which the_\- contrilmte liheralh . ^Tr. Shoudel is a man whom 
to know is Id ics]iect :;nd admire, fi'r. having started in a lowly capacity, he 
graduallv fori^ed Id the front and ]<y faithful effort and prompt discharge of 
every duly (kwnKing upon liim he liual]\- ;ic(|uired a cimfdrtalile competency 
and has won and retains the gi/od will ,-md regard of all whn kinwx hiiu. He 
has e\'er tried to dn the right as lie h;is sc-en antl understnod the I'i.ghj and as 
a representative citi/en nf his cii!umunit\- lie i^ enu'nentl_\ entitled to re])re-en- 
tation in a wnrk of the character of the one at hanil. 



JOSEPH HOHL. 

The people who constitute the bone and sinew of this country are not 
those who are nnsta];le and unsettled, who lly from this occu])ation to that, 
who do not know ho\\ to vote until the\- are told, and ^vho take no active and 
intelligent intertst in affa.irs affecting their schools, churches and ])ro])erty. 
The backbone of this country is made up of families who ha\e made their 
homes; who are alive to the l;est interests of the community in which they 
reside; who are so honest that it is no trouble for their neighbors to know it. 
and wlio attenii to tlieir own liusiiu-ss and are too busy to attend to that of 
others; who work on steadily fr.mi dav to da\ . taking the sniishine with the 
storm and who rear a hue famib to a comfortalile home rmd an honest life. 
Such ]H'ople are always welcome in any cou.ntry and in any roniniunity. They 
are wealth producers and this country is blessed with many of them, among 
whom is the subject of this sketch. 

Joseph Hold was born in 1855 in Rhine]ifalz. ("lermany, and is a son of 
Seba.stian and Marv (:Miller) Hohl. the Latter being born in January. 1827. 
Sebastian Hohl died in his native land in i8Ci(i. aged about forty years. He 



DEKAI.r, COUNTY, INHIAN.V. 8()C; 

was a man of eminent respectability and standing in his native community. 
Tlie snl>ject was reared in his (ierman home, where lie remained until 
twenty-eight years of age. In l<"cbruary, 188,:;. he was united in marriage to 
Anna Leidner, a native also of Rhinepfal/, and a daughter of i'"rcderick and 
Elizabeth (Boltz) Leidner. In 1883 Mr and Mrs. Hnh\ came lo .\merica. 
locating at once in DeKalh counU. Indiana, ])eing eniploxcd in iMank [Jani- 
man's tile and brick yard in Snnthtield township. In 1894 Mr. Hohl bought 
the farm where he now lives, couiprising se\enty-se\en atid onedialf acres 
in section 15, Smithfield townsbi]), on wliich he has since resided .and which 
he has developed into an ideal agricultural homestead. He has made many 
permanent and suhsiantial improvements, not the least of which was moving 
the home out nearer tn the inililic road and reiuodeling it. the building of a 
new and commodiou- bank l)arn and other im])ro\ cnients nf :i bke nati:re. 
which have contribnteil to tlie general aiipearance and value of the faim. 
.About 1903 Mr. Hohl liought another farm of sev ent\-foin- acr^s and one- 
half cornering on the southwest his first tract, the railroad track running 
-between, and he is also the owner of another f.arni northwest of the last 
named tract, owning one linndred and sixty .acres in all. To all of tliis land 
Mr. Hold gives his untlivided attention and in its o^ieration lie lias met with 
the mo.st ])ronounced success. He raises all the crops common to this locality 
and also gives some attention to the breeding and raising of live stock, these 
two things goiftg hand in hand and each contributing to the success of the 
other. Starting in a strange land with but little capital and slight ex]jerience 
in farming, Mr. Hohl has achieved a success of which any man can be justifia- 
bly proud. All that he has has been attained by the hardest kind of work, 
combined with grit and wisdom, good common sense and sound judgment, 
which have guided him in all his efifofts. Mr. Hohl has contributed largely 
to her husband's success, encouraging him lyv lier efforts and advising him 
wisely in his dealings, and together they have accumulated a gratifying portion 
of this world's goods. 

To Mr. and Mrs. H,,],] were bom the following children: Matthias, 
born in 1884, and lives on a farm near his father, married Elizabeth Da))]), 
and thev have two chiklren. Henry and \lvin; b)sepli, Imru in .Xovember. 
1883. died at the age ..f tliirteen vears; .Maiw. lioni in Sn)tem!)er, 1888. lives 
at home; Louis, born in I'ebruary, i8()(i, die<l ;it the age of seven vears: 
Frank, born in T8g_'. lives at hotiie : the next in order of birth was an infant 
daughter, who died very eaHv in life; Joseph, born on August 16, i8(j(), died 
at the age of thirteen years, and an infan daughter died in March, 1901. 



870 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

.Mr. Il(jhl is an hi.ne-l. -iraiglil loruanl man m all uf hi> dealings, cun.scien- 
tions in his work on the farms, and it i- with pleasure that this brief synopsis 
of his life and tril.mte of his worth as a factor in the affairs of his locality is 
g"i\en a place in this work. 

.Mr. and .Mrs. Hnhl arc earnest and faithful meinbers of St. .MichaeFs 
( ath.Mic church, nf which they are regular alteiidants and to which thev con- 
tribute lil>erally uf their means, politically, .Mr. liohl M.tes with the Demo- 
cratic part> . 



ELMER GOODWIN. 



There can lie no inii)r(jpriety in scanning the acts of any man as they 
affect his public, persunnl and bu-^iness relatiims. .So in this . biographical 
work will be found menlion of \xonhy citizens of all vocations, and at this 
jimcttire we oft'er a resume of the career of one of the substantial and highly 
esteemed representatives of the agricultural interests of Grant township, 
DeKalb conntw where he has ikjI only attained a high degree of success in 
his chosen held of lalior and enter])rise, l)nt also establislied an im])erishable 
repul.-ttiou for ui)nghtiicss in all the relations of life. 

l-;imer Goodwin, who .)\m-,- :i line farm of one hundred ami forty-four 
acres ai the edge of Waterloo, w;;s born in this town on .September Z2. 1858, 
and is a <ou of David and .S;in.h ( Wiltroiu 1 Goodwin. David (loodwin, 
who was born in .\shlan<l count), Ohio, nu .\"o\ember 3, iXjh, was a son of 
D.-uul .-ind ( atherine ( /.imincrm 111 ) (ioodwiu, n:iti\es of I 'ennsybania. who 
in iXjj mo\ed to Wayne county, Ohio, and later to .\shl;uid county, that 
slate, where the father's death occurred. Da\id Goodwin was reared in .Ash- 
land countw ()lii(\ and was one of nine children, four bo\-s and h\-e girls, 
born to their i,arei;ts, .if whom only two are iio'.v living. Daniel ;ind .Mrs. Mary 
Stroll. ( )ii \l;iy j;. iS;;,. Da\ id Goodwin married Sarah WiltroiU, who was 
born in Somerset i:oiint\. I 'eiiiis\l\ ;inia, on l-'ebniary 12, iS^j, the daughter 
of Jacob \\'iltrout. Six months after his marriage Da\i(l Goodwin came to 
DeKalb county, Indiana, and in the fall of 1833 he moved upon the farm near 
Waterloo, where he resided for forty-four years. He was a man oi consid- 
erable enter]inse .and energy, bis accumnlations being the result ijfMiard labor 
and rigid ecoiioinv. lie and his thrift) wife cleared, and improsed the farm, 
which, when Ihey took possession, was in its primitive wildness. in the earl\- 
da\-s of their residence hcre'Mr. (loodwin wi^ converted and liecame one of 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. «7 1 

Ihe tirsl nicnihevs u\ ilic. W atcil:M, cla>s of the I'nitcd liivlliren chmcli. and 
Alien that society l)iiilt a lu w rhuiTli edifice lie was one ,<i the m.ist liheral 
donors to the building fund. His death occurred at Waterloo on March (>. 
1899. at the Hge'of se\-enty-l\vo years. To him and his wife were h.^rn four 
children, namely: Mary, wife of Jonas R. Dilgard. of Waterloo; l':inicr, the 
immediate subject of this sketch: Mrs. Allie (iavilt. of Logansiiort. Indiana, 
and I'Vank, of Waterloo. In December. Kjo^. Mrs. Sarah Goodwin became 
the wit'e of 1!. b". Mcb'.ntarfer. whose death occurred in bVbruary. 19T 1. Her 
death occurred tm Octolier 5, H)i2. at the age of seventy-five years. 

Rimer (ioodwin was reared on his father's farm at Waterloo, where he 
has s])ent his entire life, and- to the culti\:ition <<i which farm he has devoted 
his attention with ver_\- gratifxing success, being now numlrcred :nuoug the 
successful and substantial citizens of his comnuuiit\-. 

In 1883 J'"'biier (Jooilwin was married to Alnieda .Mel Intarfer. wh'. was 
born at Waterhjo, Indiana, and is a daughter of David and Mar\- ( Wildersin ) 
McF.ntarfer. David ^IcEntarfer was Iwrn near Waterloo and was a son of 
Jacob anil Drusilla ( Sayuor i .Mcb'.ntarfer. jacb Mcb'.ntarfer was a sou of 
John and (.■.atherine .Mci-aUarfer. who came from Stark county. Ohio, to 
DeKall) county, Indiana, in i8;v>. local ing in Suuthfield towusbi]) when there 
were only four or five fannlics in tlie township. The country lia.l been but 
little improved and wild ruumals and Indians were nnmerou-. .\lr. .\lc- 
l-lutarfer often \i>itetl the Indians au<I attended theii' dances. There on the 
liome farm David .Mcb'.ntarfer w:is reared to manhood and married .Mary 
'\\'ildersin. who \\as tlu' daughter of Martin and I'.arbara { Cronk ) Wildersin. 
He .secured a good e.lucation in the schools and e:irly in life ])ecame a teacher, 
his death occurring at the ea.rly age of twenty-one years. lea\-ing a wife and 
two children, b'.mma and .Mmcda. I lis widow afterwards becinue the wife of 
Solomon Link ;md lived m Smithfield townslii]) near \\'aterl:)o until hei' death, 
which occurred on ( )ctobcr S. k^o^ Hy her second marriagi- she bore three 
children. Mrs. .Maude Daniels, .Mrs. IVai! P>arnts and P.eujamiu. To l-.lmer 
Cooilwm and wife lias been born a daiuditer. ( irace. who is now the wife of 
lohn Th..uias. of Waterloo, and they liave a d;mghter. Kutli. .Mr. Thoma.s 
is the s,,n of Jon.atban .and I'liocbe ( b'.v erli.art )^ Tlioinas. and lie was liorn ,;l 
lulon. Ohio. .M the time of his marriage .Mr. (ioodwui built :i \ er\ .altiaclive 
and commodious residence where he now resides, and. be ga\e his attention u, 
the 0])eration of his fine farm, which is numbered among the liest pieces of 
agricultural land in this locality. I-'raternally. he is a member of the Knights 
of Pythias, in the workings of which order he takes a deep interest, and ac- 



872 DEKAI.B COUNTY, IiNDIANA. 

cordiiiy to those wlm know him best he is ;i gf)od citizen in the broadest 
sense of the phrase, giving his support to those enterprises which promise to 
advance the best interests of the community materially, morally and educa- 
tionally. His iiersonal relations witii his fellow men ha\e e\er l)een mutually 
agreeable and he is highly regarded by all, being easily ap]ji-oaciied. oliliging 
and straightforward in all the relations of life 



ALBERT H. PETERS. 

Among the enterprising and public-spirited farmers of Jackson township, 
DeKalb county, Indiana, none has been granted a greater meed of res])ect and 
admiration than the gentleman concerning whom this brief is written. Al- 
though a comparatively young man, he has for man\- \ears Ijeen an etiicient 
and widely recognized factor in the growth and advancement of the interests 
of his community. A keen appreciation of the utility of modern methods of 
agriculture has maile for liis success in his chosen \ocation of agriculture, 
and lie is c\ er leady in adopt new nio,ie> and appliance- when tl'.eir worth is 
proven. 

Albert H. Peters comes of sturd}' Teutonic stock, he being the son of 
Ernest and Ricca ((iael) Peters, natixes of Germany, who emigrated 
to the New World from the fatherland in 1S7J, settling in DeKalb county, 
Indiana. The father and mother are still living in Jackson township. To 
them were born six children: Albert H.. who was born P'ebruary 3, 1875. '" 
DeKalb county; Charle}-, who lives in Jackson tcnvnship ; Ered is deceased: 
Mrs. Sarah Dannenberg lives in DeKalb county: Edward, a farmer of the 
same county ; Freda Habig lives in Eort Wayne, Indiana. 

The common schools of DeKalb count}- were tlie source of the subject's 
■early education, the time not devoted to his studies being occupied in assisting 
his parents in the labor of the farm. Upon reaching maturity he was elected 
to the position of constable in Jackson township, which office he filled for a 
period of eight years to the eminent satisfaction of his fellow citizens. 

On April 11, 1900, the subject of this review was united in marriage to 
Delia Kester. daughter of Joseph and Mary ( Shilling) Kester, natives of 
DeKalb county. To this union has been born one child. June P).. whose liirth 
occurred on June ig, 1912. The only brother of the suliject's wife, Leon, is 
deceased. 




AMIKKT II. I'KTIOllS AXD FAMILY 



DEKAI.B COLXTV. IXDIAXA. 873 

Mr. F'eters is now conducting a line of genera! farnung on tiie ninety 
acres of good land which he owns. A splendid hcmie has been erected here, 
and his barn and other farm bniUHngs are of the \ ery best, in fact, it would 
be hard to find a better agricultural plant than that possessed bv the subject. 
and it is a matter of just pride to him that it stands as a work of his own 
hands. 

In religious matters Air. Peters gives his sup])ort to the l.ulheraii l''\an- 
gelical church, in which he takes an active mtcrest, while, politically, he votes 
the Democratic ticket. 



l'.,\Kl. W. l'()Rkb:.ST, 



( )ne of .SinuhhL-l<l lounsliip^ agnculturalist> antl slock men who i> 
deser\ ing of a place in thi> book is Iviil W. boirest. a man of courage, >elf- 
veliance and the utmost inlegrit}' of |Jiirpo>e. as a rcsidt of which be has. 
cluiin,^ his entire life, stood high in the oliniation of his neighbors and 
friends, whose inlere>ls be has -ongbl to promote while endeavoring to .ad- 
vance his own. 

Earl W. Forrest was born on August 0. 1879, on the old homestead 
farm on section k). Snn'tbbeld township, Delvalb county, Indiana, and is the 
son of William R. and I.ucy C. ( Canfield ) b'orrest. He was reared under 
the parental roof, securing a good education in the schools of his native town- 
ship, and has followed farming from lii-; I)oyhoo(l. lie was earlv in life 
imbued with the notion that there w;i< a diL;nily and inde])endence in the 
agricultural \'ocation not to be found in any i:tlKr line of effort, and he has 
intelligently and jirop.erly directed his efforts along tins line, bis labors being 
crowned with a fair measure of success. In addition to farming operations. 
Mr. I'orre^l lias alsrj engaged in threshing in season up to the ])resent time. 
ha\ ing pm-chased. in the fall of i(jo(;, a complete, modern threshing outfit, 
ami in this special line of effort he has been successful on hi^ own acconut. 
and has been of great assistance to the farmers of his comnnmity. He en- 
gages in farming operations on his father's farm of one hundred acres and 
forty acies where he li\es, and he just completed the erection of a fine, up-to- 
date barn, costing about three thousand dollars, and which is generall\- con- 
sidered one of the best structures of its kind in the township. It is noteworth\ 
that most of the heavy material for this barn wa- cut and shajjcd on the farm 
where it was used, .\cti\-e, resourceful and ])rogressi\e, Mr. b'orrest Iris tlv 



8/4 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

true twcntietii-cenlnry spirit u\ t-nlerprise, nut being buund by uld-tinic 
methods; but has forged ahead and followed the most improved lines, being 
rightfully classed among the leading agriculturalists of his county. Pohti- 
callv, Mr. I'orrest is an earnest Republican and active in his interest for that 
organization, though his private affairs have made such heavy demands an 
Iiis lime that he has not aspired to any public office for himself. 

-Mr. I'on-esl was married on July <;. iSy.S, to Myrtle Curry, the daugh- 
ter (.f l)a\id and bjnma ( 'liiorpe ) Curvy. ■ .VIrs. l-'(,rrest's father was a native 
ol ( )Iiio, who came to Allen count}, huliana, in US74, lixing in Huntertown 
until about three years ago, when he located in Garrett, Indiana, where he now 
resides. To him and his wife were Ixirn six children. \iz. : Henry: Myrtle, 
.Mrs. Korrest; .Mr>. I.uella IImucm". ol' (iarrelt: Mrs. Carrie U'aterbeck, of 
Carrett : Cliarle- and iiesvie. .\irs. I'. ji rest's mother, w h(j was born near 
Maysville, now known as Harlan, Indiana, is still living. To Mr. and Mrs. 
I'orrest ha\'e been l)orn seven children, viz.: l.nvd, who died at the age of 
three years: Or\ille, deceased: Ivina, Laxon. \'i(jla. Donald and Clark. 

In his relations with his fellow men. Mr. !'"orrcst has been guided by 
the highest motives. He has the greatest symj-'athy for his fellows .and is 
always willing to aid run! eni-ourage those wlm are struggling to aid tluni- 
selves. ^'el in this, as in other things, be is entirelv unassuming. When he 
believes that he is on the right ]:atb. notbiui: can swer\'e him from it. His 
home life is a s.acred trust. ;ind lii-^ friendships are inviolable. He has com- 
manded the resix'Ct of all clas-;e< by liis excmpl.ary life, and totlay is an honor 
to the communitv in wliich he lives. 



IS.\.\C E. BAf'iKl-'.R. 

It i.- with ])leasure that we jire^ent to our readers the life record of Isaac 
R. I'.arker. for he is a ])rominent anl inlhiential citizen of DeKalb county and 
one who for \arious reasons, i^ entitled to distinctive representation in this 
volume. The I'.arker family, of which the subject of this sketch is a worthy 
represenlati\e. is one of the old honored ones of DeKalb county. The brst 
representatixe of the fannly who came to America was F.dward liarker. who 
was born in Xottingbamshire, England, in jtnie. 1806. and in 1 K34 came with 
his wife and two daughters to the I'nited States. He first lived two years at 
Detroit. Michigan, and then moved to Branch county, Michigan, where he 



DEKAI.l! CDLNTV. INDIANA. .S75 

lived until 1N50. roniiiij;- t<i llainiltoii. Sunihfii (■(Himw Indiriiia. wlien- hv lived 
two years. .MscnU . 1 N3J he l)t)u<;hl a farm in the niirihea--t (|uarter nf .Smith- 
Held tdWiLsliip. DL-Kalh nmnt\-. just east ot' Suininit. lulward I'.arker was l)v 
traile a nnller. ha\ ini; ser\ed .-m appreiiticeslii]) in I'lit^land and worked at Ins 
trade in connection with tariiiint; ])rior to hi.s settlement in DeKalh eon 
lie was a local jireacher in the Methodi-;t {•"pi.'^eopal ciiiirrh and a zealous 
worker in that society. He was the prime mover in the orj^anixation of a 
Sunday school in the earl\- days, which was the forerunner of the r.arl.:er 
.Methodist R])iseoiial church, that church ha\inj; I, ecu organi/'ed at his In 
in the fall of i8-,j. aiid of which he was the first cla.ss leader, lie wa~ 
earnest Christian, hroad and liberal with all classes, Protestant and ("ath 
and unbelievers, and w;,- rcsp^cii-! 1,\- .-.ii -i- .1 ^o .]. reliable cili/en .and a 1 
friend, hi- advice beinjj- frequenth- sought and carr\ing great wei.siiit. At the 
time Mr. IJarker came to DeKalb county the coiintrv- seemed wild ;u.nl very 
lonely, but little improvement having been made, the only features of note o; 
his farm of one hundred and sixty acres bein.t;' a log house and rude barn 
with only a part of the land cleared. He was progressive and ))ublic s])irite( 
in his attitude toward local affairs and gave the land on which was built tlu 
Methodist church which bears his name. His death occurred in September 
iS;-j. He was married in England to Susannah Pitts, who died in Sej^tem 
ber. I.X4.0. leaving four children. Subse(picntlv he married Rebecca ( )br;im 
of Ohio, who died in \Hj(>. Of his children. Milton T. I'.arker was born at 
Dcti-oit. .Michig.an. on June 1 1. iS_|o. lie was rear<-d >,u liis fruber's farm m 
DeKalb county, on which he reside.l until 1S9S. when he moved to Asliley. 
where he now resides. When .aboiU thirty years of age be received from his 
father fortv acres of land in section 11. on which he had already built a 
!iou-^e. and sithsequentlv be bought forty acres more; in all he acquired the 
ownership nf one hundred and forty acres, but in March. i(;i)0. he sold oft' 
ei.ghtv .acres of this farm, and two years after liis remo\al to .\shley he 
bought a small l"arm ;U the east edge of that town, where he now li\e-. .Mr. 
r.arkcr w.as for main \ e.-irs ])rominent in the local life i^i the commnnitw 
ser\ed :is justice of the peace one term atid was elected for a second term, 
but declined to (Uialifx. He also served :is tntstee of Smithiield townshi]) two 
terms and in other wa\s took .a leading i)avt in the a.dvaiicement of the- local 
welfare. Tbough he did not receive an extensive education in his boyhood. 
he was an extensi\e reader and close observer, and was considered a well in- 
formed man. 3iIilton P. Barker was twice married, first to Margaret Hirrim. 
the daughter of lames Dirrim. of Franklin township, this county, to which 



876 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

union were born live children, Ciani, the wife ut" Preston Aiiller, ol Jackson 
county, Michigan, is the mother of four children, Mrs. Lela Gee, Charles, 
Hattie and Harry; Hannah D. is the wife of William L'pdegraph, of Okla- 
Jioma: she has two children, Waldo and .Mrs. .\ina Smith: Isaac V.. is the 
immediate sulijecl of this sketch; Charles .M., who lives in Jackson countv, 
.\lichi;.;an, married Juliette Sea>\', and they ha\e one daughter, .Maliel: James 
C, who li\es in Jacks(jn county, Michigan, married Bertha Betz, and they 
have a son, Clvde. Mrs. Margaret Barker died on ,\pril y. 1893, and in 1896 
Mr. Barker married Mrs. Harriett ( Smurr ) Backer, the daughter of Nelson 
and Rebecca Smurr. She was born in Wilmington township, this county, of 
which her parents were early settlers ; was reared there and eventually mar- 
ried Oscar Packer, their home l)eing at B>utler. this county, until his tleath. 
in .May. [88,S. Tlie_\- were tlie parents of fcjur children, two sons and two 
daughters: Ja\ Packer, of Detroit: Jennie, who is decease<l. was the wife 
of John Lowe: .\nnie is tiic wife of Lew Groff, of Edgertou. and William, 
who is a worker in powder mills at'\-arious places. 

Isaac E. Barker was Ixirn on July 7, 1869, on the home farm east of 
Suumnt. this count}, and was there reared- He secureil a good |)ractical 
education in the common schools and then was a student at the Tri-State 
Normal Sclm,,! ;it .\ngola, and :d-o Uiok special studies at \uburii. in 1889 
Mr. Barker began teaching school, in which \ocation he w;is liusiK- engaged 
during the following sixteen years, the brst year in Jacks(jn township, the sec- 
ond \-ear in P'airfield townshi]). and the reuKiinder oi the time in .^mithfield 
lownshi]). h.a\ing taught thntecu yc:irs in twn scliools in tlie latter township. 
He attained a w itlespread reputation :is a successful educator and his ser\-ices 
were in great demand. Howe\er, in 1895, Mr. Barker relinquished his peda- 
gogical work and has since given his undi\'i(!ed attention to his farming opera- 
tions, in which lie has met with a large and well deserved success. ^Ir. Barker 
is the ow nei- of one hundred ;iuil twent\ acres of land, ha\"ing liought eighty 
.acres from his father and forty acres of it com])rising the old Barker home- 
stead. With the exception of about five acres all of his land is in a hue state 
of cultivation. 

In 189J Mr. Barker married Georgia Chapman, the daughter of Lewis 
Chapman and a sister of L. N. Chapman, in whose sketch elsewhere in this 
work apppears the record of the Chapman famib . Mrs. Barker was bcjrn and 
reared in Smithfield township, this county, and is a woman of many fine |)er- 
sonal c|ualities of character which have endeared her to all who know her. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Barker have been born four children, Paul, Claudo, Milton 



DKKAI.l! COUNTY, INDIANA. 877 

and Rdssalinc. The first tun nanK-d are altfiuliii- tin- hi,t;h >c1iim,I at \~lilcy. 
I'lilitirailx . Mr. liarker is an earnest advocate of Ueim irratic ])rim-i])k's. 
and a^ a nnniinte of his parly he was elected in iqco as trustee nf Sniithlield 
luwiiship, holding" that office for four years and discharf;iii,y liis nfiicial <hilies 
to the entire satisfaction uf liis cnnslitncnt-. I''i-alcniall\ . he is a ineniher nf 
the Modern Woodmen of .\nicrii-a, while. leli.^iniislN . hv and liis wife and 
three sons are nienilicrs .li" the .Mcthndisi h'pi^copal clmrcli. nf wliicli the)- are 
earnest and faitliful workers and t^ winch they .L;i\c a liheral snppdii. 1 'er- 
siinallw .Mr. r.arker eiijoxs a wide |;: i])nlarit\ , for he his taken an intelligent 
interest in the welfare of the coniiiiiniit\- which is honored liy his citizenship, 
and has at all times ,oi\en hi- earnest sn])p .rt to c\erMhin- tendin.^ to ad- 
vance the \\ el fare of his fellows. (Viurleons and kind to all, l)roa(l-miiKled 
in his views of men and attairs. and firm in his com iclions, it is a compliment 
worthily bestowed to speak of him a^ one of the worlh\' citizens of his locality, 
and he is eminentl)' entitled to representation in a wdi 1< of the character of the 
one in hand. 



ALBRRTL'.S (. \.\1 ri'.hd.L 



Indefatigable indnstry. sound business iudgmeiit and wi-e mana-i'mcnl 
have been the elements which lia\e contribntecl to the success achieved by 
Albertus Campbell, an enterprising and progressive farmer of Smithfield town- 
ship, DeKalb county. His farm is well improved and highly ])r()dncti\e. 
being numbered among the good farms of the townshi]) in which he li\es. 
and because of his high character and un(|ueslioned integrit\ he enji>ys to a 
marked degree the sincere respect of the community. 

.\Ibertus Camiihell was born on .\pril 13. 1S71, on the old homestead 
farm close to Waterloo. DeKal!) county, indiana. and i> a son of I'dward and 
Marium If. ifhilds) Campbell, who are specihcally mentioned elsewhere in 
this work. The subject was reared under the parental roof, securing his 
education in the district schools and gave his assistance to his father in the 
operation of the home farm until be was married, after which event he 
engaged in the baled hay business in ))artnership with hi- brother, t kark. 
During the same ])eriod he was also engaged in the opci.alion of f(irt\ acre-. 
of land adjoining his father's farm and which belonged to the old homestead. 
In Deceml>er, 1905, Mr. Campbell bought sixty-five acres of the old jerry 
Hempstreet farm, belonging to Mrs. Mempstreet, and at the present time is 



878 DEKAI.B COLiNTY. IXDIAXA. 

the liwiit-r ot one hmulrfd aiul thirteen acres of that farm. About eight acres 
of liic land i- >i'll in timhcr. hr.t the liaiance is all under cultivation and splen- 
didly im])nnc(l in every ies])ect. When he oljtained this land the harn was 
there, but tile residence was in \cry iioor repair and .Mr. Canipl)ell at once 
nio\ed his present residence off the forty acres belonging to the homstead farm 
one mile away and moved it to its present location, the operation recpiiring 
eight days. He then remodeled the residence, conxerting it into a large, 
roomy, convenient and comfortable home, where the family now reside. In 
e\ery res]ject .\fr. C"anipl;ell has shown an intelligent understanding of the re- 
quirements of successful agriculture and has achieved a success which has 
placed him in Ibe front rank of the farmers of Smithtield township, the 
splendid success which he has enjoyed being attributable entirely to his own 
efforts and to liis indomitable industry and perseverance. 

On June 7. i^^i/i. Mr. C'ami)btll married L.aura Walker, the daughter of 
Eli and Susan (Wilderson) \\'alker, and to them have been l.orn two chil- 
dren. Kdward !•■. and Jeremiah. In local public affairs Mr. Campbell has 
taken a deep interest .and was town-hip a-;ses^or for four years, from 1904 to 
\v,cS. discliarging tl'.e duticN of this ])osition to the entire satisfaction of his 
fellow citizens, lie f\as ordered to raise tiic as-essmenV of real estate h\e per 
cent., but did not (piite succeed in that effort. l-"raternally. he is a member of 
the I'ree and .\cceiited [Masons a.nd the Knights of Pythias at Waterloo, anil 
he takes a deep interest m the workings of these societies. ^Ir. Campbell is 
wide-awake to the best interests of the community and gives a wholehearted 
suj/port to all worthx mo\emen1s f:)r the good of his fellows. He enjoys :, 
wide acquaintance imk' 's \' ell liled b-; all \vl-o ! now him bec;'.u-e of his b.usi- 
ness snccx'ss and his sterling;- ip-alilies of character. 



HF':\R^" n.\pp. 



as a usual thing men of honoral)le .and humane ini])ulses. ;is well as ol euergv 
and thrift, li.ave lieen the leading patrons of hnsl'andrx. The farm has been 
the fruitful soil from which has eipanated the moral bone and sinew of the 
nation, and from the labor- of the held ha\ e come forth in to the Uiost 
exalted ]>l:nics of u-efulnc-- thi- stroni^c-t men of the countr\-. while all who 
l'a\e .ipijreciation of true \alues will regard with admiration the dignity of 
the farmer and the \alue of the work he accomplishes. Anniug the enterjiris- 



DEKALH COUNTY, INDIANA. HjC) 

iiii;- i-iti/ons Ml DcKalh cuntx i> llu- MihjcTl ni this l.riol" skctcli. who i^ an 
honored resident nf Sniitlilitld towiishiii, witl: w h(i>c as^riciiltural df\ eloimicnl 
and proi^Tcss he has licen intima.telx- identiliod. wlnle lie lias so lived as to 
merit and reeiive the rnllesi measure <if pi.piilar mnfidence and esteenu 

Henry Dapu was horti .m jannary ig. iS(>q, in Alsaee, h'ranee. imw 
helons'in- t.. (iermanv. Me i- the s. m of Mni^ and l-.li/aheth ( MaUin) Dap]), 
both of wh.iin were horn, reared and married in Alsace, where the father fol- 
lowed the pur>nit of farniiiii;'. I lem-y 1 )app was reared in his native locality 
and in iSSo. al the a,i;e of twenty years. accoin|)anied his parents on their 
emigration to .\iiicrica. settling at once in Summit. DeKalh conntv. Indiana, 
where tlie father hought one hundred and sixty acres of-splendid land, com- 
prising the northeast ipiarter of section i_|, where he made his home, giving 
his undivided attention to tl.ie cultivation and improvement of his farm as 
long as he li\ed. He was a man of sterling qudities of character and enjoyed 
the respect of the entire community. To jiim and his wife were horn six 
children, namel) : lltnry. the immediate .-uhjeet of thi> sketch: Stacy, the 
wife of John 'I'rapp. of (iarrell. this count\'; Caroline was the wife .jf Joseph 
Deitch, of Axilla, Indiana, and is now deceased: t/lementine is the wil'e of 
Anthony (Irisi and lives at (i.arrett: i.oiii-e and I-:iizali. tli are twins. \-.\<./.:v- 
I)eth, (leceU.sed. was the wife of \\ illiam Long and li\ed at horl Wayne luitil 
Jier death. The father of these children died on j.anuary i. i.St/j. and the 
mother on December i. 1897. 

The subject of this sketch lixed on the oici hoiiie |)l;ice. eventu.ally Iniying 
eight\- acres from his father and after the- !:;tter's de.alh he bought out the 
interests of the other heirs in the remaining ei.ghty iicres of the estate, thus 
being now the owner of the entire farm of one htindieil and sixty acres. The 
place is well improved in e\ery respect, the fcrtihtv ..f the s,,il having been 
maintained In judicious attention to the rot.atiou I'f cro],s ;m<l fertilization, 
and Mr. 1 )app has achieved a si)lendid success in his operations. He carries on 
a dixersilitd sv^tem of farming, raising all the crops comnion to tin's localitv 
and gives some attention to the breeding and r.aising of live stock, in which 
he has met with success. 

In iS8^ Mr. Dapp married Magdalene .Schinii. a dangluer of Anthony 
Schiffli. and to this union have been born eight cliildreii, u.-nnvly: .Mary is 
the wife of |ohu Mav. wh.. lives near lier father's farm in Smithheld town- 
ship and thev have two children. Agnes ,-uid h'.stber: b'.lizabeth is the wife of 
^latthias Hohl. and they live west of the Catholic church in Smithfield town- 
ship: thev have two boys, Henry and \lvin : Theresa is the wife of John 



88o DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Schlusser, wild lives in the western ]jarL of Smithtield tnwnship. and the_\- have 
a son, Paul Lonis; Anthon}- li\es near his sister in Smithlield township and 
married Esther Gabe; John is unmarried and is attending St. Aleinard College 
in southern Indiana: Louise. Alliert and Katie are at Imnie with their parents. 
Mr. Dapp and his family are all earnest niemhers of the t'athulic church. 
Their lix'es ha\ e been such as to earn the warm commendatinn of all who 
know them, for they have been true to their highest conceptions of right and 
in the civic hfe of the community Mr. Dapp has taken an intelligent interest, 
giving his support at all tiines to every movement which has for its object the 
advancement of his fellow; men. Personally, he is genial and companionable 
and has wnn a host of warm personal friends. 



FREDERKIv GFELLER, JR. 

In e\ ery C(jmmunity some men are known for their upright lives, strong 
common sense and industry, rather than for their wealth or political standing. 
Their neighlwrs and acijuaiiitance- re-pect iheni. and wlien they "wrap tlie 
drapery of their couches about them and he down to pleas:mt dreams" posterity 
listens with re\'erence to the story of their ipuet and useful lives, .\niong 
such men of a past generation in DeKalb county was the late Frederick 
Gfeller, Jr., who was not only a progressive man of affairs, successful in ma- 
terial pursuits, but a man of modest and unassuming demeanor, a fine type of 
the reliable, self-made American, a friend to the poor, charitable to the faults 
of his neigbbin-^ and wiio alwa\s -.toixl read)- to iniite with tliem in every 
good work and active in the support of laudable ])ublic enterprises, a man who 
in every respect merited the high esteem in which he was held. 

Frederick Gfeller, Jr., was born in the canton of Berne, Switzerland, on 
May 15. 1850, and was the son of b'rederick, Sr., and Katherine Rlizabeth 
(Schiba) Gfeller. A\'hcn the subject was liut two years old the family came 
to the United States, locating in Stark countw Ohio, where they lived for 
several years. They then came to Smithfield township. DeKalb county. 
Indiaan. locating iu-l west of the Catliolic rburcli A year later they moved 
to the Hfiffelder farm, remaining there two years. For a diort time they 
then lived east of Waterloo, eventually returning to Smithfield townsliip. 
where for ele\en years the father engaged in farming. They then returned 
to the vicinitv of AA'aterloo. the parents spending their last years in L'nion- 



DEKALB COVNTY, INDiAlJ.^. «8l 

tp.wn. Tliey w^r? the pai;fnt^ of four cbikli:?n, tbree, so^ls h'hI a daugliter. 
Mrs. Elizabeth Brown. Frederick, Gpttfried ^xid Samuel. 

Frederick Gfeller, Jr., remained with his pareut.s until his marriage, in 
1872, when he engaged in farming on Jiis own account, leasing land from 
George Wolfe just ^ast of the Catholic church, where he remained eleven 
years. While on tlvit land, he bought thirteen acres of land adjoining, though 
he did not live on it He ne.xt bought forty acres a short ^listance northeast 
of where he was renting, anc^ four or fiv^ yeaf.s Utei;' bought forty acres more 
just north of where he was farming, to which he moved two )'ears later, mak- 
ing it his permanent home. In all, he accumulated two hundred and twelve 
acres of good land and was considered a \ery capable and successful business 
man. 

.Mr. (ifeller took n large interest in the welfare of the coninninit\- in 
which he lived and was one of the original members of St. Michael's Catholic 
church. He served as road superx'isor and as constable, and was twice elected 
trustee of Smithfield township, being nominated for a third term, but dying 
before election day. He enjoyed a well-deserved popularity throughout the 
section of the county in which he lived, enjoying a wide acquaintance, among 
whom were many warm personrd friends. 

In Octol>er, 1872. Mr. Gfeller married Mary .\. .\iehr. wlio was born in 
Germany in F834. the daughter of Johannes and Dora (Schoudel) Mehr. In 
August, 1S71, Marv and her fifteen-year-old sister, Katherine. now Mrs. 
I'rank 1'. Miller, came to the I'nited States, and came at once to DeKalb 
county. lnilian,-i. making their liome in Smithfield townshi]). Mary Mehr was 
se\entcen vears old and could talk no English. She secured work in private 
families, with whom she was em]>loyed for a number of years, and during 
this period acquired a thorough command of the English language. By her 
mairiage with Frederick Gfeller she became the mother of four children, 
namelv; Frederick, who lives near St. Michael's Catholic church, married 
.\nnie Shoudel, the daughter of M. L. Shoudel, and they have nine children, 
I'red. Dora, Matthias, Mary. Celia. Joseph. Herman and Christian. Mary is 
the wife of Thomas Smith, of Kosciusko count>-, Indiana, and the\- ha\e one 
child. (iene\ie\e. Frank, who lives on the old home place, married Anna 
'Schiflfli and to them were born four children, Olivia, who died at the age of 
ten weeks, Lauretta. Clarence .-uid Raymond. Dora is the wife of Frank 
Walker, of Smithfield townshij). this county. The father of these children 
died on November 24, 1895, and two years afterwards his widow became the 
(56) 



882 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Wife ..t John Hoft'elder, also a resident of Smithtield township. However, 
slie still spends much of her time with her children, by whom she is held in 
the most affectionate regard. I'rederick Gfeller was a man of steady, in- 

tlustrioiis habits, his success in life I)eing due sosely to his own efforts, and 
he never violated in the slightest tlegree the confidence which his fellows 
repoed in him. .\ faithful husband, loxing and affectionate father, faithful 
friend imd lnyal citizen, his death was cmisiderefl a distinct loss to the com- 
inuuity which had been lioiiored by his citizenship. 



LEMUEL N. CHAPMAN. 

It is pro])er to judge of the success ni a man's life Ijy tlie estimation in 
which he is held In- his fellnw citizens. Tliex- see him at his work, in his 
family circle, in church, bear hi^ views (in public cpiestions, nbserve the 
operation of his code of morals, witness how he conducts himself in all the 
relations of society and civilization, and are, therefore, competent to judge of 
his merits anrl demerits, .\fter a long course of years of such daily obser\-a- 

wortb. for, as has been s:tul. '•actions speak louder than words." In this 
connection it is not too mucb to say tliat tiie sul)ject of tliis sketch has passed a 
life of unusual honor, that he lia^ been industrious and ba> the confidence of 
all who lia\e the pleasure of his friendship. 

Lemuel N. Chapman, an honored citizen and industrious farmer of 
Smitlifield township. DeKalb county. Indiana, was Ixirn m that township, on 
jannarx ._'. 1X^)7. ;uid i- the sou of Lewis nnd Mar\ (Duncan) Chapman. 
Lewis Chai)man was born in \\a\ne county. ( )liio. on July 17. iS_:'_>. the son 
of Lemuel and Ruth 1 Harding) Cb.apniaii. The Chaiiman family is of Rng- 
lisb ancestrx. the i>rogemtors of ll-e famil\ ba\in- first settled in I'ennsyl- 
xauia. where tbev married into 1 'cnn^yKauia Mutch stock. Lemuel Chap- 
man, tlie paternal grandfather, bec:inie a ])roiniiient man in his day. being 
known as General Chapman in Ohio ;uid commander of the state nnlitia. He 
w;is ;i soldier in tlje war of iSi_>. and ln~ deatb occurred in 1S37. Me was a 
man of many accomplishments, lieing a fine penman and well educated, as 
well as lieing powerful physically. Lewis Chapman was reared in Ohio, at- 
tending high school, and some time before the Ci\'il war he came to DeKalb 
countx-. Indiana, and bought <ine hundred and twenty acres of land north of 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 883 

the east part of Waterloo. He also taught scluiol <luring twii wiuleis. In 
1 86 f lie married Mftry 'C. Duncan; who was horn lu'ar rittshur-h, Pennsyl- 
vania, in 1832. tho'daiig'hter of (ieo'rge J. antl .Mary (liaxler) Duncan. When 
two yfears old her parents moved to Holmes county, Ohio, and later to Wayne 
county, rndiana. and in r852'the family moved to DeKalh county, locating a 
short .listancc from where the I'.arker Metho.list I'.piscoi.al rhnrch is now 
located in .'^milhlield townsiiip. where her parents IniiU a home and H\ed the 
rest of their lives. George J. Duncan was hoth a shoemaker and a farmer, 
hut his sons mostly followed fai-mnig. Mary Duncan lived on the liome 
farm until her marriage, and simic time prior thereto had taught school at 
the t'en'ter school and .>ther schools in .^nntlifield township, and it is related 
that at one tune when she went to the C enter school house she saw six deer 
standing 11: the sclioo] yar.l. wh,., ;( fter looking ;,t her for a moment, ran into 
•the woods, for ahMul hfteeii years after their mariiage Mr, and Mis. Tliap- 
man lived n..rtheast . .f \\ ;aerloo. when thev s,,l,l that farm and l.ought a 
tiact sntith of Siimmif, and there lived imtil 111 old age, though dining tlie ].ast 
tuehe years they had given up active farm work and li\ed with their chil- 
dren. Lewis Chapman died on Decemher 14, imLv and .Mary Cdiapman on 
Decemher 17. H,i,v Mr. and .Mrs, C'ha|)man have heen hard workers all their 
lives and have richh earned the ])roS|ieritv which has rcstdted from their 
efforts. The) reared seven children, all ol" whom grew to maturity, married 
and li.ive children of their <iwn These .hif.ien are .as follows- .May. widow 
of .Mliert (rramling, now deceased, lives one mile west of Summit, and is the 
mother of six children living,' four sons and two daughters: Jennie is the wife 
of lav Shaffer, of Smithfield towtidiii). and they have two children: Lemuel 
X. lives ill the northeastern part ni Smithfield township and is the imnie liate 
suhject of this l,iograi)hical review: .M:irgaret, who is tlie wife of (K-.nge 
Corhin, of the northeastern jiart of Smithlield townshi]). has a daughter: 
Georgia is the wife of L.aac I'.arker. ..f Sniithfield township: William II, lives 
in .Manlv. Iowa, where he is a successful cariieiiter and contractor, .and is mar- 
ried and the t'alher of four children: L. l-:dw;ird. who lives at (;i:iiid islan-l. 
.Xehraska. is married and the father ..I two children. Of the sjsicrs ,,\ 
Lemuel N. Chapman, it is noteworthy that three c)f them have taught school. 
Jennie, Ma,ggie and Georgia. The suhject of this sketch, heing the oldest son. 
was comjjelled to remain at home to assist his father, hut henchted hy that 
because he there learned Imw to work to advantage and imhihcd those traits 
of character which have lieen instiaimental in his later successes. 
He did much jjioneer work, such as clearing land and draining. 



884 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

and, in the broadest sense of the term, he is self-made. He remained 
with his parents until twenty-six years of age and then engaged in farming 
his mother-in-law's place for twenty years. About 1904 Mr. Chapman 
bought one hundred and twenty acres of land and so well did he manage this 
tract that in four years he made enough on it to pay for the tract. It is a 
good farm in every respect and is handled to the best advantage, Mr. Chap- 
man adopting ui>-to-date methods in its cultivation and exercising personal 
supervision over every detail of its operation. It adjoins the Kegerreis farm, 
and he still lives there and operates both tracts. He has worked diligently 
and steadily at his vocation, losing no time and overlooking no opportunity to 
improve the farm and to turn things to tlie best advantage. 

In 1893 Mr. Chapman married Sarah May Kegerreis, the daughter of 
Joseph and Catherine (James) Kegerreis. who are mentioned elsewhere in 
this sketch, and to them have been born tiiree children, namely : Inez, who 
is now in the last year of high school at Ashley, having attended three terms 
at Waterloo; Madge, who is in the second year of high school, and Maude, 
four years old. The mother of these children died on July 23, 1912. and was 
buried on Julv 25th, lier birthday anniversary. Slie was a faithful and earnest 
meml>er of the Barker Methodist Episco]ial church .ind acti\e in its various 
avenues of usefulness from her childhoiKl, b\ing close to tiic tcaciiings of the 
Bible all her life and proving a good wife and faithful and loving niotlier. 
Mr. Chapman has also for many years been an active and faithful member of 
the Barker Methodist Episcopal church, contributing of his nie.ins to its su))- 
port and gi\ing his attention to all it^ interests. I''raterna11y. he is a member 
of the Modern Woodmen of .\merica. :ind in e\ery a\enue of life's activities 
in which he has engaged he has done his Iiest. so that he has richly earned the 
Iiigh regard in which lie is univer.sally lield thri>ughout the eomniunity. 



[OSEPH KECF.RRKIS. 



.\mong the successful, self-made men of a i)ast i^eneration in DeKaib 
county, whose efforts and influence contributed to the material ujjbuilding of 
their respective communities, the late Joseph Kegerreis. of Smithfield town- 
shi]), occupied a conspicuous place. He won for himself a ])lace of i)romi- 
nence and honor as one of the world's honored army of workers and enjoyed 
to a notable degree the esteem and good will of all who knew him. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 885 

Joseph Kegerreis was horn on Jnl_\ 14, 1838, in I'.ancaster county, Penn- 
sylvania, and his death occurred at his home in tlie nortlieastern part of Smith- 
field township, DeKalb county, Indiana, on January zj, 1889. He was a son 
of Jacob and Sarah (Smith) Kegerreis, wlio removed with their familv t(» 
Columbiana county, Ohio. There, soon afterwards, the father died, and his 
widow e\entuallv became the wife of Michael Mottinger. Some time later 
they came to DeKalb county, Indiana, locating in section 2, Smithfield town- 
ship, in 1850, when the subject of this sketch was twelve years old. Here the 
latter was reared and secured his education in the common schools. On .\pril 
I, i87'3, Mr. Kegerreis moved to a tract of land, comprising one hundred and 
forty acres, which he had bought in section 2. Smithfield township, where lie 
made his permanent home and where he remained until his death. He was an 
energetic and practical fanner, giving intelligent direction to his operations, 
so that he was enabled to leave his family in \ery comfortable circumstances. 

On September 28, 1862, Joseph Kegerreis was united in marriage with 
Catherine James, who was bom in Summit county, Ohio, on February 19, 
1843, the daughter of Henry and Maria (Furry) James. When she was a 
baby of but six months, the family moved to Indiana, locating in Steuben 
township, Steuben county, just across the line from Smithfield township. 
DeKalb county. There for forty years her parents made their home, and 
then moved to Kansas, where they bought a farm and spent the rest of their 
lives, the mother dying in 1891 and the father in 1898. Mrs. Kegerreis was 
reared by her parents in Steuben countx' until her marriage to Mr. Kegerreis, 
and secured a good education in the pu1)lic schools. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Kegerreis were born four children, namely: John, who was a ynnng man of 
excellent habits and fine ])r(iniise, died nn September 10. 1882. al the a.ge of 
nineteen vears; Sarah May. who was the wife of I.. X. Chapman, died on 
July' 23, 1912, leaving three children: Dessa, who was the wife of Holland 
S. Gramling, of Summit, this county, died on March 24. i<)io, aged twenty- 
three years and ten months, leaving a daughter, F.\el\n M. She was a grad- 
uate of the common schools, a successful teacher, and an actixe worker in the 
Methodist Episcopal church from her youth up: Alta remains at home with 
her mother. Mrs. Kegerreis is a woman of many gracious qualities of head 
and heart, which have endeared her to a host of warm personal friends. 

Mr. Kegerreis was a kind and loving husband, an affectionate and in- 
dulgent father, and earned the respect and friendship of all who knew him; 
because of his high character and genial disposition. .Large-hearted and gen- 
erous, he .gave liberally to all worthy causes, especially in the s|)read of 



886 DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 

Chriiitian .work and to the relief of those in (Hstre.ss. J a these things he wai^ 
entirely unostentatious, many of hisrkindly acts lieing known only to himself 
and the .recipients. Mr. Kegerreis was a snldier (if the Ci\il war. liasing 
.'jerx-ediaith full)' and courageously tis a meuiher df the .Seventy-ninth Regi- 
ment Iijdiana Volunteer Infantry. Me had heen an eartie-^t member o,f the 
]\Iethodist Episcopal church fur MHiie \ ears,, prior tu liis (k-ath and ha^IaJ<eu a 
deep 4ntcie^l in religinus matters, lieing a constant and thuqghtful reailcr.of 
religiiiu> htci'ature. He exerted ;i hunehceiit infliiencc < <u all \\hu came i.Ljtq 
contact. w ilh him and his career was muipded iu it- lie^uU) lul suuplicity. fur he 
did hrs lull duty ui :dl the relations ni life, which,, alter all is .said, is Uie >uni 
total,;Q,f real success. ,,,.,.,. 



I-R.\XK W II.LIAAI GEKLLER. 

The suliiect of this re\ iew is a ,-einleman of hiuh st,iiidih,L; lo whom has 
not heen denied ;i full measure of smcess. IJr i^ distmctix el\ one of the 
represeutalnc citizens of SmUhlicltl towushi]). and lias long Ijeen a recog- 
ni,zed factor of imiMirtauce in cmiu-clioii with tin- agricultural intere.sts of 
the count) ot DeKalli. Mr. Cfcller has Iil'cu consiiicuousjx uk-ntihed with the 
materiai growth .and iirosperitN' of this ]iart of ilu- state and his life has lieen 
\er\ closcl\- interwo\-en with the hisior\- of the coiuUv where he has lived. 

hrank W illiani ('.feller was horn on December 23. 1X77. just east of St. 
.Michael's church, iu .Smithheld township. HeKalb count). Indiana, and is a 
.son of Frederick and Mary ( Mehr ) (Ifeller. When he was about three years 
of age the subject's parents mo\ ed to their present home, which is located a 
little over a half mile north of St. Michael's church, and there he has lived 
continuouslv since. He was reared to the life of a farmer and secured his 
education in the district schools of the coiumunit) . He assisted his father 
in the operation of the home farm until the latter's death, when he bought out 
the interests of all the other heirs to the estate, except his mother's life inter- 
est in one hundred and seventy-two acres. He has devoted himself indefati- 
gablv and persistently to the development, im]5rovemeiit and cultivation of the 
farm and that he has met with well deserved success is a matter of common 
knowledge in his locality. Among his fellow citizens he has earned the 
splendid reputation which he now enjoys by honest, intelligent effort and is 
eminently deserving of the splendid success which has crowned his efforts. 

On October 27. 1898, Mr. Gfeller married .\nna SchifBi. daughter of 



ALU COr.NTV, 



X87 



Antliony and Katlienne ' f l'\-uc-i-s ) Schiflli. hei- liirlli havin.t;- dccurred ii1 
Alsace. Pl-ancc; now' (ierman_\-, and lieiiij^ brought tu the rnited Slates with 
lier i)arcnts when l)iit livfe 'years okl. ' -To 'Mr. and. Mrs. (ifeller' have been 
hrmi three cliildren livmo-.i LauretVe, Clarence -and Raymond, and one. Olivia, 
w4io died at the age of ten weeks. 

Religiously: Mr. and Mrs. (ifeller are earnest and loyal nieuilK-rs of 
St. Michael's Catholic church, in the prosperity of which tliev arc dceplv 
interested. and fhey give their ejirnest s-uii^jort to every niovenien't for the 
uplift of theii- fellow beings. Mr;- Gfeller is a man of wide knowledge, being 
k- great readier, a-' deep 'thinker and a good conx-ersat'ionalist, and withal is a 
pleasant gentleman tfv incet. ' He -possesses a personality that wins friends 
ahd all-who know hinrs])eak in high tei'ms of his many fine i|u;dities and uj)- 
right conduct. 



.\XTHONY SCHIFFLI. 



: The biograjiher is glad to herein set forth fhe salient . facts ni the suc- 
cessful; and honorable career of the well-remembered and highly esteemed 
citizen of DeKalb county whose .name api)ears abo\e. the last chapter in 
\\^hose.|i4ti recGr<l has been closed by the hand of death, lut \-,hose influence 
still jiervades the lives of tho-^e with whom he came in cnntact. Those who 
knew him best cnuld nut liel]) but recugm/e his many hue attributes and his 
eti'iirts t" inspire g.Hul citi/euship and right li\ing. because "f which charac- 
teristics he wnn and retained the cunlidence and good will <<\ all who had 
dealings with him in any way. 

.\nthony ."^chiftli was burn in Alsace, then a jiart of I'Tauce. but now 
belonging tn Cermanx. in December. 1825. and his death occurred at Carrett. 
DeKalb county. Indiana, on the j_'d of August, i8()8. He was a <(>n nf 
Christian and Certrude .Schiflli. liotb of whom alsM were lioru and li\ed in 
-A-lsace. He was reared to the life of a farmer in his nati\e locality and after 
attaining manhood's years he luarried Katherine Fetters, who had lieen born 
and reared in the same neighborh<iod, the daughter of Ferdinand and Ger- 
trude l-T-tters. In 1880 Mr. Schiffli brought his family to the United States, 
after a very stormy voyage of two weeks landing at Xew ^'ork City. They 
came direct to DeKalb county, Indiana, locating at Summit, where Mr. 
.Schiffli had relatives, his wife's brother, Ferdinand Fetters, and his own 
eldest daughter, (lertrude, who had married Louis Rabst. ^Tr. Schiffli bought 



OOO DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

forty acres of land near the Maple Grove school house, about two miles west 
of Summit, where he established his home, living there for twenty years. His 
wife died in March, 1894, and he remained at home until in March, 1898. 
when he sold his farm and went to love with his daughter, Mrs. Magdalena 
Dapp, in Smithfield township. In Augii.st lie was taken sick and went to stay 
with another daughter, Mrs. Theresa Faust, of Garrett, where his death oc- 
curred two weeks later. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Schiffli seven children were born, as follows: (i) 
Gertrude, the wife of Louis Babst, of Garrett. (2) Caroline was the wife of 
Michael Freelinger and lived at Albion, Michigan, where her death occurred 
on March 18, 1892. (3) Magdalena is the wife of Henry Dapp, of Smith- 
field township, this county. (4) Anthony lived at Garrett until his death, on 
January 26, 1903. (5) Mrs. Theresa Faust lives in Garrett. (6) Ignatius lives 
in Garrett, and (7) Anna is the wife of Frank Gfeller, of Smithfield town- 
ship. 

In addition to his long and creditable career as a farmer, Mr. Schififli 
also proved an honorable member of the body politic: rising in the confidence 
and esteem of the public, he ne\er fell below the dignity of tme manhood 
nor in any way resorted to methods that invited criticism, so that those who 
were favored with an intimate acquaintance with him were profuse in their 
praise of his manly virtues and ujiris^ht character, tliat of the true gentleman. 



^T.RXF v.. niX?IA\AX. 



Among the men of purpose and uprigln life w iio are demonstrating busi- 
ness and executive ability- of a high order in the management of the affairs 
entrusted to them, the subject of this sketch takes high rank. As general 
manager for the Auljurn I'rintiiig Cunipany. he is successfully carrying on 
the work so auspiciously begun l)y his father, the late J. Edgar Buclianan. and 
today he is numbered among the influential men of his community. \'erne 
E. Buchanan was born on January 31. 189^, at Auburn, DeKalb county. Indi- 
ana, and is the only son of John Edgar and Xellie I). (Brecbill) Buchanan. 
J. Edgar Buchanan is represented elsewhere in this work by a personal re- 
view, therefore further space will not be gi\en to the subject's ancestral history 
at this point. Verne E. Buchanan recei\ed a good common scliool education 
in Noble and DeKalb counties, completing his public school study at the high 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 889 

school at Auburn. He then .spent two years in the .study of journahsni in 
the University of Wisconsin at Madison, after which he returned t(i .\uburn. 
being called upon at the time of his father's death to assume the management 
of the Auburn Printing Company. This company issues the .\uburii Dispatch 
and the Auburn Courier, semi-weekly publications, and alsd tlu' Ii:'cnini/ Star. 
a daily pai>er. the three publications having large circulations throughout iJe- 
Kalb county, and being numbered among the leading newspapers of this sec- 
tion of the state. Mr. Buchanan is a busy man, giving his personal attention 
to every detail of the business, managing the affairs of the company so as to 
win the commendation of his associates in the concern. The Auburn Print- 
ing Company is capitalized at twenty-hve thousand dollars, the majority of the 
stock l)eing owned by the subject of this sketch and his mother. Its entire 
operation is entrusted to him, and he is proving a business man of sound 
judgment and wise discrimination. Mr. Buchanan holds i>ositive opinions 
regarding the great questions of the day, being a close reader and keen ob- 
server of men and events. He is genial in his relations with his fellowmen, 
and those who know him best appreciate most highly his excellent qualities of 
character. 



THEODORE REMPIS. 



Among the farmers of DeKalb county, Indiana, who l)elieve in following 
twentieth-century methods is Theodore Rempis, of the vicinity of Smithfield 
township. He comes of a splendid family, one that has always l)een strong 
for right living and industrial habits, for education and morality, and for all 
that contributes to the welfare of the commonw^ealth. Such people are wel- 
comed in anv community, for they are empire builders and as such have pushed 
the frontier of civilization ever westward and onward. leaving the green, 
wide-reaching wilderness and the far-.stretchini^ |)lains ])opiilous with con- 
tented people and beautiful with green Fields; thev have constituted that 
sterling horde whicli cau.sed the great Bisliop \\lui)ple to write the memorable 
line. "Westward the course of empire takes its way." 

Theodore Rempis was born on May 9, 1861. on section t,j. Smithfield 
township, DeKalb county, Indiana, the son of Charles Lewis and Elizabetli 
(Middleton) Rempis. The father was a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, 
born March 21, 1830, and at an early day emigrated with his parents, Louis 
and Louisa (Berg) Rempis. to America, locating first at Massillon. Ohio. 



ago DEKALB COL'NTY, INDIANA. 

Ill i'853'they came to UeKalb county, purchasing a farm of one hundred and 
twehty acres in Smithfield township, where' the father built a log house and 
barn, clearing; fiirf\- acres of the place, ami thrcaigh his strenuous efforts lost 
his health. 'Ilis death occurred in Decenilier, 185Q, His wife survived him 
several years. 

While the family was residing at Massillon, Ohio.'in 1831, the subject's 
father' went to California in order to endeaxOr to improve his financial situa- 
tion among the gold mines. He made the arduous trip by way of the isthnws 
o-f Panama;' reaching the gold fields on the Uba and Feather rivers; where he 
spent three and' a half ye:n>. working; a part of the time near Portland, 
'Oregon.' 1 re'heli)e(l to make the first brick used in that city. He was success:- 
■ftff'oft this ti-ip. and w hli the money thus earned came l>ack ti.DcKalb county 
iff*W54 and purcliased a fariii. On \[:\y 13, 183(1, he married h'.Iizaljeth. the 
•(faugWer of William Aliddletim. > aie (if the pioneer residents of Waterloo, 
who'serVed in (be C'i\ il war as a member cif Company K, h'orty-fourth Regi- 
ment Indiana X'olimteer Intantry. There were born three children; Will- 
iam Henry, wbn Ii\es in Lns AugeleS, California ;:.Franklin Le\vis\ who 
married Martha h'rager im .March 8. 1882, and died on December lO, i8y9. 
leaving une child. Ruth. Hir- wife died on (_)ctol)er 7, 1883. The daughter. 
Ruth, e\entunlly married Charles Haines, a f;irmer in Crant township, this 
cnnnt), having two children. I'.dward ;ind Carl: Theodore A., was the third 
child born to these parent-. In 183O Charles Rem])is became a member of 
the Methodist Episcopal church, l)Ut in i8f;o transferreil his memlier.shi]) to 
the L'nited Brethren, to which faith he remained a faithful adherent during 
the rest of his life. He lielped to ])repare the timbers and build the church 
of the Cnited r.rethren, the first house erected for public worship in Waterloo 
and which for a number of years was the only building for that special pur- 
l)ose in that town. Me retired from actixe farm work in i8()3 and thereafter 
made his home with his son, the subject of this sketch, who now lives on the 
farm de\eloped i)y his father. Later Charles Rempis took up his residence in 
Waterloo, and in 1907 went to live with his granddaughter, Mrs. Ruth Haines, 
in Grant township, where his death occurred on November 9, i(>io. His 
brother, Henry Rempis, born October 1 1, 1838, lived at Massillon, Ohio; but 
in 1853 his family moved from that city to the old farm in Smithfield tcnvn- 
ship, DeKalb county, coming by wa\- of the Ohio canal to Cleveland, across 
the lake to Toledo, and liy the \\al)ash canal to I'ort Wayne, tlience overland 
to DeKalb county. Here his father bought one hundred and twenty acres. 



INDIANA. 




891 


at time Henr\ 


,■ Rempi 


s was only 


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inecUMl with 


. an.l liecausc 


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k-ath of his 


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his hrnther, 


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ul.i.T 111 


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DEKAI.n COLNTY, 

only forty of which was cleared. At t 
fifteen years uf a.t;e, and he timk lii.s pari 1 
the clearin- and impiM\emem m f this Ian 
father and his Mldcr l,n,tlier, \\-illiam. 
Charles. 1I hecanie necessury fur him [n 
maintainiiiL; ihe fa'miK Imme. 'I'liis pre\ 
t'ause in the C i\ il war. as he eaiiiestl_\ \ 
remain at Ihiiik, he liMuj^ht the inteiesL of 
the farm. ami. lieiii" mT a im-clniiical Inn 



jaliMi- an.l stivmiMii. rflM,!. he adiieved a -pleifdi.l success ;,s an a-rieiillurist. 
In ihr la.v Ml M'^rre re\ei-e. 1,\ lire ami Mtlier Imsscs. he aeeMinplished many 
valuajile imprM\ements li\ ear.ein! iiKHia.L^emenl and hi aiesi melliMiK on tne 
farm, including liuilding a ceimniodiiius farmhciuse iiiIm which the family 
nK)ved in 1875. later ereeting a large liank ham 111 the |)laee uf ilie niie 
destroyed by fire. In this new liMine the ni.ither died m 1X77. In iS,S8 the 
subject's f'oster sun. Charles Olcnii. was drMwned. and mi August u. iSgS, 
his daughter. J.ena Amelia, met a like fate. In .March. ]na(). Mr. Rempis 
resigned the active work of the farm and muxed tu Waterldu. where he re- 
sided until his death, which occurred on January 11. i<)oS. He never identi- 
fied himself with any chtu'ch, but was a faithful attendant and sui)piirter uf the 
United Brethren church. In wliich the dther members nf the family belonged. 
He also attended the Christian church at Cedar Lake. Smithfield townslii]). 
On November 3, 1871. he married .Mrs. .Sophia l-'rencb Olcott. and to them 
were born three chiklren.. Laura Luella. Lena .\melia and Mrs. OhAe Matilda 
Willis. 

The subiect of this sketch recei\ed his e<lucation in the cmnmon schools 
in Smithfield townshiiJ. and worked nn the home farm as snon as old enough. 
After his marriage, in 1887, he caiue to the home farm and lived there about 
one and a half )-ears and then moxed to the L Iv Thomson farm, the girlhood 
home of his wife, where he li\ed for six years. On account of his father's 
illness he then mo\ed l)ack to the home farm which he rented, and in the 
year 1907 bought the farm from his father, the place comprising one hundred 
and sixty acres. This farm he improved in many res])ects, building a num- 
ber of substantial buildings, cleared up a good portion of the farm, drained 
it. and otherwise putting it in excellent condition for successful agriculture, 
so that it is now one of the leading anrl most productixe of the townshiji. He 



has ]}een very progressive in his fanning methods, using up-to-date ideas and 
shghting no opportunity to advance tlie condition of the place. 

On October ig, 1887, Mr. Rempis married Elva Lillie Thomson, the 
daughter of Joel E. and Maria Jane (McBride) Thomson, and to them there 
were born two children, Clarence V. and Lester L. They also, on July 25. 
190]. adopted a girl, Thelma Mays, from the Indianapolis Orphan .\.sylum. 
The eldest child, Clarence, married Ruby Parnell and now lives on the home 
place, following the pursuit of agriculture. 

Joel E. Thomson was born at Shalersvillc, Portage county. Oliio. on 
November 30, 1824, .spending Iiis early days in that place. He came to l)e- 
Kalb county in the early days, .settling on the well-known Thomson farm, 
Smithfield township, which, b)- hard work on the part of both himself and 
his wife, was developed into one of the best farms of the county, it being 
characterized by modern improvements in every respect. On November 30, 
1845, he married Maria J. McBride. the daughter of Richard and Samanthe 
(Smith) McBride. On December 25. 1899, he fell and broke his leg, from 
which accident he was crippled for the remainder of his life: but he bore his 
affliction with patience and without complaint. His crippled condition, to- 
gether with poor health and declining years, forced him to break up their 
home life and in 1902 lie went to live with his daughter, Elva Lillie, with 
whom he afterward resided. He became a member of the Church of Christ 
at Shalersville. Oliin. when nineteen years of age. antl through his efforts the 
Church of Christ at Cedar Lake, Smithfield township, was organized, he 
and his wife being charter members. Of this society he served efficiently as 
elder until his death, which occurred near Waterloo, June 12, 1903. Politic- 
ally, he was a staunch Republican, taking a deep interest in local public afifairs. 
He was the father of se\cn children, one of whom died in infancy, the others 
being: Cilicia A., deceased: Alniira A., deceased: Francis Edwin: Ida .-Xlice: 
Charles Sterling and l^.lva Lillie. Of these. Ida became the wife of .\meron 
P. Benjamin, a farniei , now deceased, and she lives near Cedar Lake. Smith- 
field townshi]). ."^he liecame the mother of nine children, one of whom died 
in infancy, and the nthers being Orlie. Claytcn. Marimi, Jennie. Irma, Ixussell, 
Mar\ and .Austin. I''rancis Edwin, who is a fanner in Smithfield tnwusliip, 
married Laura A. i'^arrington, and they liad six children, Carleton, Guy. 
Frank. Jay, Anna and Benjamin. Charles, wlio lives at .Vshley. Indiana, 
married Elizabeth Parnell. Mrs. Rempis' mother. Maria Jane Thomson, 
was Ijorn at Revenna. Portage county. Ohio. July 26. 1824. and in company 
willi her luisliand made the long rmd tiresome journev to DeKalh county in 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 893 

1847, the trip being made by team to Cleveland, thence l)y boat tu Toledo, 
canal boat to Fort Wayne, and team to DeKalb county. Her father was a 
member of the Christian church, was trustee of his township one term, and 
also justice of the peace and road supervisor. He was a farmer, hut also had 
learned the trades of butcher, carpenter, cabinetmaker, undertaker and 
shoemaker, following these several trades at times together with his vocation 
of farming. He assisted in building all of the early school houses, barns and 
bridges, and had exceptional talents in mechanical lines. He also made cheese 
for the market for fifteen years, having thirty to forty cows on the farm for 
this purpose, b'raternall}', in early years he was a member of the lndei)cndent 
Order of Odd Fellows. He was a staunch member of the Christian church 
and performed a great deal of charitable work which nc\er reached public at- 
tention, giving generously, also, to all worthy church and public enterprises. 
Because of his upright life, generous disposition and genial nature he was lie- 
loved by the entire community and enjoyed universal esteem. Mrs. Rempis' 
maternal grandfather, Richard McBride. was born Hecemljer 23. ijqj, at 
Carlisle, Cumberland county, I'ennsyhania, and came to HeKalb countv with 
his wife, Samanthe (Smith) McBride, whom he married on May 15, 1823, 
the location in this count\- being in 1850. Flere they bought a farm of forty- 
eight acres, of which be cleared about forty acres and put the same in good 
condition. In the war of 1812 he was a member of the Home Guards, and 
by the laws of the state became a voter at the age of twenty years for this 
service. In 1821 he moved to Rexenna, Ohio, and to Indiana in 1841). He 
was an active member of the Democratic jiarty until 1863, when the Demo- 
cratic Le.gislature refused to vote appropriations to feed and clothe the Indi- 
ana I'nion soldiers, and thereafter he allied himself with the Republican party. 
During the year 1863 he went to live with his daughter. Maria j. Thomson, 
because of physical disability, anfl remained in her home until his death which 
occurred on January 3. \i>J<). His wife had died in December. 1870, and 
they are both buried al Cedai- Lake. Smithlield lown-lii|). They were the 
parents of six children: Maria 1.. John. Da\ id, Luc\ . .Mary limma and 
Sterling, of which number Maria J. is the only sur\i\'or. .Mrs. McBride was 
a faithful and earnest member of the Christian church, and performed nnich 
effectual work for thai organization in early days in this locality. David 
McBride, son of Richard McBride, was a member of Com]3any 1, Fifty-fourth 
Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He died in the service ;md was buried 
at Mound City. His brother-in-law went to Mound City, had the grave 
opened and brought him back and buried him at Cedar Lake. Indiana. 



.B CO^•NT^■, INDIANA. 



OLIVER E. SHAFFER. 



I'lie gciuleuian whuse name initiates this sketch is nunihered among tljc 
successful find representative agricuhurists nf DeKalb county, iiis farm piop- 
erty l)ei.u,g located in Sniithfield townslii]). In all the relations of life he has 
e\ei' been I'uund faithful and true, performing his dut\- at all times untlinch- 
ingl\, and, while achaucing his dwn uUerests, he has also had the good of the 
entu-e counuuiiity at heart. • ., , . :, 

Oliver K. ..Shatfer was horn on .May ;,. 1X37, at Bethany, HarriMiU county, 
Ahssoiui, an<l is il,e m ,n of William .-md Rehecca ( l-rancis ) Shaffer. William 
Shaffer was horn on July Jo, iSjj, in Westmoreland countv, renns\ Ivauia, 
and was.a son of Siiiion ami .Margaret ( Kinnardj Shatfer. the father being 
of good old I'enusyhania Dutch stock and a wagon-maker by trade. His son, 
W'illiani. also learned that trade, and in young manhood accompanied his 
parents on their removal to (.)hio. On .\ugust 15, 1850, William Shaffer 
married Rebecca -\. h'rancis, who was born on Decemlier 27, 1833, in ^Ia,dison 
conntv. (.)hio. ami m JN33 the vouiig couple mo\ ed to Harrison county. Mis- 
souri. There they Ined until iSdo. when the_\- mo\ed to Lenterville, .Vlariou 
couutx, Iowa, where :\lr. Shaffer continued at his trade as a wagon-maker. 
(Ju Jaiiuar\ Jj. iN()4, he suffered the loss of his wife by ileath, leaving him 
wjth hve small children to care for. In .March, i8f)4, he brought his little 
familv to DeKalb county, where his parents were then residing about a hall 
mile south oi Sedan, and here he engaged in the operation of eight)' acres ot 
land lielongiiig to his mother in Richland township, in connection with which 
he also operated a threshing outht. h'or alniut two years prior to his death 
he was employed in a carriage factory at .\uburii, spending his last days with 
his son, Oliver, the subject of this sketch, in whose home his death occurred 
on Februarv 3, iXijo. On h'ebruary _'0. 1S74, he had married .Mary .\nn 
Rohm, to which union were born two children, namely: Xettie and John, 
both of whom are deceased, their mother d.\ing on .\ugust 20. 1870. P.y 
his first marriage he was the father of live children: Isaac X., deceased; 
()liver I-'.., the subject of this sketch; I'.mma R., ^Irs. Clara I. Delgard and 
Mrs. Ida Fehmlieck. 

The subject (5f this sketch was about three years old when his father 
moved to Iowa, and was about five or s'x years old when his mother died. 
In the March before he had attained his seventh birthday his father brought 
the family to DeKalb county, locating four miles west of Waterloo, and there 
the subject of this sketch grew to manhood, receiving his education in the 



DKKALB CorN-TY,, 1.\1>IAN,\. 895 

public , schools. After altainiii,^ his majoruy he spent about t\\i> years in 
farm work- lielweeu AuLurn and Waterloo, aiul after his inarnaye. in 1883. 
he farmed two years on the Hnsselman place. He then bi)n}.^ht the land 
where he now li\es comprising eighty acres in section 36, Smithfiekl town- 
ship, on which he has made many permanent and substantial improvements. 
incUiding a comfortable and attractive residence, a large, commodious and 
well arranged barn and. other conveniences characfteristic of a modern and 
up-to-date farm. He has devoted most of his attention tn Ins fanii, l)ut he 
has also during the past eight years gixen some attenticju to threshm.L; and 
previous to his marriage had been employed some at carpenter woid<. In e\ery 
efifort to which he has ajjplied himself he h;is e.xhihited good judgment and 
discriminating sagacity, so that be has been enabled to attain a definite success 
all along the line. 

On October ^, 1883, Mr. Shaffer married \ esta Husseiman. the daughter 
of George and b'rances ( Hachtel ) Husseinrm. the father a nati\<- 1 if'( )hio'and 
the mother born in Stark county, that state, and a sister of Henr\- Haeht-ek 
whose sketch appears elsewhere in this \olume. 'George Husseiman was a 
brother of Henry Husseiman and Samuel Husseiman. who also are repre- 
sented in this work. George Hus.se!man came to DeKalb cotuitx with his 
parents, with whom he lived until his marriage to Frances Bachtel. after 
which he made his home one and tme-half miles south of Waterloo, hax'ing 
lx)ught land there from the government in an early day, the .same being in 
the same condition it was when left by the Intlians. The local conveniences 
were more conspicuous by their al>sencc than otherwise, it being necessarx' 
to receive mail from Fort Wayne, and other accommodations were propor- 
tionately lacking. Mr. Husseiman entered one hundred and sixty acres of 
land, the most of which he cleared. He and his wife were faithful members 
of the Evangelical church, and were respected citizens of their community. 
Mrs. Shaffer is one of six children born to their ])arents, of whom three died 
in infancv, the others licing Mrs. Shaft'er, Gornelius, who lives on the old 
Husseiman f;n-in in ( irant township, and l.aiu-a. the wile of l-'red Kruger. oi 
Auburn. Mrs. Shaffer's father died in the fall of 1S73. and his widow after- 
ward became the wife .>f Levi Stoner and lived on tlie home farm luitil her 
death in the fall of n;o(,. Mr. Stoner <lied in mjio. Mrs. Shaffer was born 
and reared on the paternal homestead, two and one-half miles south of Waier- 
loo. where .she lived until her marriage. To Mr. and .Mrs. Shaff'er was born 
a son. Arthur, who died on August 21, 18S7. at the a.ge of two years and ten 
months. 



Xj/i DKK \I,B county, INDIANA. 

Mr. Shaffer is progressive and enterprising in his farming methods, rais- 
ing all the crops common to this section of the country, and also giving some 
attention to the raising of live stock. Practical and progressive in his 
methods and energetic and industrious in his habits, he has allowed nothing 
to swerve him from his chosen work and his labors have been rewarded with 
a due meed of success. Personally, he is a man of splendid qualities of char- 
acter and has earned the warm regard of all who know him and is deservedly 
pojiular amon.g his acquaintances. 



MILTON C. TONES. 



In examining the life records of self made men. it will invariably be 
found that indefatigable industry has constituted the basis of their success. 
True there are other elements which enter in and ccmserve the advancement of 
personal interests — perseverance, discrimination and mastering of expedients 
— but the foundation of all achievement is earnest, persistent labor. At the 
outset of his career Mr. Jones recognized this fact, and he did not seek any 
royal road to the goal of prosperity and independence, but began to work 
earnestly and diligently in order to advance himself, and the result is that he 
is now numljered among the progressive, successful and influential fanners 
of Franklin township, DeKalb county. Indiana, wliere he has a well improved 
landed estate. 

Milton C. Jones, one of the successful and enterprising farmers of Frank- 
lin township, DeKalb county. Indiana, is descended from sterling old New 
England Yankee ancestry, his parents, Samuel and Jerusha H. (Chamberlain) 
Jones, both being natives of Monkton. .Xddison county, Vermont, where the 
former was born in 1806 and tiie latter in 1812. Some time after their mar- 
riage they mo\'ed to Seneca cutmty. Ohio, Imt about a year later came to 
LaPorte county, Indiana, where thev lived for nearly five years. They then 
took up land in DeKalb county. Indiana, where they intended to build and 
make their future home. This land, which is now owned by the subject of 
this sketch, was then worth only about one dollar and a quarter an acre and 
Mr. Jones obtained eighty acres of land for a team and eighty dollars in 
money. He cleared nearly two hundred acres of this land and made of it an 
excellent farm, ^^'hen he first came to this locality the land was so densely 
covered with timber and undergrowth that at night time the settlers were 




MRS. AGNES C. JONES. 




MILTOX C. JOXES 



DF.KAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. 897 

compelled to carry lurches in ..i-.k-r i,. make rm\ lR-ail\\a\- llirouj^di the \v<)(k1s. 
Their tradin.o- was done at Tori Wayne, foldwaler. and Defiance. Ohio, the 
nearest nf wliicli was al least fifty miles from the settlement. The household 
comeniences were chielly noted for their absence, cooking being done in an 
old-fashioned fireplace, baking being performed by putting the bread under an 
iron kettle and then keeping live coals over the kettle. Nails were practically 
unknown here, boards being held together by wooden pins and other methods 
were ecpiallv primitive. SiK.n after the great gold rush t.. California in 1X41; 
Samuel Junes went t.. th;it lncalit\- as much on account of his health as in 
search of gold and remained there several years. 11ie snhject's mother died 
in 1884 and his father in iS,S,,. at which tinii' tlie lalter was the owner of 
two hundred and eigln\ ;uTes of spleii.lid land, most ..f wliich the s,ibiect of 
this sketch had bought and now owns. 

Id Samuel and Jeriish;! hmes were born the following children: Sarah 
-\.. jane and Hiram were honi in \'enuont. the two last nanu-d being now- 
deceased; Julia, born in Ohio; Julius. l;,,rn in fa Porte. Indiana, was a soldier 
in the Civil war and is now deceased; .Milton C.. the subject of this review; 
Sidney P., Henrw ll.arrietl. and William, deceased, tlie two last named being 
twins. The five \ounger children were born on the franklin township home- 
stead in this county. Sidney I'. Joins w;is a s ,l,lier in the l'i\il war. 

Milton C. Jones was born on December 2<\ 184J. in the old log lionse 
occu]iied b\ his p.arcnts in l-"r;mklin lownsliip ;ini| w.is i\'ared to the life of a 
farmer, a \dcation which lie has alwa\s foil iwed .and in which hr lias met 
with eminent succe-s. He attended school in Hamilt(Jii, Steuben eoiint\. Indi- 
ana, but on the outbreak of the Ci\-il \\;ir his patriotism was .aroused and in 
the fall of i8();, hv gave practical e\ ideiice of his loyalt\ by enlisting ;is a 
private in CiMupany B, Twelfth Regiment Indiana N'olunteer ( avalrw in which 
he served two years and two days, acting as sergeant until the end of the war. 
He saw some most arduous service and endured all the hardships and i)rivations 
incident to the campaigns in wbicb he took part and was in the battles of Xash- 
\ ille. ^blbile. Mur freesboro .and other of the more hotl\ contested engage- 
ments of that great struggle In one battle he was severely wounded, ]'>e'mg 
struck b\ a sabre and. falling from his horse, broke his arm and dislocated his 
shoulder. Because of his faithful and courageous ser\ice on the field of battle 
he was commissioned to the rank of second lieutenant on being mustered out. 
.\fter receiving an honorable discharge from the service, he returned to the 
home farm and lived bere eontimiouslx since. He has made mam sub- 

(57) 



iSga DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 

stantial and permanent inipro\ements on the place and tlie splendid residence, 
large and commodious barn, well kept fences and other important features 
of an up-to-date farm indicate him to be a man of good judgment, sound dis- 
crimination and common sense in the conduct of his farm. 

On July 4. 1892. Mr. Junes was married at 1^'ort Wayne, Indiana, to 
Agnes Cecilia Baxter, who was born in W'ayno countw Ohio, on July 1 i. i84,v 
the daughter of .Moses Baxter and the sister of John Baxter, whose sketch 
appears elsewhere in this work. Mrs. Jones was one of the most successful 
and best known teachers of DeKalh county, having taught probably from 
twenty-five to thirty years in DeKalh and Steuben counties. She had studied 
elocution in Indianapolis and has taui^lu that science. .\'(^ children ha\e lieen 
born to Mr. and Mrs. Jones. 

Politically-, Mr. Jones has been a life-long supporter of the Republican 
party, in the success of wbicli he has been interested and to which he has con- 
tributed his quota. Fraternall\ , he was for many years a member nf the 
Independent Order of Odd b'ellow s and the ( Irand .\rniy of the Republic at 
Hamilton. He .served as as.sessor of l'"ranklin township for twenty-two years 
and was also county recorder for four }ears, in both positions giving eminently 
satisfactorv administrations ami winning the commendation of his fellow 
citizens. On his home farm Mr. J.mes has carried on his operations in a man- 
ner that has insured him financial success. In addition to the raising of ordi- 
nary crops he has gi\en some attention to threshing and to live-stock raising. 
in which he has been very successful. Mr. Jones is a wide-awake, enterprising 
man of the times, fully alive to the dignities and res]5onsibilities of citizenship 
and, to the extent of his ability, contributes to the material prosperity of the 
coinmunity and to the social, intellectual and moral advancement of his fellow 
citizens. Courteous, afifable and easily approached, he commands the res|)ect 
of all with whom he comes in contact and hi< friends are in number as his 
acquaintances. 



WASHINGTON BF.TZ. 



In writing the history of this county and taking note of the many men 
who have been prominent in its public affairs or in its business interests it is 
necessary that we mention Washington Betz. who died May 30. 1913. for he 
was long identified with agricultural pursuits and moreover was a man of 
such sterling wortli that be aided in promuting the prosjierity of the county. 



nKKAI.Ii COUNTY, INDIANA. <Syg 

He was born on May 23, 1847, '" Columbiana county. Obio, and is a son of 
Henry and Catherine (Stull) Betz. The father, who was bom in Bedford, 
Pennsylvania, was a farmer by vocation, coming- to Ohio in 1812. He located 
in Columbiana county, wliere he followed farming pursuits, remaining there 
until his death, which occurred on October 2, 1887. Tn young manhood he 
gave some attention to pedagogical work and was a successful school teaclier. 
A Democrat in his political faitli and a Lutheran in his religious belief, he 
was a man of honest convictions and in Ihe comnninit\ where he lived was 
held in the highest :uul best regard liecause of his upright life and useful in- 
fluence. To him and his wife were born eleven children, as follows: I^evi, 
deceased: Maria, wlio is now eighty-two years of age, is still living in Ohio: 
William, who is a retired farmer, lives at East Rochester, Ohio; John is de- 
ceased; George died in 1902; Margaret, who lives at Mapleton, Ohio, at an 
advanced age, is a widow ; Henry died in IQ06: Jefferson, who li\es on a farm 
with his children at Hamilton, Indiana, is a widower, his wife haxing diet! in 
igio, after which he sold his property: Elizabeth died in lyog; Alvin. who. 
though sixty-nine years of ;i.ge. is -^till actively engaged in farming, li\es near 
East Rochester. Ohio: the subject nf this sketch was the youngest of these 
children. 

W'asiiingtoii Betz was reared 011 the lionie farm and follnwed a.gricul- 
tural work all his life. He mo\ed to tiie i)resent homestead in Smithfield 
township, DeKalb count}-, in 1877. his first purchase here comprising seventy 
acres, to which he added forty-five acres comprising the old Schififli farm, and 
later bought twenty-five acres of Lew Collins and in the spring of 1910, 
bought forty acres more of the Parnell heirs, thus making a total of one hun- 
dred and eighty acres of land. He made many permanent and substantial 
improvements on this land, among the first being the remo\-al of the buildings 
close to the road. He cleared the land, which was most of it in its original 
state of wildness and made of it a \-ery productive and \-aluable estate. He 
lived on the farm which he tlni^ ini])r(ive(l for tbirty-six years, or up to the 
time of his death, which occurred on Ahi\ 30. igi.v The day before bis 
death he deeded forty acres of his land to his son. Clyde, leaving an estate of 
one hundred and forty acres. Mr. Betz was progressive and enter])rising in 
his methods, keeping up with the n-iost advanced ideas relating to agriculture, 
and for manv years his farm was considered one of the most valuable in this 
'iection of the county. 

On .April 13. 1869, Mr. Betz married Mary Musser. daughter of John 
;md Sarah Ann (Hammer) Mus-er. Mr. Musser wa'^ a native of .Stark 



<;00 DEKAl.R COVKTX. INDIANA. 

county. Oiiio. and cuiiic 1m l-ranklm tMwii-^lii]!. DcKall' coum\-. Indiana, in 
1851, the journey being made liy wagon, together with thirteen other faniihes. 
They settled first on a farm of forty acres in Frankhn township, where they 
remained until )S6o. when, selling that farm, they moved in the spring of the 
following year to another farm of eighty-ti\e acre- in tlie "^ame towiT^hiii. 
which Mr. .Miis-er liought later. During iSOo he l)ou-ht fort\- acre^ of gov- 
ernment lan<l, for which he ]]:u(l the regulation ]irice of one dollar and a 
ijuarter jier acre, to wliich he later .added nine acres. He then bought seventy 
acres, subsc(|ueiuly eighty more and -tdl later another eighty. The fort\- 
acres which lie 1 'ought from the goxerument ht- bad -old prior to this time and 
the other purcha-e.s mentioned al)o\e were made during the years i8fii and 
1869. In iSi):; .Mr. Alusser mo\ ed to llamiltou. Indi.ana. where he built a 
large and handsome residence and in iStjg he married his second wife, whose 
maiden name was .Mice Harger. His death occurred on Ai^il _' 1 . ic)oo. His 
W'ife was a nati\'e of Stark countw Ohio, and was but nine mmtbs old when 
she was brought to Franklin township, DeKalb cotmty. where her death oc- 
curred at Hamilton in 1X04. To them were born li\e iluldren: Mary 
(Mrs. Betz) : F.manuel, deceased; William, .\manda and lulwin. .\n uncle 
of Mrs. Betz, .Samuel Musser, enlisted during the war of iS(h for three 
months' .service at Taylor's C'oruers, Indiana, and at tlie end of hi-^ first ])eriod 
he re-enlisted for tliree year-, dying a -hc)rt time afterward in an army hos- 
pital in Tennessee. To ]\Ir. and Mrs. I'.etz were liorn ten children, as follows: 
.\iuia is the wife of William Kline, a farmer fixing about one ami one-half 
miles from l-airfield L'enter, .and the\ have one child. Fester; Fugene died 
at the age of twenty-nine years, his death being the result of an accident in 
the Great We.stern Railroad yards in Chicago: Bertha is the wife of Chester 
Barker, a farmer near Springport, Jackson county, Michigan, and they ha\e 
one child, Clyde: .Mice is the wife of I-lzra Brand, a farmer near b^airfield 
Center, and they have fi\'e children : Frank, deceased. Ethel. John. How ard 
and George; Ida. who is unmarried, remains at home with her mother, as 
does Mary: George, after attending the common schools of Franklin town- 
ship, was graduated in the Ash>ley high school in 1902, and then took the 
teachers' course in the ,\ngola Normal School, where he graduated in 1903. 
The following \ ear he took special teacher's work in the State Xormal School 
.at Terre Haute, and in K/y; went we-t on an extended \;ication. He re- 
turned to the Terre Haute X'ormal in kjoj. and on the _'nd day of July of the 
latter year he was married to Lurah Armstrong. On July 2. t907, he left 
for the Philippine islands, where he taught school for the government. He 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 9OI 

remained there four years aiul after a \isil lioiiie in July. i()ii, returned l>> 
his work, where he is employed a^ sujjei intendent nf the sclioul- ui Tarlaek 
province, in the I'iiih|)])ine^. iii> wife, w lio alxi is w eU eihicated. teaches 
with him; Blanciie. whd is unmarried and remains at humc with lier nrnther. 
i.s a successful school teacher at .\shle_\-: John. wIki i> a successful farmer 
at Spring-port, Michigan, married Lena Kuckuck. and thc\ ha\e one child, 
Howard; Clyde, who lives on the homeste;ul farm, married l'"ay 'Teeters (in 
June 3. 1913, the dau<ihter of Orpheus and A. la I., i ( Jshorn ) Teeteis, living' 
at Angola, Indian.a. llyde was educated ui the common ' schools and In-li 
school at Ashlex. and then took teacher's traiiuni; ;it Winona L.ake. Indiana. 
in 1910. He taught three years m three different schools m Snuthlield town- 
ship and in the s]>rini^ of 1013 he took up farniin_u on the old home place. 

Politically, Mr. lietz was ;, Hfclon.o- Democrat and. t!ion-h takni- an 
acti\e interest in the success of his part\ . he ne\er aspired to political offices 
of any nature. I lis religious faith was m h,'nnon\' with the creed of the 
Methodist Episcoi)al church, of which he was a faithful memher and to the 
support of which he contrihuted of his means. His husiness career was not 
only a successful one. hut an hc.norahle one as well, and the most envious 
could not grudge him his success, for it was gained hy the uKjst straightfor- 
ward methods. Hard work and good management pro\ed the hasis of liis 
prosperity and made him ;i man of affluence- lie leaxes behind liim a mem- 
ory worthy U> he cheri-hcd and re\ered and his name shoifld he enrolled 
among the representatixe men who have keen \ alued citizens of the county. 
Domestic in his tastes, his greatest pleasure was in the fannly circle, while 
among his fellows his comp:imon;il)le and genial nature commendetl him to 
their attention and he was well liked througliout the commnnit) where he had 
resided for so man_\- \ears. and where he had e\er exeiled his intlnence for 
the welfare of his fellow men. 



\nF\ 1). IIRI'XSO.V, 



One of the substantial and thrifty citizens of the x'icinity of St. |oe, 
DeKalb county. Indiana, is Aden D. k.rnnson. He has iiersev ered in the pur- 
suit of a persistent purpose and gained a satisfactory reward. His life is 
exemjilary in manv respects, and he has ever supported those interests which 
have for their object the welfare of the community and the benefit of his 
neighbors and friends. 



g02 DEKAI.B COINTY, INDIANA. 

Aden D. Brunson was bom in .Mien county, Indiana, on September 0, 
1850, and is a son of Nathan and Hannah (Hollada)-) Brunson, the former 
a native of New York state and the latter of Vermont. Nathan Brunson left 
his native state in 1836 for Indiana, his journey being by the way (.)f the 
Ohio river to Cincinnati and then to Dearborn county, from which locality 
he came overland by ox team to T^ort Wayne. He was a resident of Allen 
county until 1881 when he came to DeKallt count\ , where he afterwartls re- 
sided. He follow;ed farming during all his acti\e \ears with a fair degree 
of success and when he and his wife passed to the higher life they left behind 
them the record of well spent li\'es and an influence for good in the com- 
munity. They were the parents of ten chiklren, Allen. Jane, Thomas, Reulsen, 
.\<len, Ella, Vincent C. Cassie, Sidney and Susan. 

Aden Brunson attended first tiie common schools of Allen count)-, sup- 
plementing this training by attendance at the Methodist College at Fort 
Wayne. He then was a student in the Bryant & Stratton Business College at 
Buffalo, New 'S'ork, after which he learned the business of telegraph}-, in 
which he was emploxed at FJuffalo for a time : then for twenty-years he 
was on the road as a traveling salesman fur Chicago houses, after which he 
went to Springfield, lllinnis. niu\ mg fmrn there to Fort \\'a}-ne. and thence 
to Newville, DeKalb county, eventually locating on the splendid farm of 
eighty-five acres in ^\'ilmington and Concord townships, where he now resides. 
To the cultivation of this tract of land Mr. Brunson has given intelligent 
direction and his efforts have been rewarded with a degree of success com- 
mensurate therewith. He combines farming and stock raising, believing that 
in this wa\- can the farmer secure the best results from his land, and in all 
his efforts he has l)een guided l)y sound laisiness principles which, combined 
with bis indefatigable efforts and thriflv habits, have n-iade 1iini fairly inde- 
penelent in tlie way of material wealth. 

Aden I). Brunson was married en September :;o, iSjh. lo .Mice V. 
Michaels, the daughter of Oliver P. and Mary A. ( Stew-ard) .Michaels. Mr. 
Michaels, wlm was a native of Maryland, moved from that state to Ohio, 
where he followed the carpenter business during all his active years. He is 
now decea.sed. He was a nephew of Thomas Jeft'erson, being the son of 
Deborah Jeffer.son, sister of the President. His wife, who is also deceased, 
was born in \Mrginia. To Mr. and Mrs. Michaels were born ten children, 
namely: Jane, William, Nathaniel, Ellen, Addison,- Fannie, all of whom are 
deceased; Mrs. Brunson. Melissa. Warren and Lucretia, the last named also 
being deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Brunson have been born four children. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 9O3 

namely: Ada, the wife of C. C. Bassett, of St. Joe: Ross, an engineer on 
the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad; Sterling, a farmer in Wilmington township, 
this county, and Thomas, who remains at home with his parents. 

Politically, Mr. Brunson has been a life-long Republican and is the 
present assessor of his township, performing the duties of this office to the 
entire satisfaction of his fellow citizens. He has ever taken more than a 
passing interest in the things that have had for their object the material im- 
provement of his community and county, and because of his business suc- 
cess and his genuine personal worth he enjo\s the fullest measure of con- 
fidence and wiod will on the part of his fellow citizens. 



DOUGL.NS KELLKY. 



A review of the life of the honored subject of this memoir must of 
necessity be brief and general in its character. To enter fully into the inter- 
esting details of the career of the late Douglas Kelley, touching the struggles 
of his early manhood and the successes of his later years, would far transcend 
the limits of this article. He filled' a large place in the ranks of the active, 
energetic and public-spirited citizens of his day and generation, and the 
memories which attach to his name and character form no inconsiderable 
chapter in the history of his nati\e count\\ where he did his work and 
achieved his success. 

Douglas Kellc}- was born in section 33, .Sniithbeld towushi]), Dt-Kalb 
county, Indiana, on Xo\emi)er u. i8f)j, and his untimely death occurred on 
June 24, 1899, at the early age of thirty-six years, his death being caused In 
being struck by a limb dislodged b\- a falling tree, his death ensuing in a few- 
hours after the accident. -Douglas Kelley was the son of James D. and Aniy 
Kelley. James D. Kellev was an earl\- settler in Sniithfield town-iiip. ha\ ing" 
come here on horseback from I'indlay. Ohio, in an early day. Tie and his 
brother, l'"reeman Kelley, had walked to California, where they engaged in 
gold mining, with the proceeds of which they were enalded to buy farms in 
the southeast part of Smithfield township. He and his brother had married 
sisters at Findlay and brouglu their wi\es to thi'- coiiiUy on horseback. 
Douglas Kelley was reared on his father's farm and received his education in 
the common schools and in the high ■school at \\'aterloo. \t the age of 
nineteen vears he was, because of the death of his father, compelled to take 



W04 DEKAI.B COrNTV, IN |)| AXA. 

upon himself the support of his widowed mother and three sisters, and 
faithfully and courageously did lie fulfill his trust. His mother was horn in 
Hancock county, Ohio, her marriage to Mr. Kellev occurring in iS^^. Her 
husband died on January 15, 1862, and from that time on she devoted her 
efiforts to the rearing of her large family, all of whcjm she saw grow to 
honorable and respected manhood and womanhciod. She sur\ived her hus- 
band many years, her death occurring on August 2^. 1900. 

On March 13. 189J, Douglas Kelley was married to l-al;ella Walker, 
the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eli Walker, and to this union were Ijorn three 
children, namely: Marvin, who died at the age of seven months: Walker [., 
who was born in uSy^. and who now lixes with his mother, and .\m\ M.. 
who was born on September _', 1897. and died on Xcjvember 2. 1900. at the 
age of three years. Douglas Kelley spent ])ractically hi> entire life on the 
old family homestead east of Waterloo and was numbered among the earnest, 
l)rogressive, indu.strious and successful agriculturists of his communitv. He 
was a man of vigorous physique and actixe in his methods and because of 
his public spirit and progressive attitude in all matters affecting the com- 
inunity. he had won and retained to a marked degree the confidence and 
respect of all who knew him, and his death was considered a distinct loss to 
the community which had been honored by his citizenship. 



CHRISTIAN CURIE. 



The subject of this sketch has seen more than the alloted number of 
years, and ha'^ (hiring the mo-^l part of that time engaged in active \\i)rk 
on his farm, which ha> well repaid him and ha^ been to him the source of 
nnich pleasure. He has always found nuich iilea-^urt- in farming and the 
cultivation of crops and caring for stock, and has found that they are as 
iirofitable in a monetary way £^s any occupation could well he exjiected to be. 
In his life he has also gained for himself many friends, who ha\e been at- 
tracted by his worth and capabilities. 

Christian Curie, who is ntimbered among the leading farmers of Spencer 
township, DeKalb county, Indiana, was born in the state of Ohio, on Novem- 
ber 9. 1842. and is the son of Nicholas and Barbara ( Klopfenstein) Curie, 
both of whom were natives of France. Nicholas Curie made the overland 
trip from Syracuse. Neve York, to \\'ayne county, Ohio, of which he was one 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA, ()0^ 

of the pioneer settlers, ami there the family met with iiiistortiine hv the dealh 
of the mother of typhoid fever, tour of the siijjject's aunts ulsn dyin.y of the 
same diseiase at that time and all within twenty days. At that time there 
were no cemeteries in that part >>i the country and the bcxlies were all in- 
terred on a part of a farm which was set apart for that purpose. There was 
no doctor in that cnunty then, and no lumber tn make coffins with, so the\- split 
out plank and fastened llieni toi^ether with wonden pins. Only one man had 
any tools, he Vn'\u'j; ahiut fifteen miles awa\ , s.. the\ look the split plank to 
his place and there made the coffin. To Nicholas and ISarhara Curie were 
born the foli(.)wins; children: Airs. Ilarliara CVupt, deceased: Xicholas. who 
lives in Ohio: Peter and Jacob, deceased: Christian, the immediate subiect of 
this sketch : John, deceased : Mrs. l.ida Worth, decensed, and Joseph, who lives 
in Ohio. 

The subject of this sketch receixed his education m the common .-schools, 
and in iSf>3 came to the Ifoosier state, with which he has been identihed con- 
tinuousl}- sime. b'or sexeral years he was enga^^ed in teaching school in 
.Allen county and then moved on to the fine farm of (.me hundred acres in 
Spencer township, DeKulb county, which he now occupies. On this farm was 
located the first school estalilished in DeKalb county, the teacher of which 
was Rev. '.Mton, who was paid liy the patrt)ns of the >;chooI helping him to cut 
the timber and clear a i)art of his land. Mr. Ctu'ie's farm is well improscd in 
every way and the soil is maintained at the highest point of fertilit\' due to 
the careful management of Air. Curie, who rotates the crops properly and 
otherwise conserves the origiu'd resources of the land as far as possible, lie 
raises a general line of crops ;uid also gives attention to stock raising, in both 
of which lines he lia.s met with most ])ronounce(l success. He is now num- 
bered among the sid)stantial men of hi- comminn'ty. 

Christian Cm-ie \\as married ou Alarcb ji;, iSfn, to Katherine Ro\ er, 
the daughter of ( iabriel ar.d \nme (Conrad) Roxer, natives ni Peimsvl- 
vania. To tins union were l)orn the followmg children: William, of St. 
Joe: Mrs. l.auni Whaley, who lixes in Kansas: Airs. .Vmand.a Klopfenstein, 
of Grahill, .Mien county, lndi;nia: Airs. Emma Skillin.g. of ii.altunore, Alary- 
land: Mrs. Orline Koch, of St. Joe: Alorris, of St. Joe. who was a member 
of Company K. One Hundred and Fifty-se\enth Regiment Indiana National 
Guard: Frank, of St. Joe: Mrs. Maude Beanns of Spencerville, this count\' : 
Mrs. .\nnie Henderson, who lives in Michigan: Grover. who lives in St. Joe 
and who, for four years, was in the United States navy, being assigned to the 
battle ship "Iowa." where he accpiired a reputation as the best marksman. 



'>0(i DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. 

having secured first prize fur first enlistment men. He handled heavy 
ordnance, including twelve-inch guns. 

Politically, Mr. Curie is a stanch Democrat and in his church relations 
is a member of the Brethren church. He is a man of fine personal qualities, 
.genial disposition and enjoys the confidence of all who know him. 



NICHOLAS DIETZEN. 



-Among the leading farmers and stock raisers of Smithfield township is 
the gentleman whose name appears above. He also holds worthy prestige 
as a citizen and is a creditable representative of that large and eminently 
respectable class of people who by deeds rather than words give stability to 
the body politic and by their influence honor the communities in which they 
reside. 

Nicholas Dietzen, whose fine farm in Smithfield t.'wnship reflects credit 
upon its owner, was liorn on September 2S. 1863, in Lorain count}-. Ohio, 
and is the -^on of Xichcila'^, .Sr.. and ^fary ( Rehr) Dietzen, both of v\hom were 
foreign-born, the father a native of Prussia and the mother l>orn in Dutch 
Bremen, Ciermany. The subject's father was about twenty-three years of age 
when he emigrated to the L'nited States, prioi- tn which time he had been for 
three years a soldier in the derman armv. After his arrival in .\merica he 
located at Cleveland, where he remained until bis marriage tn Mary Behr, 
who had come to this country with her parents some time before, .\fter 
their marriage they moved to Lorain county, Ohio, where their son. the sub- 
ject of this sketch, was born, and when the latter was about six months rM 
they moved to Henry county, Ohio, locating about ten miles south of 
Napoleon, where they remained until the father's death, which occurred about 
1S07. On the Henrv county farm the subject of this sketch was reared to 
nianhdod and received his etlucation in the public schools of that district. 
l'>om the age of twenty-Cme vears he rented hi-' father's place, to the cultiva- 
tion of which he devoted his atten.tion, and after his father's death he bought 
out the interests of the other heirs in tlie home farm, thus liecoming the owner 
of liftv acres of land. Tn I'ebruary. iijo,^, be sold that ])lace and, coming to 
DeKalb county. Indiana, bought one hundred and fifteen and three-quarters 
acres on the line between Franklin and Smithfield townships, to the cultiva- 
tion of which he has devoted his attention continuously since with the most 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. i.)OJ 

pronounced results. He has made many permanent and sulislantial iini)r()\e- 
ments on this farm, including the erection of a substantial hank barn and a 
neat and attractive residence, and in other ways has developed the farm ac- 
cording to up-to-date methods and ideas. He is an industrious, energetic 
and progressive farmer, gi\ing his attention to general agriculture rather 
than to any special line and, by dint of persevering industry and indomitable 
energy, he has accomplished very definite results, his farm being today num- 
bered among the best in the northern part of the county. 

On October 7, 1894, Mr. Dietzen was married to Selina Schortgen, who 
was born in Lu.xemberg, Germany, on July 10, 1871. and who in 1886. at the 
age of fifteen years, came to the United States with her mother, Margaret 
.Schortgen, the father, Charles Schortgen. having come t<i this countrv about 
two months before. His death occurred in Henry county, Ohio, in 1895, and 
his widow now makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Deitzen. To the latter 
have been born four children, Leo, Mildred, Irene and Helen, the latter hav- 
ing lost her life by an explosion of kerosene oil in August, 191 3. 

Religiously, Mr. Dietzen and the memliers of his family belong to St. 
Michael's Catholic church, one of the strongest organizations of this denom- 
ination in the county, and they take a commendable interest in the prosperity 
of the mother church. In e\ei\- respect they are desiralile citizens and Imve 
(•\er gi\en their suppnrt to e\ery enterprise looking to the ad\ancement of the 
best interests of the comniunit\-, and because of their sterling <|ualities of 
character, their close attention to their home affairs and their personal (|ual- 
ities, they enjoy a large ac(|uaintance and many warm friendshi])s in their 
comniunit\-. 



SIMOX KOHM. JR. 

In the death of the honored subject of this memoir, on May 30. ) 880, 
at his home in Smithfield township, there jjassed away another member of 
that group of distinctively representative agriculturists who were the lead- 
its in farming circle^ in DcKalh connl\-. He was born on Decetuber 3. 1825, 
in Khineburg. Rout/ Witer. ('.erm;iny. ;ind was the s,,n of Simon Rohm. Sr., 
who was born on .September 27. 1785, and died on .\pril 3. 1837. Simon 
Rohm, Sr.. was a soldier for nine years in the Xapoleonic wars, and was 
married in the old country to Mary Ann Miller, who was born on January 
13, 1800. and who died on September 25, 1853. aged fifty-five years and 
eight months. Simon Rohm, Sr., was considered well-to-do in his native 



yoS DKKAI.r, COrXTV. i.xdiaxa. 

land, owning fifteen acres of land and two cows, liut he sold all he had and 
brought his wife and children, l'>ed. hdizaheth. Simon. \'alentine and Caro- 
line, to America, their other children having died in Germany. Althougli 
considered well-to-do. he ^jjent all he had in making the trip to America and 
was five dollars in deht (jn his arrixal here. They were fifty-seven days on the 
ocean, the trip Ijeing made in the old slow -going sailing \-essels. In 1X33 
the family located in Holmes county Ohio, where were born other children, 
William B.. Henry C. Joseph E. and Christian. In 1845 t'^^ family moved 
to western Indiana, where the father had leased land for nine years. Simon, 
the subject of this sketch, being the largest and most robust son at home, and 

hi- father being t' Id to farm alone, the son refused to stay and farm the 

place because of the worthless character of the soil, conse(|ucntl\- they packed 
u]) tlieir effects and came to DeKalb count\ , locating on a farm two and one- 
half miles southwest of Waterloo, known as the Joseph Stahl place. Thev 
there established a permanent liome and there the parents spent their remain- 
ing da\s. Of their children. iM'e<l married Susannah Easterly in Holmes 
count}'. ( )hio, nioxed to Knox county, that state, in 1S43. and in 1X47 to 
DeKalb couut\-, h\ing about two miles west of Waterloo until his death; 
Elizabeth became the wife of lialtzer Stahl. iuo\L-d to DeKalb county in 
1857, and li\'ed three miles sijuthwest of Waterloo until her death: Valentine 
lived in DeKalb county from 1S45 until his death, on .\ugust ly. k^o;. at 
the age of seventy-seven years: Caroline became the wife of Dr. J. W. 
Lyttle. and lived cpiite a while at Sedan, later at .\u1)urn. where the Doctor 
liatl a large ])rartice. In iSfij the\- moved to Knowille, Iowa, where she now 
resides: William F!. wa-^ a wagon-maker, but now operates a fariu west of 
Waterloo. He first married Lucinda Alorr. and for his second wife, Phoebe 
Townley: Henrv C. married Mary .\. Lutz. and fanued two miles west of 
Waterloo until adxauced in \ears. when he luoxed to \\'aterloo and resided 
there until his death, which occurred on b>bruary 2-. iqo8: Joseph E.. who 
came to Indiana with lus ijyreiits. married Alar\ Ann Dunn in iXrq, and 
farmed in Smithfield township uiuil his death, which occurred on May 11, 
ic;oj: Christian Rohm married Susan Miser for his first wife, and afterward 
married Mrs. .\nna Marv Camjtbell. He lives at Auburn. 

Simon Rohm. Jr., was married on July 16. 1849. to Mary Har.sh. a 
native of Carroll countw Ohio, where she wa.- born on Se]iteml;er jjc, 1830. 
the daughter of Solomon and Rachel ( Seibert ) Harsli. Her ])arents were 
born in Pennsylvania, subsequently moving to Stark county, Ohio, thence to 
Carroll countw where thev lived during the remainder of their li\'es. Mrs. 



XT'^', INDIANA. 



909 



\<n\uu Ined iIktv tiuti! e:,t4lUt\-ii viars (if ago. llien i,a;iR' wiili her sister. 
Keliecca, the wife cf jacol) Ilildt, 1m DeKalb county, lixing wiili ilicm until 
lier marriage {<> .Mr, Kolini. At the liuie of their marriage .Mr. and .Mrs. 
RohvA possessed nothing e\ce])t good lieaUh and a .good a.\e wludi .Mr. Uohni 
knew well how to use. He hrst rented a place in .Snnthlield township and 
also worked tor others untd he got a -tart, and then three \ears alter mar- 
riage he bought eighty acres of land, largeh (.)n credit, but CMUtinued work 
for others by the day, clearing his land at night by moonlight and did not 
nio\e <jn it until he had it paid for. By rigid econom\- he and bis wife sa\ed 
their money and made it a practice not to count their savings until a pay- 
ment on their land was due. when to their gratification they found the\- had 
about a dollar more than was needed. Mr. Rohm li\ed on that farm until 
1879, ^Irs. Rohm giving him material assistance in the clearing uf the land 
and in the work in the fields, and at night she spun and wo\e and made 
clothes for the family, cooking by the pioneer fireplace, and in other ways 
materially assisting him. In 1879 Mr. Rohm traded for the old John Hussel- 
inan place in the southwestern part uf ( irant township, wbeie be spent the 
rest of his life and where twd of liis children still reside. He was a good 
manager and traded farm<, in winch way be made money, at the time of bis 
death owning over two hundred acres of land, all of \\bicb was well im- 
proved. His death occurred on May 30, iSSo. and be wa^ considered at that 
time one of the best citizens of his C(immunit\. Ili^ widow still li\es on the 
home farm and enjoys the respect of all who know her. Tn them were 
born thirteen children. fi\e of whom ilied in childhood, while the rest are 
still lixing. as follows: John is a resident of Franklin township: Lydia is the 
wife of John Hamman, who i- rejiresented elsew liere in this work; Henry 
is in Oregon; .Mar\- is the wife uf llenr\ Hamman. and li\es in i'lrancb 
county, Michigan: .\mos li\es ;it home with bis mother; Lucinda is the wife 
of Francis nuesjer, and lives east of Waterloo: Simon R. lives on a fann 
across the road from bis mother m (irrmt township and Fzra li\es northeast 
of his mother on the adjoining farm. Mr. and .Mrs. Kobm are entitled not 
(mly to credit for the material success which the\ .attained, but for rearing 
to honorable manhood and womanhood these children, who ba\e occupied 
respected places in their various communities and who are each achieving 
definite success in life. Mr. Rohm was a man of stern character, but was 
always ready to lend his assistance to any movement for the upbuilding of his 
community, giving his support to e\ery moral question. He early had the 
sagacity and prescience to discern the eminence which the future had in store 



9IO DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

for this great and growing section of tlie common wealth and, acting in ac- 
cordance witli tiie dictates of faith and judgment, he reaped in the fuUness 
of time the generous benefits which are the just recompense of indomitable in- 
dustry, spotless integrity and sound enterprise. 



DAVID .\. HAMMAN. 



Among the strong and influential citizens of DeKalb county the records 
of whose lives ha.ve become an essential part of the history of this section, 
the gentleman whose name appears above occupies a prominent place and for 
years he has exerted a beneficial influence in the locality where he resides. 
His chief characteristics are keenness <if jierception, a tireless energy, hon- 
esty of purjiose and motive, and every-day common sense, which have enabled 
him not only to advance his own interests, but also contribute to the moral 
and niak-ria! achancement of the coinnnniitw 

l)a\i(l A. Haninian, who>(.- conifovtabk' residence and well improved 
farm lies in the southeast c|uarter of section 23, Smithfield township, was 
born in this township on January 14. 1877, and the son of Daniel Hamman. 
who is represented .specifically elsewhere in this work, hence further refer- 
ence to the subject's ancestry will not be made at this point. Mr. Hamman 
was reared under the parental roof and secured a t^ood practical education in 
tlu- common schools of the localitv. Me remained at home until his marriage 
in iS<)(), when he engaged in farming on his own account at the place where 
he now li\es. which comprises eighty acres of splendid land. He also 
bought a twenty-acre tract adjoining on the east in 1904, and to this splen- 
did farm he has given his undivided attention, his efforts being rewarded 
with splendid harvests from year to year. He does not specialize in any par- 
ticular line of agriculture, but raises all the crops common to this locality and 
to some extent handles live stock, while in everything that pertains to the 
science to which he gives his efforts he has achieved a record as a man of 
good judgment, wise discretion and energetic methods. Mr. Hamman keeps 
closely in touch with twentieth-century ideas relative to agriculture and is not 
slow to adopt new methods when their |)racticability has been demonstrated. 

In iSgq Mr. Hamman was married to Suranda Walker, the daughter of 
Mr. and Mrs. FJi Walker, who also are represented elsewhere in this work. 
Mrs. Hamman was born and reared in Smithfield townshi]-) and is a ladx- of 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 9II 

many fine qualities of head and heart. To them have been born two chil- 
dren, Lester and Mabel. 

Fraternally. Mr. Hamman is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and, 
with his wife, he also belongs to the Pythian Sisters. Mrs. Hamman being 
also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. 

Mr. Hamman is a man of versatile talent, being not only a successful 
agriculturist in all its phases, but is also an expert carpenter, builder and 
house mover, in which he is busily engaged, really having more work offered 
him than he can attend to. In all that the word implies, he is progressive and 
is numbered among the wide-awake, active and influential citizens of his com- 
munity, his support being unreservedly given to every movement looking for 
the betterment of the people educationally, morally or materially, and in conse- 
quence of his large-hearted attitude toward civic and public affairs he enjoys 
the high regard of the entire comnnmity. 



CLARKNCP: .\. BOWMA.X. 

One of the progressive and representali\e farmers (if .Smithtield town- 
ship. DeKalb county, Indiana, is the gentleman whose name appears at the 
head of this re\-iew. His has been an eminently acli\e and useful life, but 
the limited space at the disposal of the biographer forbids more than a casual 
mention of the leading events in his career, which, in our opinion, will suffice 
to show what earnest and intelligent endeavor and honesty of purpose rightlx- 
applied and ])ersistently followed will lead to — unqualified success. 

Clarence A. Bowman was born in Cass county, Michigan, on October 
28. 1881, and is the .son of Archie and Alice (Kelley) Bowman, who are 
specifically represented elsewhere in this work. He grew up on his father's 
farm, securing a good, practical education, which he afterwards supple- 
mented bv a two years' course in an agricultural college in Lansing, Michigan, 
graduating with the class of igoi. .\t the age of twenty-one years he began 
fanning on his own account on a s])lendi(l tract of land in section t,^. Smith- 
field township, DeKalb county. Indiana, which had been bought in early 
days by his maternal grandfather. Cyrus liowman, and to the cultivation and 
improvement of this land he has continuously devoted his time and attention 
since. Mr. Bowman is an enthusiastic, ni)-to-date farmer, taking a dee|) 
interest in whatever pertains to progress in his chosen calling, not hesitating 



912 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

to adopt new methods where he sees their advantage over old ones. To this 
end he has taken short courses in scientific farming at Purdue and also at 
.A.uburn, and is now chairman of the Farmers' Institute at Waterloo. He 
gives careful and personal attention to every detail of his farm work ami is 
eminently entitled to the success which is his. 

On May ji, 1905, Mr. Bowman was united in marriage with Dora 
Lutz, daughter of Jacob and Sarah ( Hamman ) Lutz. w ho were nati\'es 
respectively of Ohio and Indiana, and are mentioned elsewhere in the pages 
of this work. To this union has heeii horn one daughter, Thelma, who lirst 
saw the light of day on May 28, 1907. 

I'Taternally, IMr. Bowman is an acti\e member of the Independent ( )rder 
of Odd Fellows and the Gleaners, in the workings of which orders he is 
deeply interested. Mr. and Mis. llownian move in tlie ]k-'X circles in their 
comnninit\-, and none are nn ire ])cipular or held in higher esteem for their 
uprightness of character and genial attributes than they. 



HERBh:RT CLM)!-: WILLIS. 

.\ man's reputation is the projierty nf the world, for the laws of nature 
have f(jrbidden isolation, h'very linnuni bein- either -ubmit-- tn tlie con- 
trolling influence of other< or wieUL an influence which touches, controls, 
guides or misdirects others. If he l>e honest and successful in his chosen 
held of endeavor, investigation will lirighten hi- fame and point the way 
along which others may follow with like success. The reputation of Herbert 
■Clyde Willis, one of the leading journalist- of Dekalb county, having been 
unassailable all along the highways of life, according t.i those who have known 
him best, it is believed that a critical study of his career will lie of benefit to 
the reader, for it has been not only one of honor 1)ut of u-efulness also. 

Herbert Clyde Willis, editor of the Waterloo f'rrss. one of the iuHuenlial 
and popular journals of DeKalb county, was born on December 15, 1871. at 
Waterloo, and is a son of iM-ank W. and losephinc (Dickinson) Willis. 
These ])arents are mentioned specifically elsewhere in this work, therefore 
further space w ill not.be given to the subject's ancestral history at this point. 
Herbert C. Willis was reared at Waterloo, where he attended the grade and 
high school and secured a good, practical education. In the summer of 1884 
he began learning the printing trade, Ijeing at that time a lad of about tw elve 
vears of age. His time outside of school hours was mainly devoted to this 




HERBERT C. WnXIS 



IS, and ])rint 


in,^ 


the first pajiers on 


vas SCI Miiall 


he 


liad t(i stand on a 


Mr. Willis , 


.-out 


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all details o 


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"stieU-ful" of type 


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DEKAI.n rOt'NTV, INDIANA. g I _^ 

work and during the last year of school he and one other ])erson did all the 
jol) work and got out the paper regularly and in good shape. He has thus 
learned the printing business in every detail from the ground up, having served 
his a])prenticeship under old-time condi 
the old Washington hand ]iress when 1 
box to run the ink rollers across the typ 
his father and made every effort to lea 
two years apprenticeshi]), he was gi\eii 
set, in which way he made from ten to t 
a week, and. boy as be was, he was greatly pleased at the progress he was 
making. In i(S<;i, after bis graduation from high school, be took a tour of 
the Southwest, and on his retiu'ii eiitereil the employ of bi^ father, with whom 
be remained until l'\'l)ruary. iS(/i, when the plant was totally destroyed by 
fire. Mr. Willis bad .saved some money and now invested that with his 
father, with whom he became a partner, ami fmm then on until his father's 
death, in 11)13. they remained associated in business, the subject taking the 
greater part of the burden of management from bis f.atiier's shoulders during' 
later years. Since his f.atber's death, tlie subject has ])urcbased bis interest 
and is now sole owner of. the pl.mt. He publishes tbe Waterloo rrcss. one 
of tbe best local newspapers in DeKalb county, which has become a welcome 
visitor in manv homes, and al>o <loes a lot of business in catalog and blank 
l>ook work and various office forms, (leri\ing considerable busine.ss from other 
points outside of this county, as far away as Indianapolis. He also carries a 
large stock of books and stationery, with which he supplies local trade. He 
has all along the line exercised good judginent in his business affairs and 
has met with a well de.served success in e\-erytbing to which he has turned his 
hand, earning not only material prosperity, but also the high esteem of those 
who are acquainted with his life work. 

It would seem that Mr. Willis' Imsiness .atl'airs were enough to demand 
his entire time and attention, but be has found time to mterest himself in other 
aft'airs and has shown a versatility of talent which bas been complimentary 
to him. .At the age of eighteen years be became a charter member of Com- 
pany I, Third Regiment of the Indiana Legion, which is now identical with 
tbe Indiana National (iuard, and was in that association for over six years. 
At the expiration of his term he was out of the service about a year, then re- 
enlisted in the Indiana National Ciuard. being appointed sergeant-major on 
Col. .X. W. Bowman's battalion staff. He participated in the putting down of 
the rioting at Hammond in 1894, when there was some actual fighting and 
(58) 



914 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

occasion for great self-control and forbearance on the part of the troops. His 
military record was highly complimentary to him in every respect. 

Politically a Republican, Mr. Willis has at all times exerted a strong in- 
fluence for his party, in whose ct)uncils he has been a conspicuous figure and 
he has been a hard fighter all along the line for principles for which he stands 
and for his friends to whom he has ever been loyal. He is the present efficient 
chairman of the Republican county central committee. Mr. Willis was one of 
the organizers of the \\'aterloo High School Alumni Association, which has 
a membership of over two hundred. He has been a member of the Presby- 
terian church for twenty-five years, and served efficiently as superintendent of 
the Sunday school, which he has been largely instrumental in building up to 
one of the best schools in the county. 

On June 24, 1896, Mr. \A'illis married Martha L. (lOnser, who was born 
A])ril (1. 1 87 1, on a farm near .\ul)urn, then owned by her father, but which 
is now the county farm. She i.^ the daughter of Moses and Louisa ( W'ri.ght ) 
Gonser, her father ha\ing been a native of Pennsylvania, coming to DeKalb 
county in pioneer days. He first lived on the farm west of Auburn until he 
sold it to the county, not long after Mrs. Willis was born, and he then located 
along the countv line in the s<inthern part of Steuben county. He was county 
commissioner for the latter countv, and was a man in good circumstances and 
of influence in his community and county. His wife, whose maiden name was 
Louisa Wright, was a native of New York, born on the banks of Lake 
Ontario, and in an early day came to DeKalb county with her parents. Her 
father conducted a general store in Fairfield township in the early days and 
had a large trade with the Indians, having also an "ashery," where he made 
potash from wood ashes, a common procedure in that early da\-. Mr. Gonser 
died in 190.=;. and his widow now li\-es in Steuben county, this state. Mrs. 
Willis received her elementary education in tlie common schools and then at- 
tended the l"ri-State Xorilial School at .Angola, where she graduated and then 
for a time taught district school. .Vfterwards she entered Earlham College, 
at Richmond, Indiana, where she graduated in 1893. with the degree of 
Bachelor of Arts. Coming to Waterloo, she became principal of the high 
school here, retaining this position two years, and during that period began 
her acquaintance with Mr. Willis, though their families had been singrdarly 
close in an earlier generation. To Mr. and Mrs. Willis have been born two 
children. Louise, born September 7, 1897, and Herbert G., born Xovemljer 21, 
1904. Becau.se of his earnest life and successful career, as well as his genial 
disposition and companionable nature. Mr. W'illis has won a large acquaint- 
ance and manv warm friends in the county and is now numbered among its 
representative citizens. 



FRAXKLIX F. MYERS. 

The following is the sketch of a plain honest man of affairs, who by 
correct methods and a strict rc.ijard for the interests of his patrons has made 
his influence felt in DeKalh county autl won for himself distinctive prestige 
in the agricultural circles of Sniithfield township. He would he the last man 
to sit for romance oi- become the subject of fanc\- sketches, nevertheless his 
life presents much that is interesting and valuable and may be studied with 
profit by the young, whose careers are yet to he achieved. I le is one of those 
whose integrity and strength of character must force them into an admirable 
notoriety which their modesty never seeks, who command the respect of 
their contemporaries and their posterity and leave the impress of their in- 
dividuality deeply stamped upon the community. 

Franklin P. Myers is a native of the county in which lie now lives, liav - 
ing been born in Smithlield lownshi]) on Alarch t). 1858, and is the son ol 
Jacob and Barbara (Snyder) .Myers. Jacoli Myers was born in (lermany, 
the son of Frederick and ISarbara Myers, who brought their family to this 
countr_\- when Jacob was init an infant. They settled first in Seneca county, 
Ohio, where Jacob was reared to manhood and there he married Mollie Tal- 
bert, to which union were born six children; of these, Sydney and Joe are 
deceased; Henry lives in Michigan: Eliza Ann lives near Mendon, Michigan; 
Sarah Jane is deceased and Barbara Ellen lives at Burr Oak, Michigan. The 
mother of these children died in Ohio and Jacob Myers moved to Wood 
county, that state, where he married Barbara Snyder, who was born in i'enn- 
sylvania, of Dutch parentage, and who was brought to the stale of Ohio by 
her parents. About 1850, or possibly a little earlier. Jacob Myers came to 
DeKalb county on horseback and bought a farm of eighty acres located north- 
west of Hudson in the southwestern |)art of Steuben countv, the farm lieing 
at that time but little improved. Later he lirought his lanuly to that farm 
and some time during the fifties he bought a farm of one hundred and twelve 
acres lying three miles south of Hudson in Smithfield township, DeKalb 
county, to which place he moved and subsequently bought other lands in that 
neighborhood until he became the owner of three hundred and sixty acres. 
He was a diligent worker, knowing no such word as idleness, and by his 
indefatigable efforts brought his farm to a fine standard of improvement and 
cultivation, much of the clearing being done by moonlight. He w ould lay the 
bottom rails of a line of fence during the day in order to get the line and 



1)1 I > DKKAl.Ii COlNT'i'. INDIANA. 

would linish the fence by night. 'Sluch of his land wa.s bought cheap, and 
from that he .^old ofi the tim'ier, using good judgment and wise dis'crimination 
in the management of his affairs and thus became well-to-do. honestly earn- 
ing the prosi)erit)- which he later enjoyed. 'I'o his union with I'arbara Sny- 
der were bom the following children: Susan, l'>anklin I'.. John. Jesse. Ida, 
.\nios, ( ieorge. Maggie, Amanda, and Lovina, who died in infancy. Prior to 
her marriage to Mr. Myers, the mother of these children had been married 
to a Mr. Hardman. Jacob Myers .spent the remainder of his life in Smith- 
field township, where his death occurred about 1883, and he was survived a 
number of years by his widow-, whose death occurred in 1S94. 

Franklin P. M\ers was reared on the home farm, securing his education 
in the schools of the locality and when about sixteen years of age moved to a 
farm which his father had bought just east of his first purchase, and there the 
subject lived until his marriage in iS8_>. | k- then went to farming on eighth- 
acres of land owned by his fatlier in l-'airtield townshi]). where he remained 
four years, at the end of which period he came to Sniithfield township and 
bought thirty-eight acres of land from his father-in-law. to which he subse- 
quently added twenty-six acres adjoining in section 19. To the cultivation 
of this land he has devoted himself and has achieved success as the result of 
his close application to his own affairs and sound judgment and good common 
sense exercised in the management of tlu- place. 1 le has carried on a general 
line of farming, raising all tlie crops common to this locality and also gi\es 
some attention to live stock, llis pleasanl .lud attractive residence, substan- 
tial and well-arranged barn, and tlie well-kept condition of the farm indicates 
him to be a man of good taste and w Im understand-, the business to which he 
is applying himself. 

( )n \'o\eniber ,:;o. iSSj. .Mr. .Myers married Delilah Stofer, who was 
born in folnml)iana count_^v. Ohio, on I'ebruary 12, 1S58. the daughter of Eli 
Stofer. bv whom she was brought to b'airfield township, this county, in 1865. 
To Mr. and .Mrs. Mvers were born three children: Clark Wilson, born July 
5, 1883; Ciienn Lloyil, bom September 18, 1889; Maydie Pearl, born Alay 7, 
1895. On .April J. 1908, Clark Myers. married Orpha McEndarfer, daughter 
f)f Byron Mcluidarfer, and the\- ha\e a daughter. Iris. On February 18, 
1912, Glenn married Alta Urey, the daughter of John Urey, and they live in 
Eairfield township on the Urey farm ; they have one son, Wilson Wayne 
Mvers. Mr. Mvers has not been selfish in hi* life, but has given a due share 
of his attention to the interests of the comnumitv with which he has been 
identified for so many years, giving his support at all times to every movement 



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which has promised lo he of niateri;il henetil l( 
for the hitjhesl standard of eitizer.slii|). and 1 
exami)le, for his life has- heen such as to earn t 
know him. 

Rev. Eli Stoler. father of Mrs. Myers, wa 
Colnmbiana connty. ( )hio. the son of Samnel 
Stofer, the father a nati\e of Westniorelaiul C( 
mother of Fayette countw that state. Eli Stofer was reared on a farm in 
Columbiana county, Ohio, and at the age of twenty, in \^^(k was there mar- 
ried to Elizabeth Weaver, who was i)orn in (.dhimhiana countv . the dan.ghter 
of Isaac and Catherine (Shively) Weaver. Her death occurred on January 
18, 1914. Isaac Weaver was a nati\e of Westmoreland county, Pennsyl- 
vania. In 1864 Mr. Stofer moved to DeKalb. county, Indiana, settling in 
Fairfield township, and in iS-.^ moved to the southwest <|uavter of section H). 
in Smithfield township, where he owned fifty-four acres of land, practically 
all he can care for in his later years, being now se\ enty-eight years old. ■ 
About a year after his marriage Mr. Stofer united with the .Menni>nite 
church, his wife joining that society two years later. Her parents had reared 
her in the Dunkard church and her change to the Mennonite church was en- 
tirely voluntary on her part. .About four years after coming to Indiana, he 
helped organize a Mennonite church near his home, and about 1870 he was 
ordained a minister in that denomination, with which he has been identified 
very closely ever since. 

To Rev. and Mrs. Stofer were born seven children: Oliver lives near 
Garrett and has two children bv his first wife. Warren and (irace. and three 
by his second m.arria.ge. ( loldie. Orpha and Fhurlow. His second wife died 
about 1897; Delilah Stofer became the wife of F. P. Myers, the immediate 
subject of this sketch; Amanda ].. widow of Jacob Kalb. lives at .Xshley and 
has two children. Myrtle and Shirley: Edwin O. died at Warsaw. Indiana, in 
1907, leaving a widow and two children. Ruth and Paul; John, who is em- 
ployed in the railroad ,sho])s at El Paso. Texas, married Delia Spiegelnieier. 
and thev have two children living and one dead: Mary Catherine is the wife 
of William Kessler, who lives across in Fairfield townshii> about a mile west 
of her father's homestead: Ella became the wife of .\lva lirand. and after 
his death she married Edward Zerbragg. and they live in Aslilev. Uev. and 
Mrs. Stofer have been married fifty-eight years, and the almost >i\ decades 
of their union have been years of unalloyed happiness, their faces today 
showing the peaceful life they have led, for there is a serenity ])ictured there 



91 tS DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

which is born of a sound faith in the Infinite. On the fiftieth anniversary of 
their wedding, their children and children's children visited them in honor 
of their father and ancestor whose character has been such as to reflect honor 
on his family. They have six children li\ing, fourteen grandchildren and ten 
great-grandchildren. They are indeed a worthy old couple and this volume 
would be incomplete without this specific reference to them. 



CHRISTI.AN BRECBILL. 

The history of DeKall) county wnuld be lacking should the record of 
Christian Brecbill be omitted, for he is one of its leading citizens, being a 
man of splendid attributes and al\\a)s ready to assist his neighbors in the 
battle of life and do what be can toward the general good of the county. A 
man of excellent endowments and upright character, he is a valued factor in 
local affairs and commands unequivocal confidence and esteem, being loyal to 
the upbuilding of this locality and ever vigilant in his efforts to further the 
interests of the county along material, civic and moral lines. 

Christian Brecbill, whose splendid farm is located on .secticm 2S, Snuth- 
field township, was born October 18, 1845, near Lake Toon, Switzerland, and 
is a son of Christian and Margaret ( Amstutz) Brecbill, being their only child. 
\Vhen lie was Ixit one year old the father died of typhoid fever and his mother 
followed her husband to the rither world three weeks later. In 1855, when 
he was but ten years of age, the suiiject of thi-^ ^ketch came ti> America and 
located in DeKalb county, Indiana, where be ulitained employment on the 
farm known as tlie Buss farm in Richhuid township. He iiad come here in 
the company of his grandmother, liarbara Amstutz, who resided on tiie Buss 
farm until her death, at the age of eighty-five years. Here the subject worked 
for about two years and then went to the Amstutz farm, two miles from 
Waterloo, where he remained until liis marriage in t866, after which he 
moved to the Bachtel farm near Waterloo, where he remained a year. He 
was then for a like period on the ."^i Jackman farm, from w hence he mo\ed to 
the farm on which he now lives. During the first sixteen years of his oc- 
cupancy here he rented the place and then purchased it. The purchase price 
was six thousand five hundred dollars, on which he paid two hundred dollars 
down, and that was borrowed. He had a hard up-hill fi.ght, but was deter- 
mined to succeed, and eventuallv his efforts were abundantlv rewarded. The 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 9I9 

farm comprises one hundred and sixty acres of as good land as can be found 
in DeKalb county, and to the cuhivation of it Mr. Brecbill has given inteUi- 
gent direction, carefully conserving the fertility of the soil and making many 
permanent and substantial improvements, which have added to its appearance 
and increased its value. The buildings are all modern and up-to-date in 
their style and character, the machinery used is of the most improved pattern, 
and in every detail of the farm work Mr. Brecbill has exhibited a progressive 
and enterprising spirit that has had its reward in increased profits at a mini- 
mum of labor and expense. Progress has been the watcbw ord which has been 
the key to Mr. Brecbill's success, and among his fellow agriculturists he is 
eminently entitled to precedence because of his methods and the success to 
which he has attaint'd. He is in the largest sense of the'word a self-made 
man and because of this fact he appreciates the success of others, being broad- 
minded and altruistic in his views of men and things and standing shoulder 
to shoulder with his fellow iik-u in the effort to advance the general welfare 
of the community. 

On October 30, 1866, Mr. Brecbill was united in marriage with Margaret 
Elizabeth Brand, the daughter of William and .Matilda ( Kline 1 IJrand. 
William Brand, who was a native of Ohio, came to DeKalb county in 1852, 
settling on the Brand farm three miles west of WaterliKi, where he bought 
eighty acres of timber land, for uhicli he paid mie hundred and tifty dollars. 
He cleared the most of this land and improved it. developing it into a line and 
up-to-date farm. To the cultivation of this tract he gave his attention and 
also gave some attention to the threshing business and worked at the carpen- 
ter trade as opportunity offered. His death occurred on June 3, 1889. He 
was an active supiwrter of the Democratic party and a faithful member of 
the Christian church. His wife, who was also a native of Ohio, died on the 
same farm on June 7, i88j. To them were born the following cliildren : 
John C, George W., Hiram. Margaret, Henry, Darlin \\'.. lunuia and 
Albertus, of whom Margaret Elizaljcth and Kmma are the only survivors. 
Mrs. Brecbill's paternal grandfather was a native of Ireland, who emigrated 
to the United States and, coming to DeKalli county, located on .i farm south 
of Auburn, to the operation of which he devoted himself until his death, 
which occurred there. To Mr. and Mrs. Brecbill have been born four chil- 
dren, namely : William, Mrs. Rosia Durst, Scott, deceased, and Mrs. Nellie 
Buchanan. Mr. and Mrs. Durst live in Auburn, where he is a clerk in a 
hardware store. William, who is married, owns nineteen and a quarter acres 
of land near his father. Mr Brecbill is a fine type of a self-made man, a 



y^O DKKAIJi COl'NTV, INDIANA. 

broad-inindecl, generuus, aggres.si\e, far-seeing, keen American, such as win 
in life's battles from sheer force of character and personality and depend upon 
none. By his own efforts and starting in life practically em])tv-handed. he 
surmounted every obstacle and has gained not only a coiripetencw but an 
honest position in the community of his residence. 



GEORGE W. PARK. 



The best title one can establish to the high and generous esteem of an 
intelligent community is a protracted and honorable residence therein. George 
\\'. I'ark, one of the best known and most higlily esteemed men of DeKalb 
county, has resided here from early boyhood and his career has been a most 
commendalile one in every respect, well deserving of being perpetuated on the 
pages of a historical work of the nature of the one in hand. Like his sterling 
father before him, he has been a man of well defined purpose and never failed 
to carrv' to successful completion any enterjirise to which he addressed him- 
self. Beginning life in a new country and under many unfavorable auspices, 
he has let nothing deter him, and before the lai)se o\ many years he had a fine 
farm under culti\'ation. Knowing that the country was destined to take a 
\er\- high rank in tlie pro(Iucti\c and rich localities of the North, he ajjplied 
himself \ery closely to his work, waiting for the future to bring its rewards, 
and today he is one of the substantial men of the county. 

George W. Park was liorn December lA. iS4f), in a log cabin near Fort 
Wayne, Allen count}-, Indiana, and is the son of \\'illiam and Parbara ( \\''ar- 
ner) Park. William Park was born in Ohio and on attaining maturity 
learned the trade of a hotter, remaining active in this trade until thirty-five 
years of age. He then came to Indiana, locating within a mile of Robinson's 
Chapel, near b'ort \\'a>ne, where he bought sixty acres of land, mostly covered 
with timber, but which he cleared and ])Ut int<i gond shape for cultivation. In 
1862 he sold this place and mined to a farm of sixty acres near Gorunna, 
known as the Baker farm, which he operated about ten years and then sold to 
Ered Baker. He opened a grocery store at Corunna. w hich he o])erated about 
ten years and was very successful in this enterprise. Selling this store to 
George McMullin (now deceased), he then moved to Auburn, where he 
bought residence property and retired from acti^'e business pursuits, his death 
occurring there in 1889. Barbara Warner was a native of Maryland and was 



DICKAI.l! ClirNTV. INDIANA. i)2l 

married tn William I'ark al l-'dstoria, Oliio, m iH^^\. and loi^^ethcT ihev came 
to Indiana, .\fler her husliand'.s death .Mrs. I'ark niatle her home with 
Christian Buss on the Buss farm until her death, alxiut ten years later, in 1S98, 
Mrs. Buss being her daughter. To Mr. and Mrs. I'ark were horn nnie chil- 
dren, namely: Three who died in infancy: John, deceased; Rachel; Sarah )., 
deceased; Elizabeth, (ieorge W. and Mary Hllen. Of these, John enlisted at 
the outbreak of the Ci\il war in 1861 at Fori Wayne in the Eleventh Regi- 
ment Indiana Volunteer Infantry as a volunteer and was in the arrny under 
General Sheridan. At the expiration of his three-year enlistment, he re-enlisted 
as a veteran and \>. as killed in a battle in the Shenandoah \alle\- near the 
close of the war, liein.y; buried there: Rachel, who lives at Auburn, was married 
four times, hirst to Martin Stage, second to P'lic Timbernian. third to John 
Miller, fourth to John Porter. liy the first union were born three children. 
and by the second marriage, a .son, William; Elizabeth, who became the wife 
of Christian Buss, a farmer in Smithfield township, has seven children, Will- 
iam H., John H.. Isaac H., George H., deceased, Jefferson, Belle and Xettie ; 
Mary Ellen became the wife of Jacob Thomas, of .\ul)urn. and they have six 
children, Maggie. Orrie, decea.sed, William, Henry. Harry and Wade. 

George W. Park received his education in the common schools up to 
twelve years of age and in 1862 came to I )eKalb county and began working on 
his father's farm. He worked three years in a grist mill in .\ulnirn owned by 
Christian Bus- and then for a while teamed antl hauled log.> for the okl sav\- 
mill seven miles south of .\shley. During the following year he worked on 
the Buss farm and for a like jieriod ran a peddling wagon out of 'i'iffin, Ohio, 
then for a year he farmed for Mrs. Britton. at the end of which time he went 
to Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, where he sjjent four years. The year after 
his marriage, in 1883, Mr. Park spent a summer in .\uburn and then moved 
to the Willis farm, one and one-half nules west of Showers Corners in Smith- 
field township, where be operated eighty acres for about a year, at the end of 
which time he located on his present farm of eighty acres, formerly known as 
the John D. Miller place, where he resided until kjii. when he rented the 
farm to his son John and bought property in Ashley, where he now lives i)rac- 
licallv retired from active labor. His life has been an active and busy one, 
characterized by the faithful performance of every duty to which he applied 
himself. His farm work was always characterized by up-to-date methods, and 
among his fellow agriculturists he was held in high esteem. 

On i\Iarch jg, 1883, Mr. Park was married to Sadie Miller, the daughter 
of John D. and Mary ( Kanage) Miller, and to them have been born three 



^i22 UEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

children; May Belle, who became the wife of Harry Green, a blaclvsniith, 
Hves on a ranch in Logan county, Colorado, where they took up one lumdred 
and sixty acres of homestead land ; they have two children. Mildred D. and 
Thomas P.; John married Nora Morrison and is a farmer; they have one 
child, Keith Arden; Inis E. is the widow of Melfred Bowman, a farmer in 
Richland township, and they ha\e one child, Bertha. 

John D. Miller was a native of Lancaster county, I'ennsylvania, where 
he spent his boyhood da\s, and at the age of twenty-one years he moved to 
Stark county, Ohio. In 1857 he came to DeKalh county, Indiana, and Ixnight 
an eighty-acre farm, to which he later added twenty-six acres adjoining. 
Most of the original eighty was covered with timber which he cleared and 
from which he developed a splendid farm. A good barn, residence and other 
necessary outbuildings makes his farm one of the best in the localitv. The 
first residence in which he lived after purchasing the farm was a log house 
which was their hwrne until the new residence was completed. On account of 
ill health and ]>hysical di.sabilit}' Mr. Aliller turned the farm over to his son, 
Joseph, who is operating the place at the present time. Mr. Miller then moved 
to Hudson and while there, in 1900, his wife died. He lived alone for a time 
and then removed to the home farm, making his home with his son, Joseph. 
There he died in iQog. His wife, who was a native of Stark county, Ohio, 
was united to him in marriage in 1852, and came to DeKalb county with him 
and was a true helpmeet to him in every sense of the word, assisting him 
materially in the improvement of the farm and the advancement of his finan- 
cial interests. She died in iqoo. They were the parents of three children, 
Clara A., whoihas been twice married, first to James A. Krum. second to John 
W. Seward, lives on the/latter"s farm near Hudson ; Joseph K., who married 
Jennie Cox. is a farmer on the home place and has two children. Pearl and 
Marie. 

Politically, Mr. Park is a Progressi\e i\epuhlican and fur many years 
has taken an active interest in public affairs, though he has been too busy a 
man to give very much ti\:ie and attention to politics. At the present time he 
is treasurer of the town of Ashley, performing his duties to the entire satis- 
faction of his fellows. Fraternall)-. he is a member of the Knights of Pythias 
at Ashley, and has served as a delegate to the grand lodge of the state three 
times, in 1904. 1909 and T913. His religious connection is with the Methodist 
church, in which he is a very active worker and assisted materially in the erec- 
tion and dedication of the splendid new church at Ashley, being a liberal con- 
tributor to the building fund. He is president of the board of trustees and in 



DKKAI.H COIINTY, INDIANA. 923 

many ways is an effective worker in tlic various interests of that society. Al- 
though his life has been a busy one. his every-day affairs making lieavy de- 
mands upon his time, Air. Park has never shrank from his duties as a citizen 
and his obligations to his church, his neighbors and his friends. Genial and 
kindly in his intercourse with his fellows, he has attained a marked popularity 
among his acquaintances and is nunilicrcd among the 'Sterling and representa- 
tive citizens of his community. 



CL.ARK C.AMl'I'.RL 



-Among the honorable and inlluenlial citizens (if DeKall) county, Indiana, 
is the subject of this review, who has here maintained his home for many 
years, winning a definite success by means of the agricultural industry, to 
which he has devoted bis attention during the years of an active business life. 
His career has been without shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil, and thus 
he has ever commanded the confidence and esteem of his fellow men. 

Clark Campbell was born on October 2^. 1875, in Smitbfield township, 
DeKalb county, Indiana, and is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Campbell. 
His boyhood days were spent under the parental roof, his education being 
secured in the common schools of his locality. He remained on the paternal 
estate until 1897, shortly after attaining his legal majority, when he and his 
brother engaged in the hay business at Waterloo, shipping large quantities 
of baled hay to various points throughout Indiana and the Middle West, 
and was eminently successful in this vocation. After twelve years in the hay 
business Mr. Campbell • quit the business which had engaged bis attention 
for a dozen years and in 1909 turned his exclusive attention to farming, in 
which he is still engaged. He lives in section 33, Smitbfield townshii), and 
has a splendid tract of well improved land, the general ajii^earance of the 
place indicating him to be a man of wise discretion and sound judgment in 
the handling of his place. He raises all the crops common to this locality and 
also gives some attention to the raising of live stock, which is one of the most 
important departments of farm work. lie is a good manager and has 
achieved a splendid success in his life work, being now numbered among the 



progressive, enterpnsmg and 



de-awake farmers of bis localit\ 



On December 10, 1902, Mr. Campbell was united in marriage to Mrs. 
Isadora Kelley. the daughter of Eli Walker and widow of the late Douglas 



9-4 DKKAI.B COfNTV, INDIAXA. 

Kelley. Airs. Campbell is a woman of tine attainments and gracious qualities 
of head and heart, and in the social circles in which they move they are both 
popular among their acquaintances. Together they belong to the Order of 
the Eastern Star and the Pythian Sisters, in which they take a deep interest. 
Mr. Campijell became a Master Mason in February. 1897, and has passed 
through all the chairs of the local lodge of that order, being the present 
worshipful master. His father was a Master Mason for fifty years and was 
highly regarded by his fraternal brethren. Mr. Campbell is also an apprecia- 
tive member of the Knights of Pythias. In all movements for the betterment 
of the community he has given his warmest support and can be counted on at 
all times to throw his influence for the right and for the betterment of 
humanity, and because of his large acquaintance and genial qualities he is 
deservedly recognized as one of the representative men of Smithfield town- 
ship. 



DAXIEL F. H.\MM.\N. 



He ot whose history we now offer a brief resume is one of the ven- 
erable and sterling citizens of DeKalli county, Indiana. ha\ing been actively 
identilied with agricultural pursuits here since boyhood and being the owner 
of a good farm in Smithfield township, where his friends are in numbei- 
equal to his list of acquaintances, for his life has been one of signal useful- 
ness and honor, begetting objecti\'e confidence and esteem. 

Daniel l''. Hamman was born on Januar}- 23, 1844, in Stark count). 
Ohio, and is the son of b>lin and Margaret ( Frick ) Hamman. John Ham- 
man was born in Columl>iana countw Ohio, and was a son of David Ham- 
man. He was reared in his nati\e state, and was there married to .Margaret 
Frick. In the fall of 1846, loading their household effects into a big covered 
wagon, in those da\-s familiarly known as a "'iirairie schooner." they started 
on the long, weary and ofttimes dangerous journey across Ohio to DeKalb 
county, where they bought a farm in Franklin township. Soon afterwards 
they disposed of this place and bought one hundred and twenty acres in 
section 19, Franklin township, of which they later sold forty acres. At that 
time none of the land was cleared and it was necessary to cut down the 
standing timl>er in order to find room for a cabin. There the mother died 
two years later, leaving five children: Sarah. Simeon F., Daniel F.. John W. 
and I-'ranklin I. One and one-half vears later the father married Anna 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 925 

t lark, \vh( J survived him and now lives uii the old homestead at the ad- 
vanced age of eighty-three years. To this second union six children were 
born, of wliom two died young, the others being Susanne, Francelia, Freeman, 
ConinuMlore and Hamilton. John liamman was not only a successful farmer, 
but also achieved quite a local reputation as a veterinary doctor, having a 
thorough knowledge of equine ailments and being successful in their treat- 
uK'iU. lie died sonic lime during the carlv eighties. 

Xficr the death of llie nioliier of the subject of this sketch, when tlie 
latter was about five years old, he and his younger brother. Franklin, tiien but 
a year old, were taken into the home of their aunt, Mrs. Mary Brandahcrry, 
and by her were reared to manhood. When the Civil war broke out Daniel 
F. Hamman offered his services to his country, enlisting in August, 1862, in 
Company A, iMghty-eighth Regiment Indiana \'oluntc-ei- Infantry, which 
command was .assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. With his regiment 
Mr. Hamman took part in a number of imiiorlanl liattles in Tennes.see and on 
the .\tlanta campaign, followi'd by Sherman's fam. ,u> march to the sea and 
the campaign up through the Carolinas. after which came the ( Irand Rexiew at 
Washington, the greatest military pageant the world has e\er ktiown. Mr. 
Hamman was a faithful and courageous soldier and. w ith the exception of a 
slight wound received at the battle of I'errysville. he escaped without injury. 
He received successive promotions to cor[)oral and first sergeant as a testi- 
monial to his effecti\"eness as a soldier. At the conclusion of hostilities Mr. 
Hamman returned to the home of his aunt, with whom he stayed about a 
vear and a half, and then bought the farm in section 22. Smithheld township, 
where he now li\es. 

In 1S70 Mr. Hamman married Harriett F. Martin, who was born in 
Smithfield township, this count}, the daughter of 1 )a\ id and Lydia .\nn 
(Shearer) Martin, who came here from near (Gettysburg. I'ennsylvania. To 
this union live children were \)un\ : Herm.an .M.. who is represented else- 
where in this work: Jcbn 1).. Oavid .\., Lydia .\im and Jerry L. John D. 
married Sadie Warrick, and lives one mile southwest of his father's place, 
and i- the father of three children. Waldo, 'Myrtle and Noah: David .\., who 
lives one nu'le southeast of his father, married Cyranda Walker and has two 
children, Lester and Mabel : Lydia Ann is the wife of Charles Erwin, of near 
Summit, this county, and they have a son. Rus.sell : Terry L.. who is unmar- 
ried, lives at home with his father. The mother of these children died on 
November i, 1887, and in .\i)ril. i88(). Mr. Hamman married Mary Snyder. 
who was born in Trumbull countv. Ohio, the daughter of Rronson and Mary 



.li COUNTY. INDIANA. 



(Kirkwood) Snyder. She came with her parents to this country in 1865, they 
settling first in Steuben county, subsequently buying a farm in the southwest 
corner of Franklin township, where they lived until their death. 

For many years the subject of this sketch has been an important figure 
in local public afifairs and served as assessor of Smithfield township fi\e \ears 
and also sensed as a member of the county council. Fraternally, he is an 
active member of the Grand Army of the Republic, where he enjoys inter- 
course with his old army comrades. Flis life has been filled with continuous 
toil and endeavor and has been so ordered in all its relations that he com- 
manded the unqualified esteem of those with whom he has come in contact, 
for he is one of the most popular men of the township where he has lived to 
sucli goodly ends. 



JOHN V.AXGEESBEEK SHERWOOD. 

One of the most enterprising of the younger generation of farmers in 
DeKaJb county wlio has belie\ed from the outset of his career that the "wis- 
dom of yesterday is sometimes the folly of today," and that, while the methods 
of our grandfathers in tilling the soil were all right in their day, yet in the 
twentieth century we are compelled to adopt new methods and farm along 
dififerent lines, in view of the fact that conditions nf climate, soil, grains, etc., 
have changed since tiie da\s of the pioneers. He has been a close observer 
of modern methods and is a student at all times of whatever pertains to his 
chosen life work and he has therefore met witli encouraging success all along 
the line, and, judging from his past record, he will undoubtedly achiese much 
in the future years and take his place among the leading agriculturists of a 
community noted for its fine farms and adroit husbandmen. 

John Vangeesbeek Sherwood was born on September 18, 1875, on sec- 
tion 7,2. Smithfield township, DeKalb county, Indiana, and is a son of William 
C. and Mary D. (Parson) Sherwood. William C. Sherwood was born on 
July If). 1 84 1, in Onondaga county, Xew York, where lie recci\ed his educa- 
tion in the common schools, in the spring oi iS^u he moved to DeKall) 
county, Indiana, where his father owned one hundred and sixty acres of land 
in section 32, Smithfield township. He worked on a farm for Willard Childs 
for three months in Fairfield township and then returned to New York state. 
Later his father deeded sixty acres of land to him and about four years later 
he bought the balance of oi^e hundred acres. He cleared the timber oft tin's 



OKKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. 927 

land during the winter months, returning to New \'ork during the suniiners. 
His land was mostly covered with timber, but eventually he succeeded in get- 
ting the farm in excellent shape. On June 30, 1869, he married Mary D. 
Parsons, a native of the same county as himself in New York, where their 
marriage occurred. Two years after that event they came to the farm in 
DeKalb county, where he has been actively engaged in agricultural pursuits 
ever since. They became the parents of seven children, one of whom died in 
infancy, the others being Elijah, who married Lizzie Chandler White, and 
who is engaged in farming in Smithfield township; they have four children, 
George, Jennie, Alice and Edwin ; Lucy became the wife first of Louis Rohm, 
and later of Calvin Husselman. a farmer at Richmond, Virginia. Bv her 
first marriage she had three children, Ralph, Martha and Alfred, and by the 
.second union, one child, Ruth; John, the immediate subject of this sketch, is 
the next in order of birth ; Edward is unmarried ; Elliza became the wi fe of 
George Parrin, and they live in Butler; Benjamin, who lives at Lapaz. Indi- 
ana, married Rosa Stoup, and they have two children, Orba and Mary G. 

Politically, Mr. Sherwood is a Progressive Republican, and is a member 
of the L'nited Brethren church. He and his wife are \ery active despite 
their years and are well liked in the comniunit\- where they live. 

John V. Sherwood received his education in the common scho(^Is of his 
township and has followed the vocation of farming all his active life. Prior 
to his marriage he bought eighty acres of land from his father, which at that 
time was in good condition and which had a good set of farm buildings. After 
his marriage he bought seventy acres more land, known as the B. B. Mc- 
Intarfer farm, the latter purchase being in the spring of 1913, and to the 
cultivation of his land he is now devoting his entire time and attention. His 
residence, barn and other otitbuildings are all conveniently arranged and up- 
to-date in style, the fertility of the soil is maintained to the highest standard 
and, altogether, Mr. Sherwood has acquired an excellent reputation as a pro- 
gressive and enterprising agriculturist. He carries on general fanning and 
also gives some attention to the breeding and raising of live stock, whicii he 
has found to be a valuable adjunct to the modern farm. 

On lune 24, 1903, Mr. Sherwood married Grace Anna Mills, and they 
have seven children : Edna C, Elzie R., Nellie M., Hilda M., Blanche N., 
Claude V. and John V., Jr. Mrs. Sherwood is ignorant as to her parents' 
whereabouts, for she was taken by her foster-mother, Harriett .\. M'estlake. 
a native of Indiana, when very young and never had any knowledge of her 
parents. She was reared by this foster-mother and mo\ed to York, Steuben 



<J_'t^ DEKAI.B CorNTV. INDIAXA. 

county, Indiana, where she was reared on a farm, her foster-mother, who is 
a widow, is still li\ing on a farm there. Mrs. Sherwood was married prior 
to her marriage to Mr. Sherwood, by which union she had two children, who 
have lived most of their tune with the subject, their foster-father. Their 
names are Clarence and Imogene Mills ; the former is now in the United States 
navy and the latter lives at Kendallville, Indiana. 

Politically, Mr. Sherwood gives his support to the Progressive Repub- 
lican party, and is ardent in his support of the same, while his religious mem- 
bership is with the United Brethren church. Mr. Sherwood possesses a social 
nature, and by his genial and kindly attitude to those with whom he comes 
in contact he has won the confidence and resi:)ect of everyone. His life his- 
tory, though not a long one, has been a career of unswerving integrity, inde- 
fatigable industry and wholesome lifime and social relations, a most commend- 
able career crowned with success. 



MOSES B. WILLIS. 



As long as historv endures will the .American nation acknowledge in- 
debtedness to tlie heroes who. between ]86i and 1S65, fought for the pres- 
ervation of the L'nion and the honor of that starry banner which has never 
been trailed in the dust of defeat in a single polemic struggle in which the 
countrv has been involved, .\mnng those whose military records as valiant 
soldiers of the war of the Rebellion reflect lasting honor upon them and their 
descendants is Moses B. Willis, well known citizen of DeKalb county, where 
he has long maintained his home and won an honored name by virtue of his 
consistency to truth, honesty and right li\ing. Hierefore. he is eminently 
qualified for a place in the present work. 

Moses B. Willis was born on November 8, 1839, at Salina, Onondaga 
county, New York, the fourth in order of birth of the children that were 
born to Henry and Emerline (Hewett) \\'illis. .\t the age of four years he 
accompanied his parents on their removal to DeKalb county. Indiana, settling 
one-half mile east of Green's Corners, in Richland township. There he was 
reared amid the hardships incident to pioneer life, assisting his father in his 
struggle to reclaim a farm from the dense forest which covered the land. His 
first school was obtained in the district school of that neighborhood, which 
was supplemented by two terms attendance at the seminary at Orland. Steuben 




CAl'T. MOSKS U. WII.I.IS 



DKKAI.B COUNTV, INDIANA. f}>() 

county, Indiana, and later two terms at the Aulnirii high school. He was a 
good student and qualified himself so well in his studies as to jiass a creditahle 
examination and received a license to teach, which \ocation Ik- followed during 
the winters of i858-59-(i(). On the hrealving oiU of the ('i\il war Mr. \\ illis 
enli.sted in Septemher, iSCii. in Conipanx K, h'ortv- fourth ixegiment Indiana 
Volunteer Infantry, for three years, taking the place of his father, who had 
enlisted, but whom he persuaded to remain at home w ilh his family, insisting 
that the younger men ought to he the first to go. In the organization of his 
company he was appointed third sergeant, and on \]iril 17. 1863. he was 
commissioned se'cond lieutenant, hut owing to the depleted condition of the 
county he was not mustered on that commission. Ahout this time General 
Rosecrans conceived the idea that he coidd aeeoiu])lish great things by (tr- 
ganizing a corps of the flower of the arniv, with which he would dash upon 
the enemy at unexpected times and places, and to this end he ordered details 
from each regiment. Two sergeants and fi\e corjiorals were chosen for their 
bravery and soldierly bearing by the commissioned officers of the regiment, 
and from among this number .Mr Willie was chosen as one of the sergeants 
from his regiment. To these were to he added three pri\ates from each com- 
pany, to be chosen h}- the caiitain, all of whom >\ere to be momited and fur- 
nished with the be.st of equipment. Tl.id the government or the department 
of war approved of the i)lan, it wmild undoubtedly have been \ery effective, 
but the approval was not gained, therefore the ])lan was dro]i|x'd ;uid the men 
were returned to their respective command^, \fter the battle of Chickamauga 
Mr. WilHs was detailed with others to go to lndi;nia to solicit i\'cnn'ts for his 
company, and while thus engaged Iii^ regiment re enb-ted as a \eteran or- 
ganization, the members being granted thirtv days furlough at home. On 
returning to the field Mr. Willis also re-enlisted as a veteran and served in his 
regiment post guard at Chattanooga. On January 16, iSf);. be w.is eouinns- 
sioned and mu.stered in as captain of his company. The regiment was short 
of men on account of those who did not veteranize and who. on account of 
the expiration of their enlistment were discharged, but the regiment was given 
recruit substitutes and drafted men from two other regiments that did not 
veteranize. On June 17, iSf);, Captain Willis was detailed on a general court 
martial for the trial of several cases, and was uiade i)resident of the court, in 
which position he served tunil the duties of the court were completed. On 
June 26. 1865. Mr. \\illis was detailed as inspector of the Second I'.rigade. 
First Separate Division. Army of the Cutnlierland, which later was disbanded 



93° DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

and he returned to his company, with which he remained until he was mus- 
tered out in September, 1865. During his mihtary service, Mr. Wilhs took 
part in the terrible battle at Shiloh, being badly wounded in the right hand on 
the second day of the fight. He also was in the siege of Corinth, and at 
Perryville. Stone River, Cliickamauga, Amission Ridge and other sanguinary 
engagements, besides many long and tiresome marches, and yet, in spite of his 
arduous service, he never spent a day or night in a hospital. According to the 
statements of his comrades, he was a soldier of unusual valor and courage and 
was held in the highest esteem by his superior officers. 

On his return from the army Captain Willis engaged in farming and 
clearing a tract on land, while operating and living on another farm. In the 
spring of 1875, on account of the health of himself and wife, he retired from 
active farming and engaged with his father at Waterloo in the book, station- 
ery, wall paper and notions trade, in wliich he engaged until September, 1877, 
when he came to Auburn and here engaged in the same line of business, 
whicli commanded his attention for about twenty years. He was fairly suc- 
cessful in this enterprise, but after the death of his wife in 1903 he went to 
Oklahoma for about five years, there taking up a homestead claim from the 
government, during which time he was again married. Returning to Auljurn 
he retired from active business and is now living quietly in his home at this 
place, secure in tlie confidence and esteem of all who know liini. 

On November 9, 1865, Captain Willis was united in marriage with 
Elizabeth J. Britton, eldest daughter of Hon. Lewis D. and Martlia I Mc- 
Cague) Britton, and to this union were born three children, two sons and a 
daughter. The wife and mother departed this life on June jg. 1901. The 
second son, Lewis H., died at his home in Indianapolis, Februar\' 24, 191 i, 
lea\ing a widow, but no children. Marion B.. the eldest son, is a resident of 
Auburn, while the daughter, Nettie B.. is the wife of William Eckhart, of Lo> 
Angeles, California. While a resident of Oklahoma. Captain Willis married 
Mrs. Maria M. Holmes. In the winter of 1867 he made a profession of 
religion, and has lieen an active and faithful member of the Methodist Episco- 
pal churcli at .\ul)urn continuously since, ha\ing been a member of the official 
board for thirt\'-si.-< years. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows and the Grand .\rniy of the Repuliiic. while politically, 
he has always afiiliated with the Re])uhlican and I'rohihition parties, believing 
that the temperance question is the greatest now before the American people 
and being a man of distinct convictions on the great questions of the day. on 
both social and economic lines. A man of forceful individualitv. his iircibitv of 



DKKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 93 1 

character and liis genial personality have gained for him universal esteem 
and friendship. In the locality where he has spent practically his entire life 
he has always taken a leading part in the welfare of the community, having 
ever been willing to aid in those things which make for better educational 
advantages, better homes, better living and higher citizenship. Because of his 
sterling qualities of character, his loyalty to his country in the time of its need 
and his honorable career in private life, he is eminently deserving of the en- 
viable standing which he now enjoys in this community. 



WILLIAM McCLAKEN I.OCKHART. 

There is a scientific historical consistency in the compilation of publica- 
tions of this nature, since here are perpetuated for future generations the 
life records of those who have been factors in the industrial and civic life 
of their respective communities and who ha\e commanded the confidence and 
esteem of their fellow men. Such works are cumulative in value as the years 
fall into the abyss of time, and it is right and proper that the achievements 
of those who have proved themselves worthy in connection with the varied 
activities of their day should find such memorials as those off'cred in this 
connection. 

William McClaren Lockhart was born on May _';. 1834. at Lexington, 
Richland county, Ohio, and was a son of James and Jane (McBride) Lock- 
hart. The name Lockhart is believed to hav^i originated in Scotland in the 
time of Robert Bruce, the famous Scottish chieftain. Sir Stephen Lockard 
was charged by Roliert Bruce that in case Bruce were slain in a coming en- 
gagement Lockard was to take his heart out and put it in a small iron casket 
to return to Bruce's homeland. This he did and when the troops wavered in 
a desperate charge he threw the casket containing the heart into the midst of 
the enemy and bade the troops follow the heart of Bruce. They charged 
braxely, thus inspired, and won the victory. Lockard recovered the heart 
and returned it to its lionic and was from that time called Lockheart instead 
of Lockard. 

lames Lockhart was a native of county Tyrone. Ireland, and was a son 
of William and Mary (McClaren) Lockhart. He was left an orphan in in- 
fancy and was reared in the families of his father and his mother He 
learned the trade of a linen weaver and at the age of twenty-five years emi- 



<>_^2 DF.K.M.B COUNTY. INDIANA. 

grated to Anieriai with liis uncle. James AlcClaren, and family, locating in 
Pennsylvania. There he was for six years employed at farm work, at first 
for six dollars a month, and later for seven dollars a month. He then learned 
the trade of a distiller in the employ of James McCullough, a Presbyterian 
preacher. Mr. Lockhart was in religion a Protestant, ha\ing been reared in 
the Baptist faith and a member of that church, but in America he united with 
the I'resbyterian church. In Ireland he had l^een an enthusiastic Orangeman, 
strongly anti-Catholic in his convictions, and after coming to America was 
intensely loyal to his adopted country, and, though a Democrat in principles, 
stood firmlv for the Union, recidling that on being naturalized he had sworn 
to support the Constitution of the Cnited States. His wife, Jane McBride, 
was a daughter of Robert and Rosamond (Greenfield) McBride, who emi- 
grated from the north of Ireland soon after their marriage, locating at 
.Springfield. Cumlierland county. I V-nn^yl\ ania. Their parents both came orig- 
inallv from Ayresliire. Scdtland. Rohort McBride. a brother of James 
McBride, was a soldier in the war <>l iSi_>, taking |)arl in the battle of 
Lundy's Lane. In 1854 Roljert Mcliride Lockhart, a brother of William C, 
came to DeKalb county, Indiana, and began the erection of a sawmill in 
Smithfield township. On Decemlier 17, 1855, William C. came here, and in 
the spring of 1856 their parents, James and Jane Lockhart, came here, also 
locating in Smithfield township. From his early childhood until arriving at 
his majority William C. Lockhart lived in Lexington, Ohio, where he received 
a little schooling. When he was about ten years of age his father was caused 
a heavy financial loss by a dishonest partner, which reduced him from a com- 
petency to an indebtedness of five hundred dollars above the \alue of all bis 
property. His creditors were called together and they told him to get rid 
of his ])arlner, keep his ]iroi)erly, conliniie in business and iiay out as best he 
could, ihey ha\ing absolute belief in hi> lionest\ and integrity This he did 
and when William C. was twenty-one and bis brother. Robert, twenty-three 
years of age, they had paid all but fifty dollars of the indebtedness and had a 
property of a cash value of nine hundred dnllars. The financial condition of 
the family interfered with the education of the boys, who received but very 
little schooling, but they did the best they could and made the mo.st of their 
opportunities. In the fall of 1854 William C. passed a teacher's examina- 
tion and taught school with seventy-five pupils under him. in which he was 
very successful, lieing earnestly urged to take the school another year, but 
this he refused. The Lockhart brothers ojierated the null owned by their 
father, part of the time night and day and a part of the time fourteen hours 



DKKAl.B COUNTY, INDIANA. 933 

a day, and it is related that William C". Luckhart obtained much of his needed 
sleep on the roof of this mill. Money was exceedingly scarce, although they 
worked hard, but they were greatlx- encouraged by the attitude of their 
father's creditors who had shown the utmost confidence in the integrity and 
ability of the family to pay out, and even wiien tlie bo\s had some monev lO 
pay, they told them to use the nmufy in the business and ])a\- when conven- 
ient. They eventually paid e\ery debt in lull. 

At the outbreak of the great Cjvil war tlu- brothers were greatly 
shocked at the news of the defeat of the Union forces at the battle of Bull 
Run, and they agreed that the\- should make a sacrilice lor the Union. Each 
offered to go as a soldier, lout finally it was decided that William should go. 
After a few days s])ent in settling his business affairs, he enlisted in a com- 
pany which he had heli)ed to organize and of which he was made first lieu- 
tenant. Just at that time he was taken with typhoid fever, in which he was 
seriously ill and had several .severe relapse^. Tlie man wlio tuok his place 
beaune a colonel inside of a year. Lly June, iSC)j, .Mr. Lockliarl had recuper- 
ated and enlisted in LDUipany A. ( )ne Hundredth Kegiment Indiana Infantry, 
and although he could lia\e had a higher rank, he declined it. In the follow- 
ing summer he wa^ taken ill and. after being in tlie Imspital. was sent home on 
furlough, and in the following autumn was honorablx discharged over his 
protest because of physical disability. His heart was so enlarged that the 
doctor said that if he did not die soon it would be a wonder. Twenty \ears 
later Doctor Swarts told him that nothing but indomitiible will had saved his 
life, although he had a naturally line pliy^i(|r.e. He was a faithful and 
courageous soklier. did his duty and endured many bardshi])s while he was 
in the service. He was discbaryed mh ( Jctdber _>_'. iSf;^, after serving four- 
teen months and nine days. 

On December 22, 1S64. Mr. I.ockbart married F.lizabeth S|)enccr. ai 
Shalersville, (^liio. Init after a few years mI bai)p\ wedded life, her death 
occurred on October ifi, iSr,;. and she was 1 uried at Waterlo,,, IkKalb 
couiUv. She left one daughter. Jennie M.. who is now the wife of James 
Craig Dav. of Waterloo. On May 6. 1869, Mr. Lockhart married Mary E. 
Hickox, to whom a -on wa> born on Xovember _'S. 1872. Robert W.. who 
is now a successful farmer of Smithfield township, this county, and who is 
represented elsewhere bv a personal sketch in this work. On February 6, 
1884, Mrs. Marv T,ockhart died of heatt failure, and on October 17. 1887. 
Mr. Lockhart married Julia Osborn. a sister of his former wife, her death 



1)3-1 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

occurring at Waterloo on Deceniljer j6, 1891. On January 4, 1894, he mar- 
ried Elizabeth Ames Ansley. 

To revert to Air. Lockhart's business experience, after he had sufficiently 
recuperated after his discharge from the army he resumed the lumber busi- 
ness with his brother. They operated the old sawmill and also bought hard- 
wood lumber at many points on the railroad and canal, which they sold at 
Eastern markets. They were prospered and gradually extended their busi- 
ness into central and southern Indiana in 1868. In December, 1869, Mr. 
Lockhart moved his family to Crawfordsville, Indiana, and operated his busi- 
ness affairs from that point, erecting a large sawmill, a well equipped planing 
mill and later a wood working shop. Tiiey also operated a sawmill in Parke 
county. Shortly prior to the panic of 1873, an invoice showed them worth 
ninety thousand dollars, with advantageous contracts in hand for a large 
amount of business. The panic came on and hit the Lockhart Brothers hard, 
and in addition to their financial distress, their mill in Parke county burned, 
as did their dry kiln at Crawfordsville. Many of their customers who owed 
them large sums of money failed in business and could not pay, but in spite of 
these discouraging conditions and though brought face to face with bank- 
ruptcy, they held on to an honest course in their business affairs and in the 
hope of helping his fortune William C. extended his operations to Iowa. 
Here he was successful and was beginning to recover financially, when a flood 
washed a big boom of logs away, entailing the loss of over twenty thousand 
dollars. After several years in Des Moines, Iowa, Mr. Lockhart disposed of 
his business interests there and in January, 1885, he returned to Crawfords- 
ville, and in the spring of 1886 he moved to Waterloo where he lived until 
his last marriage, when he mo\ed to Fairfield township, where his death oc- 
curred on February 25, 1910, at the age of se\'enty-fi\e years. 

About 1879 or 1880, a murderous attempt was made on the life of W. 
C. Lockhart. Mr. Lockhart was seated at the talile in his office busily en- 
gaged in writing, when the report of a rille was heard and a bullet whizzed 
unpleasantly near his head. .Some fifteen minutes were sufifered to go by 
before investigation was made to see from where the bullet came. It was 
finally discovered that the person who fired the shot occupied an empty wood 
house just across the railroad cut and about a quarter of a mile away, and 
fired through a knot hole in the wall. What object the would-l>e assassin 
could have in attempting to take the life of Mr. Lockhart. is not known. One 
theory is, that offense was taken by some one at the active and pustifiable 



DF.KAI.B COl-NTV, INDIANA. 935 

energy displayed by Mr. Lockhart on election day, he ha\ing been a regularly 
appointed challenger. 

William Lockhart was a man of positive character and line personality. 
Though deeply interested in the welfare of the communities where he lived 
he persistently refused to accept public office. It is said by one who knew 
him well that he never said a cross word in his life, was unselfish in his dispo- 
sition and nobly wrought for the good of others. Fraternally, he was a 
Mason and an Odd Fellow and was a regular attendant and supporter of the 
Baptist church. He was an enthusiastic worker in the temperance cause, 
especially among his many employees at Crawfordsville, among whom he ex- 
erted a beneficent influence. His wife, who also was enthusiastic in the tem- 
perance work, was an active member of the order of Good Templars. Mr. 
Lockhart was slow to make a promise, but once given it was never broken. 
Modest in his attitude and demeanor, he often failed to receive the credit due 
him, allowing it to go to others without protest. His Irish blue eyes were 
symbols of truth. Although naturally hot tempered, he was strong enough 
to control his feelings, and because of his earnest and gentlemanly demeanor 
among his associates he was held in high regard. His words carried weight 
and his thoughtful expressions received a hearing wherever he was known. 
He is best thought of by those who knew^ him best, and in the communities 
where he lived he at all times enjoyed the sincere regard of all who knew him 
because of his high character, gentlemanly qualities and earnest desire to 
do that which he felt to be right. 



[OHN H.VMMAN. 



John Hamman, who for many years has been numl>ered among the- 
most enterprising and influenlial citizens of Smithfield township. UeKalb 
county, Indiana, was born on December 29. 1851. on his father's farm in the 
northeast quarter of section 16. this township. He is a son of Thomas, 
Sr.. and Elizabeth (Shuyler) Hamman, a prominent pioneer family of Smith- 
field township, who are represented on other pages of this work, in connection 
with the sketch of the subject's brother, Thomas Hamman. tlu'rcf<irc they 
will not be referred to farther in this connection. 

|ohn Hamman was reared on his father's farm and was educated in 
the common schools of that neighhnrliood. On attaining manhood's years. 



93'' DKKAI.B COUNTY. INDIANA. 

he was given some material help by his father, who assisted him in his tirst 
farming operations. Situated as he was, some young men would have 
leaned all the more on a father's kindness and indulgence, and possibly have 
stultified their own usefulness and limited their own sphere of activities. 
Not so with John Hamman. He at once threw himself energetically into the 
active aifairs of life, took advantage of the op])ortunities liefore him and. 
with keen foresight, unstinted energy and the exercise of sound common 
sense, entered u])on the task of clearing, draining and impmving the one 
hundred and t\vent_\- acres of land on which he is now lixing in sectinn y, 
Smithfield township, and which corners on his father's farm. That he has 
made the proposition a paying one is a matter of common knowledge in the 
community where he is known. He has always managed his afifairs accord- 
ing to the most u]5-to-date ideas and ne\er hesitated to adopt new methods 
when their superiority over old ones has been demon.strated, and he hesitates 
at no innovation when he 1)elie\es it to be a step forward. In later years 
Mr. Hamman has bought more land adjoining his original farm and is now 
the owner of two hundred and twelve acres in sections 16 and 17. .\fter he 
had his land all cleared, paid for antl thonnighl)- tiled and improxed. he con- 
tinued his habits of thrift and industry, and in>tead of a tlebtor. he event- 
ually became a creditor. Realizing and appreciating what had been done for 
him and knowing what a little assistance often means in the accomplishment 
of anything, Mr. Hamman has been of material help to others in their efforts 
to buy farms and improve them. He has loaned money where he deemed 
the request for it a worthy 'one, has allowed his debtors every advantage con- 
sistent with sound business methods, and in this way has been an important 
factor in the de\'elopnient and progress of the community. He is generall_\' 
looked u])on as (^ne of the successful and substantial farmers of DeKall) 
county, enjoying a wide acquaintance throughout this section and has en- 
joyed for many }-ears the highest esteem of all who know him. this being ac- 
centuated by the fact that he never oppresses the wcjrthy debtor who is 
unable to pa), but who shows a disposition to take care of his obligations. 
Mr. Hamman's success has come to him as the well earned reward of cease- 
less industry, wise economy, careful foresight and habits of investigating 
thoroughly every proposition before deciding upon his course of action. 

On March 15, 1883. Mr. Hamman married Lydia Rohm, the daughter 
of Simon and Mary (Harsh) Rohm. After finishing the common schools 
Mrs. Hamman was a student in the high school, in the normal school at 
Waterloo, and about 1878 began teaching school, being employed at school 



DKKAl.H Ct)LNTV, INDIANA. 937 

No. 10 in Sinithtield towiisliii.. \o. i m (irant tMUiishi].. and again at No. 
10 in Sniithtiekl. She is a lady of ivlinenicnt and rullurc, and possesses to 
an eminent degree those quahtics of mind and heart which win and retain 
warm friendships. To Mr. and Mrs. Haiuman have l)een horn iwu cliiklren, 
Ezra Clyde and Effie Teresa, both of whom are at home. Mr. Hamman is a 
man of high ideals and his support is given unreservedly to those movements 
which are for the ad\ancement of the community, morallv, educationally, 
socially or materially, and he is deserving of the splendid success which has 
characterized his career. 



RANK \LBRI(;H' 



Among the earnest men whose enterprise and depth of character have 
gained a prominent i)lace in the community and the respect and confidence of 
his fellow citizens is the honored subject of this sketch. A leading farmer 
and stock raiser of the township in which he resides and a man of decided 
views and laudable ambitions, his influence has ever been exerted for the ad- 
vancement of his kind, and in the vocation to which his energies are devoted 
he ranks among the representative agriculturists of the county. 

Erank Albright, who was born on ^la\ jj. 1S73. in a log cabin on the 
old Albright homestead in Smithheld lownshi]), is nne i>f the representative 
citizens of Smithfield townshi]). and because of his s])lendi(i material success 
and his exalted personal character he is eminently entitled to siHfcific mention 
here. He comes of a sterling old pioneer family, being the son of Henry 
and Christiana ( Dentz I .Mliright. Henry \lbright was born on March 25. 
1844, in Coshocton county. "Ohio, the son of Philip and Catherine (Rickel) 
Albright. His father, who was a native of Ohin. was a farmer, operating one 
hundred and thirty-five acres of land. He sold this tract in 1863, and moved 
to DeKalb county. Indiana, in the sj.ring nf 1866. buying one hundred and 
eighteen and three-(|uarter acres of laud here, known as the Squire Rutan 
farm, to which he ga\ e his undivided attention until his death, which occurred 
in Sei)tember, 187-'. His wife, who also was a native of Ohio, was a woman 
of splendid character and transmitted to her children those characteristics 
which made for respected manhood and womanhood. Two years after the 
death of her husband, the home farm was sold and she spent her remaining 
days with her son, Philip, her death occurring in 1802. To ATr. and Mrs. 
Albright were born nine children, one of whom died in infancv. the others 



93^ DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. 

being Eve, Barbara, Lathenne, Sarah, iibzabeth, Susan, Thilip and Henry. 
Of these, Ehzabeth, Philip and Henry are the only survivors. Elizabeth has 
been twice married, hrst tu Joseph Lower, and second to John Camp, who is 
a successful farmer. To them have been born seven children, one of whom 
died in infancy, the surviving members of the family being William, Frank, 
James, Albert, ira and iJelle; Philip married Katherine Bickel, and they live 
in Ashley, this county. Air. Albright being now retired from active farm 
work ; they have two children, Oren and Mahala. 

After coming to DeKalb county, Henry Albright worked at odd jobs for 
about six years, and then for a year rented a farm of eighty acres known as 
the Jake Myers farm. He subsequently sold I lie stock from this place and 
bought a farm of forty-live acres, where his son Frank, the immediate subject 
of this sketch, now resides, and to which he later added thirty-two and two- 
thirds acres. It was then heavily timbered, the only improvements being a 
good log house. However, Mr. Albright with courage and enterprise, entered 
upon the task of developing and improving the place, and successfully oper- 
ated it from 1873 to 1910, when he sold it to Jack Albright, a son, and re- 
turned to the old homestead farm, of which he bought twelve acres. He is 
still actively engaged in the farming of this tract and is numbered among the 
active and jsuccessf ul men of his locality. His son. Brown, Ixaught his grand- 
father's place of one hundred and eighteen acres of the Samuel Bonebrake 
heirs, to whom it was sold after the death of Philip Albright, the residence 
on the farm having been built by the Bonebrake heirs. On October 15. 1865, 
Henry Albright married Christiana Bentz. the daughter of Jacob and Eliza- 
beth (Hamman) Bentz. Her father, who wa^ a native of Germany, came to 
America in young manhood with his i^arents .ind settled in Ohio, wliere he 
became a farmer and remained active in that vocation until the time of his 
death in 1867. His wife, who was horn in Ohio in 1843, spent her entire 
life in that state. To them were born thirteen children, Margaret. John. 
Jacob. George. Philip. Elizabeth, .\deline, T.ucinda. Catherine. Sarah. Christ- 
iana, Henrv and Daniel, of whom INTargaret and Christiana are the only sur- 
vivors. ATargaret has been twice married, first to Henry Ringler and second 
to Mathias Wile, both of whom are deceased, and she now lives in Colorado. 
She became the mother of three children bv her first marriage, and five chil- 
dren by the second. To Henry and Christiana fBentz) .Mbright were born 
five children, namely: Jackson, a farmer near Waterloo, who married Delia 
Stroh. and thev fiave had severnl children, one of whom is deceased: Brow-n, 



l)i:K.\I.Ii LOrNTV, INDIANA. 939 

who lives on the homestead farm, married Dona Shaw, and ihey have six chil- 
dren; Mary Ellen became the wife of William (irate, a farmer ne;ir Ashley, 
and they are the parents uf live children; Lihljie is the wife <>i John iM-eed, a 
farmer in Fairfield townsliip, and they are tl;e parents of tliree children. 

Politically, Henry All)right was a staunch supporter of the Democratic 
party, while, religiously, he is a member of the Christian church, of which he 
has been a deacon for many years. 

Frank Albright received his education in the schools of Smithfield town- 
ship and has spent his entire life on the farm. His early lioyhood experiences 
were as a worker on various farms throughout DeKalb county, and that he 
has been successful in his vocation goes without saying, for he enjoys a most 
excellent reputation as an enterprising and successful farmer. Some time 
after his marriage Mr. Albright rented the old Whetzel farm near Sedan and 
operated the place for about two years, when he then bought forty acres of 
Williain Hinman, the land being practically all swamj) and underbrush. To 
the draining and tiling of this tract Mr. Albright devoted his attention and 
eventually developed it into one of the most producti\e and valualJe farms in 
the township. The land as a farm had no buildings on it when he took 
possession, but he has converted it into one of the best improved places in the 
locality, the residence, barns, and other necessary outbuildings all bearing evi- 
dence of the good taste and sound judgment of the owner. In March, 1912, 
Mr. Albright bought se\enty-six acres of land from his brother, Jackson, his 
present residence and buildings being on the latter tract. Among other lines 
of agriculture, Mr. Albright devotes considerable time and attention to the 
breeding and raising of live stock, which he has fonn<l to be a iirofitable ad- 
junct to the modern farm. 

Frank Albright was married on August 23, 1897'. ^ Fstella Myers, the 
daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Dahuflf) Myers, the former born near 
South Bend, St. Joseph county, Indiana, in 1847. He was a successful farmer 
until 1882, when he came to Steuben county, Indiana, and here has also fol- 
lowed that vocation. His wife was born in Steuben county, this .state, on the 
farm about two miles from .\shley. They were the parents of four children, 
Estella, who became the wife of Frank Albright; Harry, Howard and Schuy- 
ler, who are all deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. .Albright have been born six 
children, namely : One who died in infancy, Earl S., Cora, Mabel, Vesta and 
Ebon. Politically, Mr. .Mbright is affiliated with the Democratic party, 
being progressive in his ideas and keeping in close touch with the trend of 
modern events, so that he is considered a man of marked influence in his 



940 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

locality. A good farmer, a kindl)- neigiilKjr, devoted husband and afifectionate 
father, he has won a warm place in the hearts of those who know him and is 
numbered among the solid and substantial citizens of Smithfield township. 



fOHX C. KOCH. 



Among the honorable and inlluential citizens of DeKalii county, Indiana, 
is the subject of this review, who has here maintained his home for many 
years, winning a definite success by means of the agricultural industry, to 
which he lias devoted his attention during the years of an active business life. 
His career has been without shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil, and thus 
he has ever commanded the confidence and esteem of bis fellow men. 

John C. Koch is a native of DeKalb county. Indiana, where be has spent 
his entire life. He was Ixirn on July lo, 1881, the son of Christian and 
Margaret R, (Shull) Koch, the former of whom also was born in DeKalb 
county. His father, Gottlieb Koch, who was a nati\e of Ohio, came to 
Indiana in an early day, settling on the farm now owned by the subject of this 
sketch, having entered the land from the government. To the clearing and 
improvement of this farm he devoted his early years and succeeded to a de- 
gree not fully appreciated by one who has never seen the land, for it is now 
numbered among the choice farms of this locality. The subject's father fol- 
lowed farming during all his acti\-e \'ears and was long numbered anmng 
the well known and influential citizens of this locality. He had two children, 
the sul)ject of this sketch and an older sister, (iertrude. who liecame the wife 
of William Smith, (_)f .Vllen county, this state. He owned one hundred and 
twenty acres of land and was numbered among the successful farmers of 
DeKalb county. 

The subject ui this sketch attended the common schools of Spencer town- 
ship during his youth and upon the completion of his education he took u]) 
the vocation of teaching, which he followed for five years. He then returned 
to the line of work to which he had Ijeen reared, that of agriculture, and has 
continuously followed this calling to the present time, operating, as before 
stated, the farm which his grandfather entered from the government. Wr. 
Koch carries on a diversified system of agriculture, raising all the crops com- 
mon to this locality and also gives some attention to the raising of live stock, 
which he has found to be a valuable adjunct to successful farming. The com- 
fortable and sjjacious residence, the commodiou:^ and well arranged barns. 



I)I;K \l.l! ((UNTI-, INDIANA. 94! 

well kf|it tciK<.'> ami niher up-lM-dale iValurfs alnnit tin- plaie indicate that llu- 
Dwner is a man of go(3d judgment and mudcrn ideas, and in the (jpera- 
tion of his farm he is not slow to adopt new plans and methods when their 
feasibility has been demonstrated by exjierience to be better than old ways. 

On Octol)er 19, rQoi. Mr. Koch married Hetty Wel)li, the daughter of 
John and Matilda ((ietz) Webb, the former of whom was a native of .\llen 
county. Indiana, where his forebears liad been earlv -settlers. Tlie latter's 
parents came from (iermany to this country, niakin,^ tlieir settlement in Allen 
county, where they were numbered among the solid and substantial citizens of 
their community. To Mr. and Mrs. Koch have been born three children: 
Otis, lx)rn in 1902; Virgil, born in 1905, and Marguerite, born in 1908. 

Politically, Mr. Koch is a staunch supjjorter of the Rejniblican i)arty. in 
the success of which he is acti\ely interested. He is known to all who ha\e 
formed his acquaintance to be a man of genuine worth an<l integrity scrupu- 
lously honest in all his dealings with his fellow men. and he and his family 
are highly respected and have hosts of friends tlironghout the conuimnity 
where they live. 



CH.ARLKS \. C'.\.MPr.l-:i I.. 

The subject of this sketch ha> early in life realized the fact that success 
ne\er smiles upon the idler or dreamer, and he has accordingly followed such 
an aphorism, being numbered among the enterprising citizens of the town-hip 
of his residence. Having spent all his life in the community, he is well known 
and by all is held in the hi.ghest e4eem because of the conimend.-ihle ipialities 
which he has exhibited thus far. 

Charles A. Campbell was born on Sej)temher .^ iS(.(). on the larni on 
which he now lives in section ji). Smithfield townshi]). DeKalb 
ana, and is the son of John and C ornelia ( 1 lenistreet ) Campbell. 
bell was Ixjrn in Summit couiily. Ohio, and came to DeKalb co 
when he was twelve years of age. 1 ie for awhile fartned w ith li 
later bought the place where the subject of this -ketch now li\ 
the trustee of Smithfield townshi]) .a part of one term. Me w 
Republican and his death, which occurred in 11)04, wa- cnsidci 
loss to the community. lie was the father of four children: 
was married in i88j to Leander Staniuts, an expert machinist, who ( 
i()00; they had one daughter, (ilenn, who now lives in Waterloo: Sara 



■ount\-. 


Indi- 


b>hn C; 


;imp- 


inty in 


1S47 


s father 


■ and 


's. He 


wa- 


;is an a 


cti\e 


«1 a (lis 


tinct 


lennie. 


who 



94-' |)p:kalb county, Indiana. 

ried, in 1882, George Parnell, a farmer, who later in life engaged in the lum- 
ber business and now lives in North Carolina. They have three children, 
John, Charles and Harry; Scott was married in 1902, and engaged in the 
mercantile business in Ohio. He is the father of two children. Edwin and 
Clifton. The subject's mother was a native of Huron county, Ohio, and 
came to DeKalb county, Indiana, in 1843, settling on the Hemstreet farm, 
where her death occurred in 1909. 

The subject of this sketch has spent all but seven years of his life on his 
present farm. In 1887 he entered a homestead in North Dakota, but in 1895 
he returned to the home farm and bought the same in 1909 from the heirs. 
He is now the owner of one hundred and two acres of splendid land, about 
ten acres of which is in timber, the balance lieing under cultivation, well 
drained and in excellent condition. All the buildings on the place are well 
improved, the barn ]>eing large and commodious, the residence being neat and 
attractive, and the appearance of the place indicates the owner to be a man 
of excellent taste and sound judgment. 

On July 31. 1898. Mr. Campbell was united in marriage to Sophia 
Schwitzer, the daughter of Gottliel> and Elizabeth (Metzger) Schwitzer. To 
this union have been born five children : Josh, Herman, Ruth, John and June. 
Gottlieb Schwitzer was born in Germany on June 15, 1828. coming to America 
when quite young, and first locating at Massillon. Ohio, where he worked 
making braids and trimmings for soldiers' uniforms, .\fter spending some 
time in that employment, he moved to DeKalb county. Indiana, locating on a 
farm three and one-half miles from Waterloo, in Smithfield townshi]). which 
he bought. He was active as a farmer and successful in liis Inisiness affairs 
up to the time of his death, wiiich occurred on June 13, iSSt;. Flis wife was 
a native of Ohio, wlio came to Del\all> county in 1830. at the age of seven 
years, her people settling in Fairfield township on a farm where she lived until 
her marriage witli Mr. Schwitzer. She is also deceased. Mrs. Campbell's 
liaternal grandmother came from Germany with Gottlieb Schwitzer. their mar- 
riage occurring in this country, and she died on the home place near Waterloo 
at the age of seventy-one years. To Mr. and Mrs. Schwitzer were born four 
children. George. Sophia. Edwin and Anna. George, who married Nora 
Stomm, lives on a farm in Fairfield township and has four children. Charles. 
.Anna. Willard and Wilber; Edwin, who married Edith Bickel and lives on 
the home place three and one-half miles from Waterloo, has three children, 
Wilson, Raymond and Llovd : .^nna is unmarried and li\es on the old houie 



DKKAr.B COUNTY. INDIANA. 943 

place. Personally, Mr. Campbell is a pleasant man to know, hospitable in his 
home, straightforward in his business relations and a man in whom all repose 
the utmost confidence who have occasion to know him. He has taken a broad 
view of men and things and gives his earnest supixjrt to every movement 
calculated to advance the l>est interests of the coniniunity along moral, educa- 
tional, social or material lines, and therefore he is deserving of being num- 
bered among the representative men of the community which has for so many 
years been honored by his citizenship. 



HERMAN M. HAMMAN. 

To contemplate, however briefly, a successful career is always pleasant 
and profitable, in that it brings to \ iew tlie great fundamental principles 
which form the true basis of character and exemplifies the practical intelli- 
gence and judgment, fertile resource and wise foresight which constitute 
such peculiar power and make the one in whom combined a master of himself, 
of his circumstances and his destiny. 

Herman M. Hamman was born on Februar\- j, 187J, in Smithfield 
township, DeKalb county, Indiana, and is the son of Daniel F. and Harriett 
E. (Martin) Hamman. who are represented elsewhere in this work. The 
subject was reared on his father's farm and li\c(l there until his marriage in 
1899, w^hen he engaged in farming, where he now lives in .section 3, Smith- 
field township. He 'has a well improved and uji-lo-date farm and has 
achieved a splendid record as ;iii .-iiiTiciiltnralist. In 1S95 .Mr. Hamman 
bought a threshing outfit and for eighteen years has followed this business 
during the season. in January, igi [. Mr. Hamman '). night the Frank 
Hamman tile mill, which he will locate on his home farm. Progressive in his 
ideas, practical in his methods and observing the strictest rules of integrity 
in his dealings with his fellow men. Mr. Hamman has gained and retains to 
a marked degree the confidence and good will of all who know him. 

In i8()9 Herman M. Hamman was married to .\manda .Myers, who was 
horn' and reared in iM-anklin township, the daughter of Levi Meyers, and to 
them have been born ihrcc children; Magel .\dell. horn May 17, 1900, died 
November 6. 1900; Russell, born on Feliruary 2. igoj. and Howard, horn on 
October 16, 1904. Mr. and Mrs. Hamman move in the best social circles of 
the communitv in which they reside, and because of their genial dispositions 



944 DEKALB COliNTY, INDIANA. 

and upright lives they have earned and retain to a marked degree the esteem 
of all who know them. 



The sulijecl of this sketch need^ no intrdihiction to the readers of tliis 
\olunK'. for he has for many years l)een a j^otent factor in the development 
and ])ro,<iress of DeKalh county, and as tlu- projirietor of tlie Ih'Kalh Coiintx 
Herald lie is deserving of the high esteem in which he is held hv all classes 
owing to his puhlic spirit, integrity and fidelity to dntw l>y dint of industry 
and marked innate ability he has forged to the front among his contempor- 
aries and made his influnece felt throughout this portion of the state He is 
popular among the laboring classes and the common people l)ecause he has 
been associatetl from youth with the men who ha\e had to strive for what 
they have secured of wealth and fame, and in their struggles he still takes a 
lively interest The DcKalh Comily Herald wields a powerful influence in 
molding public opinion and it holds high rank with the clean, trenchant, 
wide-awake, modern journals of the ])resent day. ;il>l\- managed in e\'ery de- 
partment and a success from a finaucial standpoint 

.\. S. Powers was l)orn in CL-iy countw Kan--as. on April 2j. nS^O. and 
is the son of Charles llenr}- and \'anc\ (Diamond) I'owers. the former a 
native of New York state and the latter of rennsylxania. Charles H. Powers 
moved from his native state* to Kansa>. where he remained for some time 
and then returned east, locating in Allen count). Indiana, where he followed 
farming, which was his life's vocation and in w Inch he was c|uite successful, 
so that he is now retired from active business i)ursuit-. To him and his wife 
were born three children. George .\.. .\. S.. the immediate subject of this 
sketch, and Dale. 

A. S. Powers received his education in the common schools of .\llen 
county, and in young manhood he entered a printing office, where he learned 
the "art preser\'ative" and of which he has lieen ,-i dexnted follower since 
that time. He has for a number of xears been the publisher and editor of 
the DcKalh County Herald at Butler and, as before stated, has wielded a 
potent influence for the development and welfare of the community with 
which he has identified himself. Personally. Mr. Powers is a man of strong 
character and genial disposition and he has, since becoming a citizen of 
DeKalb county, formed a wide acquaintance and gained a host of warm 
personal friends. 



■KALI! ( or 



945 



On May 17. 1900, AJr. Powers married Bessie Stewart, the daughter 
of Daniel and Sylvia (Curtiss) Stewart. Mrs. Powers' father was an old 
railroad man, being one of the first engineers on the \\al)as-h railroad. He 
was a man of steady habits and good character. To Mr. and Mrs. Powers 
have been born three children: F.loise. I)orn in h)oj,: r.nrdelta, bom in 
IQ07, and Marcella, born in 191 3. 

Politically, Mr. Powers has been a life-long supiKjrter of the FJenio- 
cratic party, in the success of which he has been deeply interested, but he 
has never been an aspirant for public office, preferring to devote his time and 
attention to the advancement of his business interests. hVaternally, he is an 
appreciative memljer of the Knights of Pythias, in which order he takes an 
intelligent interest. 



NELSON CHANEY 



In the early days the Middle West was often a tempting field to energetic, 
ambitious, strong-minded men, and Indiana was filled with them during the 
time she was struggling up to a respectable position in tlic sisterhood of states. 
There was a fascination in tlic broad licld and great pr(iini>c wln'ch this newer 
region presented to activity and \\ hicli attracted many nn.11 and induced them 
to brave the discomforts of the early life here fnr the pleasure and gratifica- 
tion of constructing their fortunes in their own way and after their own 
methods. The late Nelson Chaney, for a long lapse of years one of the most 
substantial and ])roniinent citizens of DeK'alb county, became identified with 
this favored .section of the country at an early date and from the first wielded 
a potent influence, lie gave lo the world the best of an essentially virile, 
loyal and noble nature and his standard of honor was absolutely inflexible 
He was a citizen of high civic ideals, and ever manifested his liberality in con- 
nection with measures and enterprises lending to advance the general welfare 
ill" the community honored li\ hi- re-ideiice. 1 le was the architect of his cnvn 
fortune and up(jn his career rests no lilemish. for he was true to the highest 
ideals and principles in business, civic and social life. He lived and labored 
to worthy ends and as*one of the sterling citizens and representative men of 
liis localitv in a past generatitm his memorv merits a tril)ine of honor on the 
pages of history. 

Nelson Chancy, whose death occurred at his home in Kicliland township. 
DeKalb county, Indiana, on .\pril _>i, 19 '.^ was born in Harrison county. 
Ohio, on August 15. 1R27. In carlv years (he family moved to .\shland. 



946 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Ohio, where he received his education and was reared to manhood. In 1853. 
desiring larger opportunity for advancement and for the exercise of those 
qualities which so especially fitted him for the life of a pioneer, he came to 
DeKalb county and purchased a tract of land in the woods. To the clearing 
of this land and the development and cultivation of a farm he applied him- 
self with such energy and perseverance that in due time his farm became 
known as one of the best in the entire locality, and on this place he resided 
continuously up to the time of his death. His career was a long, busy and 
useful one, fraught with much good to himself and family, an.d his memory 
will long be revered by all who ha\e had occasion to come in contact with him 
on life's highwav. Though successful in his material affairs, he never allowed 
the pursuit of wealth to warp his kindly nature; but preserved his faculties and 
the warmth of his heart for the broadening and helpful influences of human 
life, being to the end a kindly, congenial friend and gentleman whom it was a 
pleasure to meet. He reached the advanced age of eighty-five years, lia\ing 
lengthened out his life far beyond the Psalmist's allotted tliree score and ten, 
until he was permitted to witness the vicissitudes of the most remarkable 
epoch in the world's history, in all of which he was an interested sjjectator, 
and, indeed, played no inconsjiicuous part in pushing forward the wlieels of 
civilization in his own locality. There is no doubt Init that his long life was 
due to his sterling character, his conservative habits and his pure thinking. 
He was even-tempered, patient, scrupulously honest in all his relations in life, 
hospitable and charitable and his many kindly deeds were actuated from his 
largeness of heart more than from any desire to gain the plaudits of his fellow 
men. However, his record is too familiar to the readers of this work to re- 
quire any fulsome encomium here, his life speaking for itself in stronger 
terms than any phrases the writer could em])loy. In all that constituted true 
manhood and good citizenship he was a worthy e.\ami:ile and none stood liigher 
than he in the esteem and confidence of the circles in which lie moved. 

On June 15, 1855, Nehon Chaney was united in marriage with ]\Iary 
Ann McCague, who was l>orn in_ Washington count}-, Pennsxhania, on Jul\' 
6, 1833, and whose death occurred on January 15, 1884. Soon after her 
birth her parents moved to Holmes county. Ohio, and in the fall of 1848 they 
came to DeKalb county, Indiana. Soon after her marriage .to Mr. Chaney 
they moved onto the farm on which the remaining years of their life were 
spent, and which was not at that time improved to any considerable extent. 
In 1866 jMrs. Chaney embraced Christ as her Saviour and, with her husband, 
joined the United Brethren church at Shower's Corners, of which she and her 



)rNTV, INDIAXA. 



947 



husband were faithful and honored members until their deaths. She was in 
the truest sense of the word a helpmate to her husl)and, encouraging him l)v 
her counsel and assisting him by her labor tu create a iiome in the wilderness 
where they might rear their family of children. io lier relati\es and friends 
she left a priceless legacy of her life — a legacy of endurance, courage, 
patience, faith, hope and love. Her life was nobly lived and beautifully 
closed, and her record spoke of the sublime courage born of faith and hoi)e. 

To Nelson and Mary Ann Chaney were born eight children, one of whom 
died in infancy, and a son. Nelson Mil ford, was killed by a train at Auburn at 
the age of nineteen years. The other childvcn. ;ill surviving, are: William. 
at home; Irvin, at Rock Island. Illinois: Mrs. |. W. Sheffer. of .Auburn, this 
county; Mrs. E. C. Walker, of b'ort Wayne. Indiana: Mrs. William Rowman. 
of Corunna. this county, and Mrs. .\. I',. Raub, who remains at hnme. 



MOXTE L. GREEX. 



Success in this life comes to the deserving. It is an a.xiom. demonstrated 
by all human experience, that a man gets out of this'life what he ])uts into it. 
plus a reasonable interest on the investment. The individual who inherits a 
large estate and adds nothing to his fortune caimot be called a successful 
man. He that falls heir to a large fortune and increases its value is successful 
in proportion to the amount he adds to his possession. Rut the man who 
starts in the world unaided and by sheer force of will, controlled by correct 
principles, forges ahead and at length reaches a position of honor among his 
fellow citizens achieves success such as representatives of the Iwd former 
classes can neither understand nor appreciate. To a considerable extent the 
sul>iect of this sketch is a creditable represcritati\e of the class last named, a 
class which has furnished much of the bone and sinew of the country and 
added to the stability of our government and its institutions. 

Monte L. Green, president of the (larrett Savings, Loan and Trust Com- 
pany, is a native of the state of Missouri, where he was born on January 26, 
1870, and is the son of Jesse H. and Louisa B. (Beach) Green, the latter pos- 
sessing considerable literary ability. Both these parents were born in Indiana, 
the father at Moore's Hill, and the mother in Henry county, .\fter their mar- 
riage they moved to Spencer, Indiana. Jesse H. Green was for over thirty 
years a railway postal clerk, his last assignment being on the Cincinnati South- 
ern railroad. He finally reitred from active service, having removed to Bel- 



94^ ni:KAi.v. ror.Nr^-, inmmana. 

levue, KeiitiK-ky. w iicre he imw re.-iik's. His wife died in l'.elle\ue. Kentucky, 
oil April Ji,. 11)05. To him and his wile ha\e been iK^rn two cliildren, Glenn 
Arden, deceased, and Monte Lee. l-'raternally. Jesse H. Green is a member 
of the Grand Army of the Republic, his membership being consonant from the 
tact that on .'\piil 15. 1861, at the outbreak of the war of tlie Rebellion, he en- 
listed for .service in the navy at New York City, and then. <>n the expiration 
of his period of enlistment, in 1864, he enlisted in tiie Twenty-fifth Indiana 
Battery of Light .Artillery. He thus served during the entire period of the 
war and his record as a soldier was a creditable one in every respect. Mr. 
Green is a man of strong character and stands well with all w-ho know him. 

The subject of this sketch received his education in the public schools 
of Indianapolis, graduating from the German .\nnex high school in that city. 
He then went to Cincinnati, where he took a course in a business college, and 
then engaged in the carriage business, which, in as-ocialed lines, commanded 
his attention for twenty years. He came to Auliurn in n)oj and for eight 
months was associated with W. 11. Mcintyre. 1 le then bought the interests of 
♦ .some local stockholders in the Saving-. Loan and Trust Company, of which 
he was elected \ice-i)re-idenl. -o\ering .-dl connection witli this institution 
early in lyi^V in 1908. with associ;ile-. he org;nii/.ed the Savings. Loan and 
Trust Company at Garrett, of which he i-> now ])resideni and to which he is 
giving his entire time ;nul atlenlion. This company \\a< organized in Novem- 
ber, iqo8, with a capital >lock of twenty-li\e ihonsand dollars, wliich was in- 
creased to fon\- lhou>;nid dollar- w lirn Mr. ( ,reen d.i-no>ed of his interests in 
the .\ui)urn .Sa\ing>. Loan ;mtl Trn>t t'ompanv. 'ilie present officers are as 
follows: I'resideni. .Monte L. Green; first sice president. 1. X. l\itter: second 
vice-presideni. Dr. L A. >.'ltw eni^er ; -ecrel;ny. Mi-< Laura \. Shutt. these 
persons, with bred \\ . Knotl. of Anlnrn. composing the board of directors. 
This institution has alreath gained a -ironu hold on the good w-ill of the com- 
munity and is filling a long-felt want in the locality. Tn the year 1912 he was 
president of the Auburn Commercial t Inb and i- now the secretary of the 
Garrett business Men's Association. 

Mr. Green has lieen twice nianied, lirst to Jo-ephine Pohlman. the 
daughter of John W. and i'.e.alrice I'olilman. both of whom are deceased. 
Mrs. To.sephinc I irecu died 1,-niiiary 1 1, i()ofi, in Springfield. Ohio, leaving two 
sons. Arden 1). and Lvmaii Dale. These bovs were born in Kenton county. 
Kentucky, and are at home with their father. Subsequently. Mr. Green was 
married to Helen Samme Ralston, the daughter of A. ]. and Hadessa 
(George) Ralston, of .Xulmrn. Indiana, who are mentioned elsewhere in this 



liKK.M.Ii CO( .\l\ , INDIANA. (j^(j 

work. To the last marriage, while living in .\iibinn, has Ixen born one child, 
Alzein Louise. The family reside in a comfortable home on the northeast 
corner of Cowen and Dennis street, fiarrett, to which property they moved in 
April, 1913, having traded homes with Connty Recorder Warner Mc.Vabb. 
deceased. 

Politically. Mr. '/reen occi!i)ie.^ an inde|)endcni attitude, voting for the 
men and measures which he considers the best calculated to advance the best 
interests of the iJeople. He has always taken a commendable interest in public 
affairs, especially as relating to educational matters, and while a resident of 
Ludlow, Kentucky, he served as president of the school board. Religiously, 
he is a member of the Presbyterian church, in the prosperity of which he is 
deeply interested. His fraternal affiliations are with the l-ree and Acceptefl 
Masons, belonging to the blue lodge, of which he is a i)ast master, the chapter 
of Royal Arch Masons, the council of Rfjyal and Select Masters, and the com- 
mandery of Knights Templar, while he is also a thirty-second-degree Scottish 
Rite Mason, and a memljer of the Mystic Shrine. .\t the time of writing this 
sketch he is .serving as worthy jjatron in the Order of the f-'astern Star. Mr. 
Green's career has been characterized by hard work and cfmscientious en- 
deavor, and he owes his success to no train of fortunate incidents or fortui- 
tous circumstances. It is the reward of application of mental fjualifications 
of a high order to the afifairs of business, that have enabled him to recognize 
and .grasp opportunities that have presented themselves. His integrity has 
ever been unassailable, his honor unimpeachable, and he stand- high in the 
opinion of all who know him. 



C. \V. FREEBURX. 



Among the citizens of Concord township, DeKalij county, Indiana, who 
have not only won by their personal efforts a fair share of this world'.s goods, 
but also, because of their upright and honorable lives, the respect and esteem 
of the entire community, the subject of this sketch stands pre-eminent. He 
has at all times stood for the highest and be«t interests of the community and 
is regarded as one of the repre.sentative citizens of the township. 

C. W. Freeburn. who is a successful farmer and public-spirited citizen of 
Concord township. DeKalb county, Indiana, was lx)rn on September 8, 1842, 
in Schuylkill countv. Pennsylvania, and is the son of John T-". and Matilda 



950 DEKALB COUNTY. INDIANA. 

(Cooper) Freeburn. the former a native of Scotland and the latter of Vir- 
ginia. They were tiie parents of the following children : C. \\'., the im- 
mediate subject of this sketch; John, a resident of Ohio; Mrs. Matilda Boyer, 
who lives in the state of Washington ; Mrs. Maria Burgead, of Michigan : D. 
A., of Butler, this county, and Lincoln E., who lives in Ohio. 

The subject's early education was received in the common schools of his 
native state and Ohio, and at the age of about twenty-five years he came to 
DeKalb county, Indiana. Here his first actixe efforts were in farming, but 
later he engaged in the livery business at Butler, which occupied his attention 
about two years. He then went to Hamilton, Steuben county, Indiana, where 
he engaged in the drygoods business, but subsequently sold his interests there 
and moved to Newville, this county. In April, 1861. at the outbreak of the 
Civil war, Mr. Freeburn promptlx- offered his ser\-ices to his country, becom- 
ing a member of Company C. Eighth Regiment Ohio X'olunteer Infantry, for 
the three-months ser\ice. At the entl of his first period of enli-^tnient he re- 
enlisted as a niemljer of Company C, One Hundred and l-'irst Regiment Ohio 
Volunteer Infantry, with which he ser\ed for two years, wlien lie was trans- 
ferred to the scout service, in which he served until the close of the war. He 
was. a valiant and courageous- soldier and performed much arduous service 
and endured many hardships in his earnest efforts to assist in the preservation 
of the National Union. , Since the war Mr. Freeburn has devoted his atten- 
tion to farming and is now the owner of eighty-one acres of splendid land' 
in Concord township, this count}-, whicli he is cu!ti\ating with success and 
good results. He is jiractical ami i)ainstaking in everything he does, giving 
personal sujiervision to e\-er}" detail of his work and the general ajipearance 
of his place is such as to reflect great credit on the owner. 

In 1 88 1 Mr. Freeburn married Belle McMullin, the daughter of Albert 
and Elizabeth (Whitcomb) McMullin, the father a native of Ireland and the 
mother of Ohio. To this union were born the following children : Mrs. 
Jessie l'\ Colburn; of Hicks ville. Ohio; Mrs. Gail Resoner, of Fort WaynCy 
Indiana; Briton B., who lives in the state of California; William, who makes, 
his home with the suliject; Opal also is at home, as is Mildred. 

Politically, Mr. Freeburn gives his earnest supix)rt to the Republican 
party, l^elieving the principles advocated in its platform to be those most 
conducive to the highest interests of the American people. hVaternally, he 
is a meml)er of the Masonic order and of the post of the Grand Anny of the 
Republic at St. Joe. Personally, he is a genial, straightforward and hospitable 
gentleman, whom everybody honors and respects. He has been a hard work- 



ing man, and to his own personal efforts is attributable the success which he 
has enjoyed. Because of his earnest Hfe and sterh'ng character he has won 
and deserves the high standing which he now enjoys in tlie community wliere 
so many of his active years have been spent. 



J'RKl) ii. ].E1(;HT\' 



It is universally conceded that there arc three factors which arc move 
potent than all others in the advancement of civilization — pnlpii, ])!atforin and 
l)ress. Of tliese three, the ])ress reaches places ruid conditions wliicl: the other 
two never touch. I'lililic o])inion, as voiced in the new sjiajjers of our couutrv, 
has as much influence in moulding legislation, advancing reforms and elim- 
inating corrupt politics as all other agencies i)Ut together. .V good iiew.-pajier. 
one which stands for the best interests of a community, is a blessing and the 
good that it can do is incalculable. It is the paper of the town which often is 
the only -means of driving graft out of city affairs. 'I'lie editor of a good 
newspaper is a man who touches the daily life of the community on everv 
side and the editor who does his work honestlw fearlessly and rousfientiously 
deserves the praise of the comnumity. Such a man is the sul)jert of this hricf 
review. 

Fred B. Leighty, the i(.m of Charles Bennett and .Martha Jane i Ihirley i 
Leighty, was born at St. Joe, DeKalb county, Indiana, June 2(>. \SH(>. His 
father and mother were both natives of DeKalb county, lolm Leighty, the 
subject's grandfather, was an early settler of .Spencerx ille. Indiana, having 
emigrated to this state from PennsyKania. lie became one of the founders 
of St. Joe. Harper Burley, the father of Mrs. Leighty. was one of the early 
settlers of DeKalb county, coming to this state from Ohio, i'.enneit Leighty 
followed the occupation of a butcher during his lifetime in the tdwn of St. 
Joe. To Mr. and Mrs. Charles Leighty were born li\e children. .Vena C.. 
deceased: J. Harper, Frank K.. JMed I!, and Crace C. 

Fred B. Leighty was educated in tlie common schools and the hi.gh 
school at St. Joe. While he was in the high school he becaiue apprenticed 
to a printer of the town and when he ua^ in liis junior year in the high 
school he purchased the St. Joe Ncics on March i. Kjofi. He has continue<l 
in editorial charge ol this pai)er since that time, and has built u]) the i)aper 
until it commands the respect of the town and commumty. It is independent 
in politics, with a weekly circulation of -even hundred, and is one of the best 



95- ' DKKAI.B C(tLX'lV. INDIANA. 

advertising mediuni> in the ouiity. Il i^ published weekly and the price of 
the publication is one dollar jjer year. The job department is fully equipped 
with material for producing work that lia-^ s'^eu entire satisfaction to an 
ever-increasing number of patrons. 

As the paper says : '"St. Joe is the biggest little town in Indiana, with 
the best people on earth. Located in DeKalb county, population five hundred 
Cleanest and most beautiful little \illagc in the state ; good schools, churches 
and business houses and complete \valks, all well shaded; fine electric light 
system, two good railroads and a good place for a business location. One 
mile from Spring Brook fruit farm, the greatest prize winner in Indiana." 

Mr. Leighty was married on September 21, 1908, to Lora E. Hull, the 
daughter of Jnhn C. and Loretta Hull. l)(;th of whnni are natives of DeKalb 
county. Mr. and Mrs. Leighty are the parents (if nne son. John ISennett. born 
January 20, IQ14. 

Politically. Mr. Leighty has taken ;in in(le])endeut stand, voting for the 
man best qualified for office regardless of party lines, and always supporting 
such measures as promise to be of benefit to the community. Religiously, he 
is afifiliated with the Methodist Protestant church and gives his earnest support 
to its various activities. Personally. Mr. Leighty is a man of genial dispo- 
sition and kindly impulses and his friends are in number as his acquaintances. 



JOSEPH A. HULL. 

DeKalb county. Indiana, enjoys a high re]nnation l)ecause of the high 
order of her citizenship, and none nf her citizens occupies a more en\iable 
position in the esteem of his fellows than the gentleman whose name appears 
at the head of this sketch. A residence here of his entire lifetime has given 
his fellows a full opportunity to observe him in the various lines of acti\ity 
in which he has engaged and his j^resent high standing is due solely to the 
honorable and upright course he has pursued. As a leading citizen of this 
community he is eminently entitled to reiiresentation in a work of this 
character. 

Joseph A. Hull was born on October 21. 1800. in DeKalb county, and is 
the son of Henry H. and Sarah A. (Widney) Hull, the father a native of the 
state of Ohio and the mother a daughter of the Hoosier state. Henry H. 
Hull came from his native state of Ohio when he was about fourteen years of 
age. settling on a farm of eight}- acres, which he cleared and developed into 



ni-KALii i„rxTV. iM-iAxx. 953 

a good farm. A tier ho had coniijleled ll)i> task lie hou.tjlu sixty acres more, 
which he also cleared and later lj()uj,dn another tract of thirty acres, to which 
he gave his attention nntil he had that also in shape tor cultivation, i-'roin 
the foregoing statement it may he implied that through a period of years 
his life was characterized by lahor of the most arduous tvpe. hut it was such 
men as he who laid the foundation tor the ;)reseut s])lendi(l civilization and 
development which cliaracterizes DcKalh countv, and to him the present 
generation owes a heavy deht of gratitude. in .\'o\ enil.er. \H(>j,. Mr. Hull 
enlisted for service in the Union army and served about (Mie year. He later 
became a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, with which he was con- 
nected until his death, which occurred on September ii. 1.911. His widow, 
who now survives him at the age of seventy-three years, was horn on Novem- 
ber 8, 1840, and, though advanced in years, is still in the enjoyment of good 
health. ■ They were the parents of the following children: hiseph .\.. the 
immediate subject of this sketch: Clarence Tl.. of this county, and Delbert T... 
who resides in the state of Colorado. 

Joseph A. Hull received his elementary education in the common schools 
and at the age of eighteen years he engaged in farming on his own account, 
to which he has de\oted his attention throughout the subse(|uent years. He 
is now the owner of ninety acres of splendid land, on which he located in iSgj 
and to the improvement of which he has devoted himself. He owns a 
pleasant and attractive residence, large and substantial barns, and employs 
modern methods in the operation of his farm so that he has been enabled 
through the years to reap maximum returns with a minimum of effort. He 
carries on a diversified system of farming, making a specialty of no one line 
and has found this to be the most practical .uid profitable method of pro- 
cedure. Among his fellow agriculturists he is held in high esteem tjecause 
of the splendid success which he has att.iineil and. personally, he has gained 
a large following in the communitx becau-e of his gcui;il disposition and 
high character. 

On December 7. 18S2, Mr. Hull married F.lla C. I'.aker, the tlaughter 
of Stephen R. and Catherine (Reasoner) P.aker. the former a native of 
Pennsvlvania and the latter of Ohio. To Mr. and .Mrs. Hull have been 
born the following children: Paul C.. who died in iufancw ;is did Hubert 
E. : Harvey j. is a graduate of the common schools of Concord township 
and. thougli but thirteen years of age, is now attending the high school at 
St. Joe. 

Politicallv. Mr. Hull gives his support to the Democratic party, in the 



954 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

success of which he has been actively interested for many years, having been 
precinct committeeman for four years and Democratic election inspector 
during the past seven years. Mr. Hull enjoys a splendid reputation through- 
out his section of the country because of the marked success to which he 
has attained and the high personal character borne by him. Large-hearted, 
generous and courteous to all, he easily makes acquaintances and has a 
large circle of warm personal friends, who esteem him for his genuine 
worth. 



AARON W. CAMP. 



To indulge in prolix encomium of a life which was one of distinctive 
modesty and unpretentiousness would be most incongruous and yet in re^ 
\iewing the career of the late Aaron W. Camp, who was long one of the best 
known agriculturists of Smithfield township, and who held a position of 
unequivocal confidence and esteem in the community where he labored to so 
goodly ends, feelings of admiration are prompted, for lie always looked to the 
general good of his fellow men while advancing tin- interests of lii> nwn house- 
hold, ever discharging his duties, whether private (ir ])ul)lic. in a iimst conscien- 
tious manner, thereby winning the admiration and confidence of all who knew 
him. Though a man of unpretentious demeanor, he possessed the silent but 
powerful force that attracted men, and his memory will long be cherished by 
a wide circle of friends and acquaintances throughout this community. 

Aaron W. Camp was born in 1849 '" Stark county, Ohio, and was a son 
of John and Susanna (Smith) Camp. In 1855. wlien he was six years old, 
his parents moved to DeKalb county, Indiana, locating in Smithfield town- 
ship, near Ashley, a part of that town now standing on the old farm. There 
John and Susanna Camp made their permanent home and spent the balance 
of their li\-es, the father dying there aliout 1893 and the mother, who spent 
the 'last seven years of her life with her son, the subject of this sketch, passed 
away in December, 1908. They had been pioneer settlers in this section of the 
county and had courageously performed their sh.are of the gigantic task of 
clearing the land and opening up the country to settlement. When they came 
here their land was all in timber, the only mark of human work being the 
small clearhig in which John Camp erected his small pioneer cabin, in which a 
quilt was used instead of a door and other primitive arrangements character- 
ized the new home during the early months of their residence there, In 1878 



DKKAI.H COirNTI, INM)IA.\.\. 955 

a large, convenient ami attracli\e residence was erected, Ijeing at that time one 
of tlie finest in the township. Amid the surroundings of typical pioneer life 
Aaron Camp was reared to manhood, having secured his education in the 
district schools of that neighborhood and the Angola Normal School, after 
which he successfully taught school for several years. Alter his marriage, in 
1876, they remained about four years on the home farm, ilieu fur nine vears he 
lived on and operated a farm he and his mother had Ixniglil, about three 
miles southwest of Ashlfx-. During the follnwiug se\en and a half years they 
lived on what was known as the McCoy farm, whieh i> n^w uwned bv their 
daughter, Mrs. Mabel Judson. They then moved \n \]m- James Clark farm. 
three iniles south of Ashley, though still owning the iwn otliei- farm-. lAent- 
ually, twenty years after leaving the old home farm they returned to it and 
there made their i)ermanent home. Mr. Camp was an energetic and pro- 
gressive m;m in bis farming (iperatiuns and aebieved a noteworthy .success. In 
addition to bis cultivation of the sdjl, Ik- owned two threshing outfits, and, 
because of his extensive oi)erations and high character as a man, as well as 
because of his material success, he was widely and favorablx kncnvn. 

In local ])ul)lic affairs . Ir. Camp took an intelligent interest and was at the 
time of his death a \alued member of the county Cduncil. Politically, be was 
an earnest supporter of the Democratic party, while, fraternally, he w-as for 
twenty years a member of the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Camp's death oc- 
curred in 1906, his removal being generally considered a distinct loss to the 
community which had been honored by bis citizenship. 

In 1876 Aaron Camp was married to .\manda E. Miisselman. who was 
born in Fairlielil townsbi]), DeKalb county, in 1835. the daughter of John 
Trapp Ilusselman and I^lvina (Ilartman) llus-clman and. on the i)alernal 
side, the granddaughter of Samuel and Su.san (Trapp) Ilusselman. who, in 
1844, came from Wayne county, Ohio, to DeKalb county. In 1855 John 
Trapp Husselman bought a farm east of Fairfield Center, where he lived until 
his death, which occurred in November. 1888. His widow is still living in 
Ashlev, at the age of eighty-one years. Their daughter, Amanda E.. lived 
on the farm near Eairfield Center until her marriage to Mr. Camp. She is 
still living on the old Camp homestead, near .Ashley, with her dau.ghter 
Ethel and son Jesse. She is a woman of many kindly (|ualities and is beloved 
by all who know her. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Camp were born the following ebildreu : Maude 15.. 
who is the wife of Frank Duncan, of Olivet, Michigan, has a dau.gbter, Mil- 
dred C. : Eva H.. the wife of Forest Miller, lives on the farm where her par- 



95^' DKKAl.l! COIXTI , INDIANA. 

ents had formerly lived, three miles south of Ashle)', and they have a son. 
Lloyd, and an adopted daughter, Hope: Alabel C. is the wife of Har\ey T. 
Judson, of Auburn; Ethel V. resides at home with her mother; Jesse W'., who 
was born on May lo. 1877, married Mrs. Edna (Hartman) Bensing. Jesse 
and Ethel are the joint owners of a farm, which the former operates, and he 
also cultivates the home farm at Ashley and a farm owned by his sister, Mrs. 
Mabel Judson. He is a wide-awake, energetic and progressive farmer and is 
achieving a pronounced success in his vocation. He takes an active interest in 
public affairs and is a Democrat in his political relations, while, fraternally, 
he is a member of the Knights of Pythias. 

Aaron Camp was entitled to rank among tlie leading men of his com- 
munity, for in him were embodied those qualities which prompt a man to do 
only those things which he feels are right. The qualities of keen discrimina- 
tion, sound judgment and executive ability entered very largely into his make- 
up and were contributing elements to tb.e material success which came to him. 
A public-spirited citizen, he was ready at all times to use his means and in- 
fluence for the jjromotion of the public good, and there was probably not 
another man in his community who was held in higher esteem by his fellow 
citizens. 



ELIA.S ZIMMKRMAN. 



In the past ages the history ot a country was comprised chiefly in the 
record of its wars and conquests. Today history is largely a record of com- 
mercial activity and those whose names are foremost in the annals of the 
nation are those who have become leaders in business circles. The conquests 
now made are those of mind o\er matter, and the \ictor is he who can most 
successfully estal>Iish. control and operate commercial and industrial interests. 
Elias Zimmerman is unquestibnabl}' one of the strongest and most influential 
men whose lives have been an essential ])art of the history of DeKalb county. 
Tireless energy, keen perception, honesty of purpose, genius for devising and 
executing the right thing at the right time, are the chief characteristics of the 
man. These, combined with every-day common sense and guided by strong 
will power, are concomitants which will insure success in any underaking. 

Elias Zimmerman was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, on May 30. 
1829, and is a son of John and ^Nlary (Paden) Zimmerman. In the fall of 
1831 the family moved to what is now .\shland (formerly Montgomery) 
county. Ohio, wlicre tliey lived until the middle of May. 1844. when they 



UEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 957 

moved to DeKaIl> ciuinly, Indiana. I It-n.' jdhn ZiniiiK-iinan iMnighl lun 
quarter sections and .settled in tlic woods two niik-s west o!' Spencerviilc. He 
came here early in the spring and had l>rought a hired man with liim to help 
in the work of clearing the land and putting it in cultivation. They cleared 
about three acres that spring, and erected a shant\-. about twenty- four by ten 
feet in size, built of small trees, with the bed made of sappling poles clear 
across one end from wall to wall. The cabin had no chimney, but they cooked 
outside. The first summer they cleared fifteen acres of land, and in the fall 
they hewed logs and built a house in which the family lived for si.\ or eight 
years. This quarter section of land John Zimmerman succeeded in clearing 
and improving, but the other quarter section, southwest of Spencerville, he 
leased out, instead of clearing. The first fall they sowed wheat, the mode of 
their operations being necessarily somewhat crude. After clearing out the 
logs and raking and burning the trash, the wheat was sowed broadcast be- 
tween the stumps and was dragged in, it not being possible to plow because of 
the stumps. It grew, but when about knee high the to]js w ere killed by frost. 
However, it sprouted again and they got one hundred hnshel-; frcim fifteen 
acres. 

John Zimmerman's first wife had died in Ohio Ijefore tlie family re- 
moved to Indiana, and he afterwards married Rebecca Folk. When he came 
to, Indiana there were three hoys and three girls by the first marriage and one 
by the second marriage, tiiree more children being born here, .\fter the death 
of his second- wife John Ziniiuerman married Mrs. Xancy Murray, a widow. 
the mother of Henry Murra\ , now of Spencerville. 

In an earlv day I'eter I'.ownian came from .\sliland county, Ohio, and 
set up a .saw-mill on the Zimmerman farm. Soon .ifler 1S50 l^lias Zimmer- 
man bought this null and operated it for several years. After John Zim- 
merman had lived al C'edarville a few years, having moved there from the 
farm west of Spencerville. he built a house at Leo. Allen c<innty. where he 
lived for a time, and then bought a mill at S])eneerville. a picture of which is 
<hown elsewhere in this \-o!ume. 

h'lias Zimmerman ojjcrated for about a year tlie -aw-nnll on his father's 
I'arm. west of Spencerville, referred to above, then mo\ ed it to I.eo, where he 
o{)erated it for several years. He then bought an acre of ground adjoining 
the saw-mill, on which he eVected a slave factory, making oil-barrel staves for 
several years and also installing a shingle mill. 1 le continued these operations 
there until 1875. when he sold his interests at Leo and moved to Auburn, 
where his son 1-Vank was already engaged in the oijeration of a planing mill 



958 IJEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Becoming identified with the business, Elias Zimmerman has since had much 
to do with its progress and development and is now at the head of the con- 
cern, which is conducted under the name of the Zimmerman Mfg Co., and is 
the oldest manufacturing concern in Auburn in point of continuous exist- 
ence. For detailed reference to the Zimmerman factor\- in Auburn, the reader 
is referred to tlie sketch nf John Zininiernian, wliicli a])pears elsewhere in this 
.work. 

. In 1850 FJias Zimnu-niian married Alary Bittcnger. who died in_ 1872, 
leaving five children, Frank, (ieorge, John, .Mice and Ada. Of these Frank, 
George and: Alice are deceased: John is secretary, treasurer and general man- 
ager of the Zimmerman Mfg. Co., and Adda is the wife of C- C. Schatter, of 
Fort Wayne. 

. .On January i, 1884, Elias Zimmerman married Priscilla Coder, who was 
born in \\'estmoreland county, Pennsylvania, the daughter of John and Eliza- 
beth (Griffith) Coder. Her parents, who were both natives of Westmore- 
land county, Pennsylvania, moved first to Ohio, and eventually to DeKalb 
county, Indiana, locating in 1867 on a farm west of Spencerville. They lived 
there until about 1886. when the father retired from acti\-e farming and 
moved to St. Joe. where they spent their last days and died, the father passing 
awa\- at the age of se\'cnt}--six years and the mother when se\-enty-four years 
old. They were well known throughout that community and were highly 
esteemed. About 1869 Miss Priscilla Coder began teaching school and during 
the following twelve years she was successfully engaged in the country schools 
and at Spencerville. In 1880 she came to Auburn and taught in the primary 
grade for four vears, having an average of eighty-five pupils and at one time 
as many as one hundred and fifteen. To Elias and Priscilla Zimmerman has 
been born a daughter, Elizabeth, who is well educated. After graduating 
from the Auburn higli school she became a student in DePauw University, 
where she was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Her scholar- 
ship was of such a high standard that she was awarded the Phi Beta Kappa 
membership," a membership in a national organization that is based solely oh 
high scholarship. 

Religiouslv. Mr. Zimniernian is an earnest and faithful member of the 
jMetbodist Episcui)al church at Auburn, to the support of which he is a liberal 
contributor. It is u-eless to say that Mr. Zimmerman has worked hard and 
honorably earned the reputation which he enjoys as one of the leading public- 
.spirited citizens of this locality, and it is also needless to add that he is held in 
the higliest esteem by all with whom he has come in contact, for through the 



DEKALR COUNTY, INDIANA. 959 

years he has thrown the force of his strong individuahty and sterling integrity 
into making tlie county what it is, efforts which have not failed of appreciation 
on the part of his fellow citizens. 



GEORGE W. TROSTLl- 



Among the citizen.s of Concord townsliii>, DeKalb cnuntw Indiana, who 
have built uj) comfortable homes and surrounded themselves with valuable 
landed estates and personal property, few have attained a higher degree of 
success than the subject of this sketch. With few opportunities except What 
his own efforts were capal)le of mastering and with many discouragement-s to 
overcome, he has made an exceptional success in life and in his old age Iras the 
gratification of knowing that the community in wliicii he has resided has beeh 
benefited by his presence and his counsel. 

George ^^'. Trostle, one of tlie successful farmers and substantial citizens 
of Concord township, this count}', was born on August u. 1843, '" Stark 
countv, Ohio, and is the son of William and Elizal)etli (Swiggart) Trostle, 
both of whom are natives of Pennsylvania. They were the parents of four 
children, namely: George W. ; Eliza Solsl)ury, deceased: Tliomas B., de- 
ceased, and Eucinda, also deceased. 

The subject of this sketch received his education in llie common schools 
of his native state and about forty years ago came to Indiana and was here 
married to Sarah Sewell, the daughter of Joseph and America Sewell, natives 
of Ohio. To this union were born the following children: Abner W'., of 
Garrett, this county; Mary A., who lives with her parents at home, and I\Irs. 
America A. Tustisan, who lives on a farm in Concord lownsliip. this county. 
About thirtv vears ago George W. Trostle came to DeKalh county and about 
twenty-three years ago located on bis fine farm of forty acres in Concord 
township, to the cultivation and improvement of whicli lie lias since devoted 
his attention. His place is well improved in every resi)ecl an:l indicates the 
owner to be a man of discrimination and excellent taste. 

On February 15, 1862, George W. Trostle gave evidence of his patriotic 
spirit by enlisting for service in Company F, Forty-eighth Regiment, Ohio 
Volunteer Infantry, in defense of his country, and for four years he proved a 
valiant and courageous soldier, being honorably discharged from the service 
on May 9, 1866. He is a member of the John C. Kerns Post \o. 144. Grand 



960 DKKALI! COUXT'i', INDIANA. 

Army of the Repiililic. at St. Joe. He has taken an active i)art in public af- 
fairs in his community, having served as a member of the school board for 
several years and also has served as township trustee and supervisor of roads 
for several years. Politically, he is a supporter of the Republican party and, 
religiously, he is affiliated with the Christian church, in the prosperity of 
which he is deeply interested and to which he contributes liberally of his means. 
Mr. Trostle has eight grandchildren, of which he is very proud, namely: 
Wayne and Dale Trostle, and George W., Paul, Harold, Alice M., Carl and 
Russell Tustisan. He is a man of many praiseworthy traits of character, 
being scrupulously honest in all his dealings with the business world, generous 
and pleasant, possessing rare fortitude and good judginent, advocating clean 
politics, wholesome living and honesty in business. Needless to add that such 
a man has hosts of friends and stands high in the e.stimation of all who know 
him. 



THE NEW GARRETT CITY HALL. 

This beautiful structure was started in year 191 3 and completed in 
1914. The cost was thirty-five thousand dollars and the people of the city 
are justly proud of it. The building is located at Randolph and Keyser 
streets. The architects were Ellwood & Ellwood of Elkhart, Indiana, and the 
contractor was Nelson R. Allman, of Garrett, Indiana. 

Brick is used in the construction, with cut stone trimmings consisting 
of Indiana fine grain of blue Bedford stone. Tlie building is fifty feet wide 
and one hundred twenty-five feet long, two stories high, with basement 
under entire Iniilding. 

The first floor contains the offices of the mayor, city clerk, treasurer, 
superintendent of water and light department, and general waiting room, 
and two public comfort stations, also public telephone booth, city fire de- 
partment, city jail and police officers in the rear of building. 

The second floor contains the oftices of the city civil engineer, city 
attorney, secretary of the city board of health, ])n1ilic school board, township 
trustee and large council chamber, as well as a dormitory for members of the 
fire department. The building is heated with waste steam from the city water 
and light plant; the steam pipe is seventeen Imndred feet long, the first 
system of its kind ever installed in DeKalb counts . 

The equipment throughout the building is modern, also including an 
automatic private telephone system connecting all city ofiices in the building 



IS, 



iiirr 



[f 



■ "''••^"f^^' 



^ 



NEW CITY HALL. CAltRETT 



,M COUNTY, INDIANA. g6l 



WILLIAM I. XODINE. 



It is the progressive, wide-awake man of affair- that makes ihc real 
history of a coinmunity and his influence as a i)otential fact<ir of tlic body 
politic is ditticull to estimate. The examples such men furnish of patient 
purpose and steadfast inlegrit\- strongly illustrate what is in the power of 
each to accomplish, and there is always a full measure of .satisfaction in 
adverting e\en in a casu;d way to iheir achievements in advancing the inter- 
ests of their fellow men and in gi\ing strength and solidity to the inslitu- 
tions which make so much for the prosperity of a conmnmit}-. Such a man 
is the worthy subject of this sketch, and as such it is proper that a review of 
his career be accorded a jjlace among the representative citizens of the city and 
county in which he resides. 

\N'illiani J. .X'odinc. one of the prosperous merchanls and imblic-spirited 
citizen- ..f Waterloo,, is a native 'of DeKalb county, having been born in 
Grant townshi]), this counly. on April lo, i860, and is the son of Hiram 
and Mary (Nodine) Nodine. The Nodine family history is an old one, being 
traced back through England to hVance. Hiram was born near Sharon, 
Litchfield county, Connecticut, on .\pril 7, 1S27, and was the son of John 
and Laura (Biercc) Nodine, John Xodine being the son of Elias. who mar- 
ried a lady of title. John Xodine, who married Laura I'.ierce on October 23, 
1825, came from Sharon. Litchlield county, Connectici't, in 1846. and located 
in Union (now Grant) township, this county, on section ij. having entered 
land from the government. This land he cleared and on it built a home, 
in which he lived during the remainder of his life, giving his time and atten- 
tion to farming and surveying. While engaged in the latter occupation with 
his brother, Joseph, he took a severe cold, from the effects of which he died. 
Joseph Nodine was county surveyor during the lifties and was considered 
a very competent man in his line. Hiram Xodine, son of John and Laura 
Nodine, was reared in Connecticut, and on January 31. T848. married 
Rebecca Miller, who was born in Connecticut on August 20, 1826. To them 
came four children: Silas, born November 19, 1848: Laura, born May 26. 
i8;o; Benjamin and John, twins, born December 2, 1851, the mother- giving 
up her life at the birth of the twins. Hiram Nodine became a blaster in the 
iron mines near his home, in which employment he was engaged until .848. 
when he and his familv came to DeKalb county. Indiana, locating on the 
northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 12, Grant township. 
(61) 



-962 DKKAI.B (OUXTV, INDIANA. 

near his father. The long journey from Connecticut was made by canal 
and lake to Fort Wayne, thence by stage to Waterloo. Here Hiram engaged 
in farming, in which he prospered and eventually he bought more land until 
he owned two hundred acres. He was a man of good education and during 
the early days iiere he engaged in teaching school during two winters. 
Some time after the death of his first wife Hiram Nodine returned to Con- 
necticut, where for one summer he was again employed in the mines. li\en- 
tually he returned to Waterloo, and on November 25, 1853, he married Maiy 
Nodine, the daughter of Benjamin and Julana Nodine. She was born in 
New York and came to this state with her parents in 1844, locating in the 
southwest cpiarter of section u. Later her parents sold their farm there and 
moved to Branch county, ^lichigan, where they lived a numlser of years, 
but later they bought a farm east of Fremont, in the southwest' corner of 
Clear Lake township, Steuben county, Indiana, where they spent the re- 
mainder of their lives. To Hiram antl Mary Nodine the following children 
were born: Albert, born October 5, 1854, died at the Soldiers' Home at 
Marion, Indiana, on January 15, lyoG; Ann Melissa, born September i-j, 
1856, died July 29, 1869; Emeline, born June 30, 1858, became the wife of 
Edward Thompson, now deceased, and she later married A. C. Jackson, and 
they live in Michigan; William Jefferson is the immediate subject of this 
sketch; Mary Marilla, bom December 12, iSOi, died on October 31. 1868, 
from the effects of a fall from a tree-tup: Ophelia, born August 21. 1863, 
died September 12, 1873; (jeorge, born .\pril 25, 1805, is a manufacturer of 
cement blocks and tile at Waterloo ; Charles, born June 13, 1807, lives on 
a farm near Waterloo, in Smithfield township; Orsmus, l)orn January 24, 
1869, lives near Los Angeles, California; Dora, born January 19, 1870, is the 
wife of John Shaw, and they live in Oklahoma; Amos, born Januar\- 2, 
1873, lives in Waterloo; Richard, born August 31, 1874, died January 31, 
1875 ; Henry, born November 30, 1875, is a tireman at the W. J. Nodine mills 
'at Waterloo; Chloe, born June 8, 1877, died .May 2, 1892. The father of 
the.se children died on October 11, 1902, while ius wife died on January 30, 
1885. 

William 1. Nodine was reared on the liome farm and secured his educa- 
tion in the district schools of that neighborhood. When he reached the age 
of twenty-one years he engaged in farm labor, in which he was employed 
two years, and then rented a farm in section 11, (irant township, for five 
years, the place comprising about eighty acres of land. He lived at home 
Avhile operating this farm, he and his brother exchanging work and thu^- 



OKKALIi COUNTY, IN'DI.WA. (j6 ^ 

mutually advancing their interests. He I'arnicd with his l)rutlKT, Silas, until 
1896, from wliich year until j()(y he renK'ined ..ii the Imnie farm and rented 
land and farmed for himself. In 1903 he hought the half interest of James 
llarr in the flouring mills at Waterloo, the other hall interest being owned 
by his brother, George, .\fter one and a half years the subject rented his 
brother's half interest in the mill and in 1907 bought the interest, being now 
the sole owner of this enterprise. About 1907 Mr. Nodine added the coal 
business to his milling interests and does a large business in that line. His 
mill has a daily capacity of si.xty barrels and is well cfpiipped for the produc- 
tion of high grade Hour ;md allied products. In 1909 Mr. Nodine bought 
a mill at Jamestown in the northern part of Steulien county, a si.\ty-barrel 
mill that was o])eraled liy water power at tlie outlet of Lake George. He has 
l)een successful in eserylhing he has underlaken and i)ecause of his persistent 
effort, sound judgment and wise discrimination in his l)nsincss affairs, he has 
well merited the jjrosperity which he now enjoys. 

In 1896 William J. Nodine was united in marriage with .\d(lie A. 
iUauser, who was born in Lafayette township, ,\llen county, Indiana, the 
daughter of Noah and Eliza (Seaman) Blauser, the father a native of I'^air- 
field county, Ohio, and the mother of Stark county, that state. Eliza Sea- 
man's parents came from Pennsylvania to Stark county, Ohio, and were 
married. In an early day Noah Blauser came to Allen county, Indiana, and 
the Seaman family at that time lived in Wells county, this state, and where 
Eliza and Noah were married on August 25, i860. Both are still living in 
Lafayette township. .Mien county, Noah Blauser being eighty-seven jears 
of age and highly esteemed in- his community. To Noah and Eliza Blauser 
were bom nine children, of whom Mrs. Nodine was the fourth in order of 
birth. Eliza Seaman is the daughter of Joseph and Maria (Bailey) Seaman, 
her father being a son of John Seaman and Elizabeth (Loeb) Seaman. John 
Seaman was a son of Eberhart Seaman, who was a son of John Lud\yig 
Seaman. The Seaman family is l)elieved to have originated in the cantons , 
of Aaran, Berne and I'ri in Switzerland, the name "Seeman" having In-en 
knowm in Berne as early as 1304. John Ludwig Seaman was of German 
blood, born about 1722. and came lo i'hila(leli)hia from the fatherland, hav- 
ing sailed from Rotterdam on Octoi)er 25, 1874. at the age of twenty-six years. 
He settled in Berks county, Pennsylvania, where he was prospered in his 
material afifairs, leaving at his death an estate valued at about twenty-five 
thou.sand dollars. Pie and his son. Elierhart. were elders in tlie Lutheran 
church. 



1)64 UKK AI.i; (■()r.\r\-. INDIANA. 

To Mr. and Mrs, Xodinc- ha\e been Ijorn two children, ]\Iary E., born 
DecenilxT i8, 1897, and \era A., born March 20, 1899. WilHam J. Nodine 
has been a member of the Knights of the Maccabees since 1888, having 
joined the order soon after its establishment at Waterloo. He is also a 
member of the Modern Woodmen of .America, joining about 1898, and about 
1908 he joined the Knights of Pythias, and alrout 1910 he became a Master 
Mason. 



L. C. HARDING. 



i'^or a number of years the subject of this review has been one of the 
leading business men of Butler, UeKalb county, Indiana. He ranks among 
the representative citizens of his comtnunity and occupies a conspicuous 
place in the commercial world. His connection with various lines of activity, 
involving important financial and industrial enterprises, has made him widel\ 
and favorably known, and since engaging in his present business his name 
has become intimatel\- associated with commercial transactions which have 
brought him to the favorite notice of the public, not only of his immediate 
community, luii, in ever widening circles, to the uttermost parts of the 
country. 

L. C._ Harding was laorn in Steuben county. Indiana, in 1873, the son 
of William and Mary (Andrews) Harding, he a r.ative of Steuben county, 
Indiana, and she of St. Joseph county, Michigan. William and 'Mary 
Harding were among the early settlers in Steuben county. The father 
was engaged in the mercantile business at Fremont, that county. Tu ilxiu 
were born two children, Louella and the subject of this review. 

The subject received a good common school education, which was 
supplemented by a course in a business college, where he gained a si)ecial 
training for the lines of activity which he followed in later life. Cuming 
to Butler, DeKalb county, shortly afterward, he accepted a position in the 
T. J. Knisely Bank, which occupied his time for the next seven years, at the 
end of which time he became secretary and treasurer of the Butler Company, 
afterward becoming president of this concern. 

The Butler Company, one of the leading institutions of its kind in the 
state, was organized in 1894. with a capital stock of forty thousand dol- 
lars, and the following officers: President, Roscoe Beams: secretary. T. C. 
Munger: treasurer. .\. C,. Jones, the other member of the firm being T. J. 



DKKAi.ii ln^^l^. Indiana. 965 

Knisely. The factory at first engaged in the manufacture of liicycles and 
windmills, but in iijoc? the bicycle department was discontinued and the 
manufacture of buggies taken up. The business has had a steadv and healthv 
growth until at the present time the output of bnggici. amoiuUs to over 
twenty-iive hundred a \ear. while the number of windmills ;inmially marketed 
reaches about llie ^.nue figure. I'.eside- lhe~-e two leading lines, tanks and 
tank heaters are also manufactured, 'fhe present officers of tin- company arc : 
President, 1.. C Harding: vice-president, 1). C. Henry, of Auburn, \'ew 
York; secretary, (leorge -\. Powers; treasurer, J. C. Baker. The board of 
directors consists of the officers named and Samuel ('.. Stone and T. J. 
Knisely. 

L. C. Harding was married in 1898 to Dessie Knisely. daughter of 
T. j. Knisely. and to this union has been born one child. Helen 15. 

Fraternally, the subject of this review is affiliated witli the Knights of 
Pythias, in which he has passed the chairs and been honored with election 
as a delegate to the grand lodge, and he also belongs to the Masonic fraternity, 
in which he is a member of the chapter and the commandery. 



ACK M. P.i'l.VMS. 



Among the earnest men whose enterprise and depth of character have 
gained for them a prominent place in the community and the resided and 
confidence of their fellow citizens is the honored subject of this .sketch. A 
leading business man of the town in which he resides and a man of decided 
views and laudal)!e ambitions, !iis inthience has ever been made for the 
advancement of his kind and in the vocation to which his energies are devoted 
he ranks among the rei)resentative citizens of the county. 

lack I\l. P.eams was born on l"el)ruary 10. i8(kj, and is the son of 
John W. and .Mice (Rhodes) P.eanis. John W. P.eams was born <in .\pril 
21, 1843, in Adams county, Pcnn.sylvania. being the son of John and Barbara 
D. (Bishop) Beams, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of 
Pennsylvania. John \\". Beams received his education in the common schools 
of .\llen county, Indiana, to which locality the family had moved in an early 
day. and was reared to the life of a farmer, giving his assistance to his 
father until eighteen years of age when, in 1862, he gave evidence of his 
])atriotic loyaltv bv enlisting in Company K. Fifty-fifth Regiment Indiana 



905 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Volunteer Infantn-, with which command he participated in many of the 
most hotly contested battles of that great struggle, and at the close of his 
military service he received an honorable discharge. He married Alice 
Rhodes in 1867, she being the daughter of Daniel and Mary Rhodes, both of 
whom were natives of Ohio. To this union were born the following children ; 
Edward, who is engaged in the general mercantile business and undertaking 
at Spencerville, this county; Jack M., the immediate subject of this sketch; 
Nettie, deceased. On October 4, 1883, Mr. Beams married Fannie Miller, the 
daughter of Abraham S. and Jane (Chamberlain) Miller, the former a native 
of New York and the latter of Pennsylvania, and to this union were born 
the following children : Walter, deceased ; Robert, who lives with his parents, 
is a graduate of Butler College of the class of 1910, after which he went to 
Valparaiso, Indiana, and is now a teacher in the high school at Spencerville. 
John W. Beams is the owner of thirty-three acres of land in Spencer town- 
ship, to which he has given his attention with gratifying success. He is a 
notary public, having held this office for the last twelve years. He is an old 
settler of DeKalb county and well remembers when where now stands the 
thriving town of Spencerville was nothing but a wilderness. About thirty- 
three years ago he engaged in the dry goods, hardware and undertaking 
business, and carried them on successfully until 1900 when he turned the busi- 
ness over to his sons, who are still actively engaged in these lines. Politically, 
he is a Republican, while, religiously, he is a member of the Evangelical 
Lutheran church. Fraternall}-. lie 
Accejited Masons; Lodge No. ^jo. !• 
No. 330, drand .\rniy of the Repub 
ville, where he is now living in qi 
active years so richly entitle him an 
regard of his fellows. 

Jack M. Beams received his education in the common schools of De- 
Kalb county and in the Normal University at Valparaiso, this state. He 
then returned to Spencerville and became connected with the mercantile busi- 
ness which had been established here many years before by his father, and 
he is still actively connected with that enterprise which has been prospered 
by his steady efforts and strict integrity in business affairs. Li 1897 ^'I''- 
Beams was appointed postmaster of Spencerville by President McKinley and 
has held the ofifice continuously since that time, a period of sixteen years, 
the discharge of his official duties being entirely satisfactory to the depart- 
ment and to the patrons of the office. Aside from his official position, Mr. 



a nienibcT of 


Lodge No. 336. Free and 


i-lUsnf I'yth 


ias, and John C. Kern I'ost 


llc.iwnsa 


lieautiful home in Spencer- 


I enin\nient 


of that rest to which his 


le enjiiys t<.) ; 


1 marked degree the w arm 



DKKAI.n COrXTV. l.NM!l.\N.\. 967 

Beams has never held public office, but he has consistently given his support 
to every enterprise looking to the advancement and welfare of the com- 
munity in which he resides. Politically, he is an earnest Republican. Fra- 
ternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Fife and Accepted 
Masons, in the latter order having attained to the degrees of the Scottish 
Rite and holding membership in the consistory at Fort Wayne. He is also 
a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. 

On February 14, 1889, Mr. Beams married Hattie Shutt, daughter of 
George and Mary (Houck) Shutt, the former a well known farmer in this 
county. He and his wife came from Stark county, Ohio, and were among 
the early settlers of DeKalb county, where they have continuously since 
maintained their residence. To Mr. and Mrs. Beams have been born two 
children, Agnes, deceased, and Arg\'le, who at present is preparing himself 
for the practice of medicine. Mr. Beams is a man of commendable enter- 
prise who takes pride in his business affairs and in the faithful and honest 
discharge of his official duties. Personall)^ he enjoys a high degree of 
popularity in the community, possessing as he does the qualities of mind and 
heart that retain warm friendship. 



CHRISTIAN C. BUSS. 



Specific mention is made 01 many of the worthy citizens of DcKalh 
county within the pages of this work, citizens who ha\e figured in the growth 
and development of this favored locality and whose interests have been identi- 
fied with its every phase of progress, each contributing in its sphere of action 
to the well-being of the community in which he resides and to the advance- 
ment of its normal and legitimate growth. Among this number is he whose 
name appears above, peculiar interest attaching to his career from the fact that 
his entire life has been spent within the l)or(lers of this county. 

Christian C. Buss was born in DeKalb county, Indiana, June 2. 1844. the 
son of Christian and Margaret (Staley) Buss, natives of Switzerland, who 
were married after coming to Ohio. In 1843 they came to DeKalb county, 
and settled in Richland township, entering government land. The deed for 
this entry was signed by President Polk. Here the\' s]:)ent their lives, endur- 
ing all the hardships of pioneer life, and 1;otli died on the linine farm. Tf) 
them were born twelve children: Sophia, C'liristian (.'.. Samuel. Margaret. 



968 ])KKAI.Ii roIXTV, IXniA.NA. 

deceased, Henry, deceased, Man, Clara, Ida, deceased, and four who died 
in infancy. 

The subject was edi-.cated in the common scliools of DeKalb county, and 
after completing the course he engaged in the saw-mill business, first for four 
years at Auburn and then for some time in the northern part of DeKalb county. 
Subsequently he took up farming, in which vocation he has achieved marked 
success, now owning one hundred and twenty acres of splendid land in Rich- 
land township. 

In 1866 Christian Buss was united in the holy Ijonds <,\ wedlock with 
Elizabeth Park, daughter of William and Barbara ( W'arnei- ) Park, who came 
from Maryland to Ohio, and then to Allen county, Indiana, after which the\ 
moved to DeKalb county and located in Richland township, being among the 
early settlers in that county, where they spent the remainder of their davs. 

To the subject and wife have been born nine children ; Eda (deceased), 
William, John, Belle. Isaac. George (deceased), Charles. Almetta and Jeffer- 
son. Early in the history of the comity the subject rendered splendid service to 
his fellow citizens as a member of the town board. He is a member of the 
United Brethren churcli. and ])olitically gives his preference to the party of 
Thomas Tefterson. 



ERAKKLIN MONROE TEETERS. 

The history of a county or state, as well as that of a nation, is chiefly 
a chronicle of the lives and deeds of those who ha\e conferred honor and 
dignity upon society. The world judges the character of a community by 
those of its representative citizens and yields its tributes of admiration and 
respect to those whose works and actions constitute the record of a state's 
prosperity and |jride. Among the prominent citizens of DeKalb count\-, 
Indiana, who are well known because of their successful li\es and the up- 
right character they have borne, is the gentleman whose name appears above. 

Franklin Monroe Teeters was born January 1.2. 1859, on section 35. 
Keyser township, two and one-fourth miles west of Auburn, DeKalb county. 
Indiana, on the old Washington Teeters place, the son of W'ashington and 
Ethalinda E. (Cupp) Teeters. The father and mother were born in Stark 
county, Ohio, the father coming to Auburn April i, 1850, and working at 
his trade of carpenter and joiner for a time, then purchasing Qne hundred 
and twenty acres of land, but one acre of which was cleared. After acquir- 
ing his farm, the subject's father was married and here he and his wife 



DEKALB COirNTY, INDIANA. 969. 

lived until his death on September i, 1885: his widow still lives at Auburn. 
now in her seventy-sixth year. Washington Teeters was a Democrat and 
he and his wife belonged to the Presbyterian church. To them were born 
seven children, namely: Franklin, Samuel S., Josiah C. .\nna E.. Isaac S.. 
Lydia B. and Mary S. 

Franklin Monroe Teeters acquired such early education as was afforded 
by the district schools of his community, the family taking a great interest 
in educational matters and five members becoming teachers, Samuel, Josiah, 
Lydia, Anna and Mary. Samuel, after teaching two years was taken into the 
J. L. Davis' Banking Company for a few years. He then took up the hard- 
ware business and for seventeen years followed that calling. He then bou.ght 
a farm of three hundred sixty-eight acres in Calhoun county, Michigan, and. 
with his family, removed to that place. Lydia is now teaching in Auburn; 
Josiah was professor of mathematics at Berea. Kcutuck\-, and at .\uliurn. 
but now has retired from pedagogical pursuits and is a ranchman at Wciser. 
Idaho. All lint three years of ^Ir. Teeters' life has been <pent on tht- old 
home farm, that sliort period covering his conncctinn witli the RaUimorc iH: 
Ohio Railroad Company as a bridge and elevator constructor. 

On March 2y, 1890, Mr. Teeters was united in the holy bonds of matri- 
mony to Amanda T. Ober, daughter of Le^■i S. and Elizabeth Ober, who 
came from Bedford county, Pennsylvania, to DeKalb county, Indiana, in 
March, 1866, settling in Butler township, where they secured land and spent 
the rest of their lives, Mrs. Teeters' father dying on December 5. 19 13, and 
the mother on May 5, 1905. They were members of the Dunkard church 
and he was a strong Republican. They were the parents of eight children : 
Sabina, Anna (deceased). David, Mrs. Teeters. Ida. Perry. Etta L. and John 
Arthur. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Teeters have been born eight children. Ida E:. Mary 
E.. Ruth B., Ethalinda B., Esther F., Washington '()., Anna S. and Levi M. 

Since March, 1890. I\Tr. Teeters has had charge of the old home place, 
he being the owner of one hundred and ninety acres of land there. One 
hundred and fifty acres of this are under a high state of cultivation, general 
farming and dairving being engaged in. modern methods used in all the 
farm operations having made the farm a most productive and valuable hold- 
ing. 

In political matters, Mr. Teeters is a supporter of the principles of the 
Democratic party and has served on the township advisory board. He is a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal church. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 



P. A. SHURTS. 



A man who has won a competence by working long and hard in the 
proper direction and is now Hving surrounded by the comforts of life as 
a result of his former years of strenuous endeavor, is P. A. Shurts, of Con- 
cord township, DeKalb county, Indiana. He is one of the sturdy spirits who 
contributed largely to the material welfare of the locality in which he resides, 
having been one of the leading farmers and stock men for many years, 
and as a citizen he has always been public spirited and progressive in all that 
the term implies. 

P. A. Shurts was born on April 6, 1849, in Spencerville, DeKalb county, 
Indiana, the son of George and Martha E. (Miller) Shurts, natives of Ohio. 
These parents had the following children : Mrs. Samantha Kimes, who died 
in 1908; Uriah, who died in March, 1913; Mrs. Emily C. Woodcocks, of 
St. Joe, this county; John, of Chicago; P. A., the immediate subject of 
this sketch: Mrs. Hattie R. Culberson, of Aulxirn. this county, and George 
T., who lives in Columbus, Ohio. 

P. A. Shurts secured his education in the common schools of his native 
locality and Auburn and was reared to manhood mainly in the home of 
William Phillips, his own father having died when the subject was but four 
years of age. He did not need his father's attention, however, as Mr. 
Phillips gave the lad all the love and protection that his own father would 
have done and Mr. Shurts retains a very. warm affection for Mr. Phillijis. 
remembering with gratitude the efforts in his behalf. At the age of twen.ty- 
four years Mr. Shurts took up the vocation of teaching and was thus en- 
gaged for ten terms, se\eral of which were in the school located on the farm 
that he now owns. The farm, which consists of sixty acres, is known as 
Locust Grove farm, named by Mr. Shurts in 1901, and has for many years 
been considered one of the most fertile and productive farms in Concord 
township. Mr. Shurts has given careful and intelligent direction to his 
efforts, supervising every detail of his farm work, and his efforts ha\-e lieen 
rewarded with abundant returns for his toil. 

On June 8, 1873, Mr. Shurts was married to Maggie M. Boyle, (laugh- 
ter of Jonathan and Susan Boyle, and to this union were born two daughters, 
Ella Myrtle and Pearl, the former of whom died in early childhood. Mrs. 
Shurts was born in Concord township, this county, on jNIarch i, 1852, and 
died on Tulv 9, 1913, in the sixty-second year of her age. Early in life she 
was a memlier of the Methodist Episcopal church at Spencerville. but after 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 97 1 

her marriage she united wiih the Conconl AlelhcxHst i'rutestant church. 
She was a true Chri.siian, faithful wife and a loving mother and her death 
left a void in the community which cannot be filled. Personally, Mr. Shurts 
is a very congenial gentleman, always ready to assist in any worthy cause 
looking to the betterment of his community and he has a host of friends 
throughout the county who esteem him for his high character and genuine 
personal worth. Politically, he is a party Prohibitionist, being the first to 
endorse that movement in Concord township in 1884. 



ALLl'l.X WOLl' 



The following is a brief review »)f the life of one who, by close atten- 
tion to business, has achieved success in the world's affairs and has risen to 
an honorable position among the enterprising men of the county with which 
his interests are identified. It is a plain record, rendered reniarkalile by no 
strange and mysterious adventure, no wonderful and lucky accident and no 
tragic situation. Mr'. Wolf is one of those estimaljle characters whose in- 
tegrity and strong personality must force them into an admirable notoriety, 
which their modesty never seeks, who command the resiiccl of their con- 
temporaries and their posterity and leave the impress of their individuality 
upon the age in which they live. 

.\llen \\'(jlf was liorn .\ug'usl 15. 18O0, on the paternal houieslead in 
Franklin township, and is the son of Daniel and Mary (Walter) Wolf. 
The father was born November 23, 1808, in Columbiana county, Ohio, and 
died December 20, 1883. 'Die mother was born January 30, 1820, in L'nion 
county, Pennsylvania, and died January 17, 1902. These parents came from 
Ashland county. Ohio, to Indiana, in the year 1850, being among the very 
earliest settlers. The subiect's ])arenls settled in I'ranklin township, near 
Franklin Center, at which time the\- were in very moderate tinancial circum- 
stances, having but little ready money. Here the subject's father cleared his 
homestead entirely by iii> "wn effort^. 'i"o the sulnect's parents were l)om 
eight children, namely: Mrs. Melinda Myers, of Waterloo: .Mrs. Amanda 
Myers, of Goshen, deceased: Andrew, also decea.sed : Mrs. I.ucinda Hen- 
dricks, of White Pigeon, Michigan; Mrs. Matilda Rohrbaugh. of near But- 
ler; Samuel, Allen and William, of Franklin township. 

The subject was reared under the paternal roof and received his etlu- 



97^ DEKALB COLNTV, INDIANA. 

cation, wliich is somewhat limited, at the |)u1jHc scliools of Frankhn Center. 
He lias spent practically his entire life in Franklin township, having re- 
mained at home until twenty-four years of age. Soon after his marriage 
Mr. Wolf m(i\e(l unto his father-in-law's farm, near liis present location, 
liut nine years later mo\-ed to Auburn, where, during tlie following fi\-e years, 
he was employed hy the Wabash railroad. At the end of that time he came 
to his present tine farm, which is located in l*>anklin township, and to which 
he has gi\en his unili\ided attention since. He has made many substantial 
improvements, lia\ing rebuilt the comfortable and attractive residence, erect- 
ing the large and commodious Isarn and other necessary outbuildings. The 
present appearance of the place reflects great credit on the owner. Mr. Wolf 
gives his attention to the raising of general crops and also to the breeding 
and raising of li\e stock, in which he is \ery successful. 

On January 17. 1884, Mr. Wolf married I'liila Clark, who was born 
Octoher 16, 1863, in Franklin township, DeKalb county, and whom he had 
known from childlKJod. She is the _\-oungest daughter of John X. and Mar\- 
i\Iagdalena (Hammond) Clark, who came to DeKalb .county in 184J from 
Stark county, Ohio, where the mother was born September 14. 1822. Her 
father, who was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, May 25, 1822, is of 
Scotch-Irish descent, his father having crossed the Atlantic ocean at the earlv 
age of tv.-i) years. Mr. Clark entered eighty acres of land in Franklin town- 
ship, which at that time was densely co\-ered with nati\e forest trees. l'"or 
this land he paid the sum of one tlollar and a ipiarter per acre and this mone\- 
he borrowed of old "Lhicle Jimmy" Matson, une of the earliest settlers of the 
community and well known thmughout this ])art of the state for his charit- 
able work among the new settlers. ^Ir. Clark, by the help of his noljle wife, 
cleared their land and at the time of their death were the possessors of two 
hundred acres of fine farming land. They were the parents of the fol- 
lowing children besides Mrs. Wolf: Levi Clark; Mrs. Olive Rohm, of 
Franklin township: Mrs. ]\lattie Oberlin. of Coldwater. Michigan: also an 
ado]3ted son. John Clark, Jr., wlio ow nes and operates a part of the old 
Clark homstead in Franklin tuwnshii). The names of tlie deceased sisters of 
Mrs. Wolf are as follows : }ilrs. Susan Van\\'agner. Mrs. Joan Gurtner, 
Mi'-'^- hietta Clark, Phiana and Irene. The f;ither died ]\Iay 25. 1905. and 
the mother nn December i. 1888. ^Ir. and l\irs. Wolf have one son, P. Carl 
Wolf, who was Ijorn September 2><. t8(;2, in .\uljurn. Indiana. He was mar- 
ried June 20. 1012. to .Mice Fmma Bostwick, of Detroit, ^Michigan. At pres- 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA, ()JT^ 

ent he is employed as a locomotive lirt'iiian on tlir W alia>li railroatl at De- 
troit. 

Politically, Air. Wolf is an ardent sup])oiier mI' the I )enineratic p.irtv. 
but has never been an office seeker. I'Vaternallv. he has for a (piartcr of a 
century been an active member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in 
Hamilton. Personally, Air, Wolf is a most affable i,a>ntleni;in. of honest con- 
victions and sincere purpose, his upright life and wholesome moral influence 
making him popular throughout the localil\- in which he is so widely known 
and in which practically his entire life has been spent, llis w i-fe is also a 
member of the Daughters of Rebekah and an ardent worker in the Woman's 
C.liristian Temperance Union and is noted for her cliarilaMe work in the 
community where they live. Together they ha\e made for themselves a suc- 
cessful life. 



RF.b:!) F, PLACI' 



The subject of this sketch is one of the suhstantial and well known 
agriculturists of Spencer townshij), DeKall) county. Indian.a. being regarded 
as one of the leading farmers of this locality, his fine farm re])resenting much 
hard labor, but the subject is a m;in of well kn<i\\n energy and detcrmin;Uion 
in business affairs. Indolence and idleness are entirel\- foreign to his natm'e. 
and his continued activity in the management and development of this i)rop- 
erty has made his one of the valuable farms in this county. 

Reed F. Place was born in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, on Septem- 
ber 30, 1S62, and is the son of James M. and Lucretia (Miller) Place, who 
also were natives of the old Keystone state. Fxentually they left their 
homes there and moved to Ohio, where they spent the remainder of their lives. 
The father was a tailor by trade, which \ocation he followed for many years. 
t)Ut eventually took up farming in Ohio. The)- were the parents of seven 
children. Orris, Delia, Reed S., George, Mary, James and I.ouie. 

Reed F. L'lace was reared under th'" parental roof in his Pennsylvania 
home and received his education in the common schools of that -tate, lie has 
followed agricultural pursuits throughout his active life and ha^ met with 
well deserved success. lie accompanied his parents on their removal to Ohio. 
where he remained until 1902, when he came to DeKalb county and bought 
the fine farm of one hundred and four acres in Spencer township, which he 
now owns and to the operation of which he is devoting his entire attention. 
He has been deservedly successful, for he has faithfully given the most intel- 



974 DEKAJ.B COUNTY, INDIANA. 

ligent direction to his efforts and is today considered one of the up-to-date 
and progressive farmers of the community. He does not confine himself to 
any special line, hut carries cm general farming and stock raising, finding 
that the conihination of these two lines affords the hest chances of successful 
results. He has made man_\' ])ermanent and suljstanlial improvements on 
his farm, which have increased its \-alue and made it one of the good farms 
of Spencer township. 

In i8S6 Afr. Place married Delia Berrington, the daughter of Samuel 
and .Martha .\nn (Johnson) iSerrington, wlm were nati\cs of Ohio, from 
which state they came to DeKalb countvv where they reside. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Place have been horn six children. Bertha, .\l\a. Mervin-, Gladys, ( denn 
and Roscoe. 

Politically, Mr. Place gives his allegiance to the Democratic party, he- 
lie\ing the policies embodied in the platform of that party to be the best 
adapted to the needs of the American people. Religiously, he is a member 
and a regular attendant of the Christian church, to the support of which he 
contributes of his means. .Mr. Place has .ab\ays lieen a farmer and is re- 
garded by his neighbors as one of the best in the township, keeping his place 
well improved and under a high state of culti\ation. What he has accom- 
plished shows that he has been a man of unusual Ijusiness ability and has 
exercised rare soundness of judgment in all his Iriuisactions. Th(,iugh not 
bv anv means a lifedong resident of the localily, he has already attained to 
a marked degree of poi)ularity and is numbered among the prominent men 
of his community, for he has so ordered his life as to merit the high regard 
and confidence nf all who ha\'e come in contact with liim. 



BENJAMIN F. HA\\A'ER. 

Among those persons who have, by virtue of their strong individual 
qualities, earned their way to a high standing in the estimation of their 
fellow citizens, having by sheer force of character and persistency won their 
way from an humble beginning to a place of influence and prominence in the 
community where they are active in industrial affairs, the subject of this 
sketch is entitled to special mention in a volume of this character. 

Benjamin F. Hawver is a native of DeKalb county, having b'een born 
in Butler township, on October 17, 1867, the son of Samuel and Eliza (Stude- 
baker) Hawver. the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Ohio. 



DhKAl.H CorXTV. IXDIAXA. 975 

Sanmel Hawvcr canic from Maryland tn Ohio in August, i,S4(;, and alter 
his marriage, wiiich occurred in tlic latter state, he came to DcKall) county. 
Indiana, in the fall of 1853, settling in Butler township, where he remained 
during the balance of his life. He was a cooper by trade in Ohio, but after 
coming to Indiana he devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. To him and 
his wife were born fourteen children, all dying in infauc\- except live who 
grew to manhood and womanhood, namely: .Mrs. Laura Singrey, of Fort 
Wayne; Merritt, deceased; Samuel, Benjamin and \\ill)ur Ilawver, of La 
Otto postoffice, residing in Butler township, DeKall) county. Mrs. and Mrs. 
Hawver are both now deceased. 

Benjamin F. Hawver was reared under the parental roof and during 
his youth was given the opportunity of attendance at the common schools. 
After completing the grades he attended the Fort Wayne Business College, 
where he gained a practical knowledge of business methods and then engaged 
in farming, which lie has made his life pursuit and in which he has met 
with well deserved success. lie is the owner of one hundred and nineteen 
acres nf well impro\ed land in 1 Sutler townslii[), to which he has given thought- 
ful and intelligent attention, so that his labors have .been rewarded with a 
high measure of success. The attractive and well furnished residence, large 
and well arranged bams with silo, good fences, well tilled fields and other 
ini])ortant items of an up-to-date farm, convince the passerljy that the owner 
is a man of good judginent and sound discrimination in. his methods, the 
reputation which Mr. Hawver has borne for many years in the community 
which has been honored by his citizenship. .\mong the up-to-date features 
of Mr. Tlawver"s farm establishment are rural mail delivery at his <loor, 
telephone service, and a large touring car, all of whicli go to make farm life 
a joy and blessing, rather than a life of toil and hardships. 

On T'lnuarv 2, 1S90, Mr. Hawver married .\udree E. l'"air, the daughter 
of William and Adeline (Moody) Fair. She was one of the first graduates 
from the Butler township schools and afterwards was a successful teacher. 
She is a representative of old pioneer stock in this county, the Fair family 
having been one of the first to locate in the wilderness in DeKalb county. .\n 
Indian trail led past their cabin door, and not infrequentl>- the dusky red 
men would stop for milk to drink, showing their strings of scaljjs. How- 
ever, thev never harmed the white settlers, who had been kind to them. I'.ar- 
bara Fair was the first white child born in DeKalb county, her l)irlh occurring 
in October, 183(1. To Mr; and Mrs. Ilawver have been born two children, 
Don, who has completed the grade work in the common schools, was a grad- 



976 DKKALB COLNTY, INDIANA. 

uate with the class of '13 of the Garrett high school. He and his sister. 
Thelma, are at present at home with their parents. 

Religiously. Mr. Hawver gives his support to the Methodist Epicopal 
church, of which he has been a member for a number of years, and in which 
he takes an active and effectual interest. Politically, he gives a stanch sup- 
port to the Republican party, though he has never been an aspirant or seeker 
after public office. A man of strong mentality and steady habits, he has won 
a warm place in the esteem of the entire community in which he lives, and 
is properly numbered among the representative citizens of Butler townshi]x 



FRANKLIN PIERCE SEILER. 

Well directed et^'orts in the practical affairs <<i life and his capable 
management of his business affairs ha\-e brought well deserxed prosfjerit} 
to the gentleman whose name heads this paragraph, and his career forcibly 
demonstrates what may be accomplished by any man of energy and ambi- 
tion who is not afraid to work and has the perseverance to continue his 
labors in the face of any discouragements which ma)- seem to arise. In all 
the relations of life he has commanded the respect and confidence of those 
with whom he has been brought into contact and a biographical history 
of this locality would need to contain his record should it jirnfess to' be com- 
plete. 

Franklin Pierce Seller was born October 11, 1X55. in West Lebanon. 
Wayne county, Ohio, the son of John and Lucetta Seller, and, with his 
parents, came to Fairfield township, DeKalb county, Indiana, in the spring of 
1864, locating on a farm in the dense timber. Acquiring a good rudimentar\' 
education in the district schools of those days, the suliject of this review 
took up pedagogical work and for twent\- years was a teacher in the schools 
of this county, establishing a splendid reputation as an educator and showing 
a knowledge of impro\-ed methods in school work far aliead of the limes. 
In 1880 Mr. Seiler completed a commercial course at h^astman's Business 
College at Poughkeepsie. New York, a training nbicli stood him in good stead 
in his later business career. 

On October 7, 1887. Mr. Seiler was united in marriage to Mino I. 
.\ndrews, of Newville township, DeKalb county, and this union has been 
blessed by the birth of two children : Paul Waldo graduated from the Auburn 
high school and is now employed as a traveling auditor for the Ford Auto- 



-li airxTV 



97; 



nioliilc tuiiipany. ui Detroit; Bonnie completed her high school and jirepara- 
tory c(;llege work, and is now teaching in the .\tiburn schools. 

Jn 1898 Air. Seller was elected auditor of DeKalb county and served in 
that respcnisible position for four years, his administration of the affairs of 
that office winning "for him the warm commendation of the citizens of the 
county, regardless of political affiliations, the many businesslike methods 
which he introduced effecting a great saving in the expense of the oflice, 
to the gratification of the tax payers. At the close of Mr. Seiler"s term 
of office he remained in Auburn, engaging in the real estate, loan, insurance 
and abstracting business, having built up a s])lendid business. The scope 
of the subject's operations may be understood when it is known that he 
buys, sells and exchanges farm lands of all kinds, wild lands, irrigated and 
virgin timber lands, stock ranches, city property, mills, hotels, stocks of mer- 
chandise, and also is largely interested in colonization projects and co-opera- 
tive real estate. 

.Mr. Seiler and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
church, to which they give a loyal and earnest support. Politically, his 
allegiance to the principles and practices of the Democratic party has never 
been questioned, and his activity in behalf of this party has contributed largely 
to its prosperity in the community. 



WILLIAM CLAYTON KETTERINCi. 

The record of the gentleman whose name introduces this article contains 
no exciting chapter of tragic events, but is replete with well defined purposes 
which, carried to successful issue, have won for him an influential place in 
business circles and high personal standing among his fellow citizens. His 
life work has been one of unceasing industry and perseverance and the sys- 
tematic and honorable methods which he has ever followed have resulted 
not only in gaining the confidence of those with whom he has had dealings, 
but also in the building up of a large and profitable business. 

William Clayton Kettering, one of the public spirited citizens and suc- 
cessful business men of .Auburn, was born in Steuben townshi]), Steuben 
county, Indiana, on August 5, 1874, and is the son of Moses and Eliza 
(Henderson) Kettering. Mcses Kettering was born in Wayne countv, CJhio, 
and was a .son of Philip Kettering. In young manhood he went to Anamosa, 
(62) 



97^ DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Iowa, where he enlisted in Company H, Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and was 
engaged in service in the Southland to the end of the war. He was in the 
attack on Fort Donelson, the campaign in Tennessee, on Sherman's march to 
the sea, including the battle of Atlanta, and after the conclusion of the South- 
ern campaigns he took part in the Grand Review at Washington, the greatest 
military pageant the world has ever seen, and then received his honorable 
discharge. He had a sister living near Kendallville, Indiana, and coming to 
that place he accepted employment in a shoe store. While there he married a 
Miss Haughey and turned his attention to farming, settling on a tract of land 
in Steuben township. She died and he afterwards married Ehza Henderson, 
who was then living in the northern part of Lagrange county, this state, her 
birth having occurred at Canal Dover, Ohio. After his marriage Moses Ket- 
tering continued his farming operations during the remainder of his life in 
Steuben county. The subject of this sketch remained on the home farm 
there until twenty years of age, receiving his education in the public schools, 
graduating from the high school at Pleasant Lake. At the age mentioned 
he went to Ashley and during the following; three years was employed in 
Stoner"s drug store. One summer he went out of the store and then went 
to Garrett and took a position with the L, W. Stoner drug store there until 
January, 1S98, when he returned to Ashley and took a position temporarily 
in the store in which he had first worked. In May of that year he came to 
Auburn and took a position in the drug store of H. B. McCord, with whom he 
remained nine }ears and nine months. He then, with his wife, went to Okla- 
homa on a visit and after his return here, on April i, 1908, he bought the 
drug store owned by H. M. Phillips, at the corner of Seventh and Main streets. 
Auburn, where he has continued in business ever since. The location is as 
good as can be found in Auburn and here Mr. Kettering has built up a large 
and constantly increasing trade due to his courteous treatment and his evident 
desire to please his patrons. He carries a large and well selected line of 
drugs, books, stationery, wall paper and all other accessories of an up-to-date 
drug store. 

On June 17, 1903. Mr. Kettering married Leila Warrick, of Aulnirn, 
who was born at Melburn, Ohio, and is a daughter of William and Bertha 
(Poole) Warrick. To whom have been born two children. Margaret and 
^^'illiam. 

Fraternallv, Mr. Kettering is a member of the Knights of Pythias at 
Auburn, in which he has held tlie office of master of exchequer for two years. 
Religiouslv. he and his wife are members of the TMethodist Episcopal church. 



DKKAI.I! Ct)LNT1. INDIANA. 979 

Mr. Kettering takes a deep interest in the commercial and civic welfare ot 
his city and is an active member of the Auburn Commercial Club, one of the 
most influential factors in the recent development of this locality. Owing 
to his genial disposition and genuine worth, Mr. Kettering has gained the un- 
reserved confidence and esteem of the people of this locality and is deservedly 
numbered among .Auburn's representati\e citizens. 



WILLLVM G. ERICK. 

In placing the subject of this ie\ic\v before the reader as one standing 
in the front rank of Spencerville's enterprising men of affairs, whose in- 
fluence has tended to the upbuilding of the locality, simple justice is done a 
biographical fact recognized throughout the comnnmit\- by those at all famil- 
iar with his history and cognizant of the import:int part lie has acted in the 
circles with which he is identihed. His career present> a nutiiblc example ot 
the exercise of those qualities of mind and character which overcome obstacles 
and win success, and his example is eminently wi>rthy nf imitation by those 
dissatisfied with their present attainments who would aspire to higher posi- 
tions of honor and tru.st, or wider spheres of usefulness. 

William G. Erick was born on .\ugust 7. 1867, and i>^ the son of Enos 
W. and Sarah C. (Hoffmyer) Erick. Enos W. Erick was a native of Penn- 
sylvania who, at the age of six years, was l^rought first to Huntington county. 
Indiana, by his father. I'eter Erick. who was the third man to locate in 
Huntington county, where lie followed likicksniithing as a vdcalinn. He was 
also a minister of the (iosijcl. In which lie devoted his attention all liis active 
life and was a [jreacher at Spencerxille, this county, lor ten years, i ie was a 
man of luarked intellectual ;ittainnients. a forceful jjublic speaker, who 
exerted a marked influence on the lives of all with whom he came in contact. 
Enos W. and Sarah C. Erick were the parents of seven children, namely: 
One who died in infancy; Sylvester G., who died in Oklahoma: Beeks, who 
was for many vears engaged in the mercantile business at Spencerville, Init 
now resides at Fort Wayne: luhel, deceased: I.il)bie P..: Dea. who was acci- 
dentally killed, and William G. 

William ('<. luick received his education in the CdUimon sciiools of 
Middleburv, Intlian;i. conii)leting his studies in the high .^chool there He 
then went to White I'igenn. Michigan, where he engaged in the mercantile 



980 DEKALB COUNTVj INDIANA. 

l)iisiness. in wliicli he cdiilinued tdr fuur \'ears. retiirning at the end uf that 
time to Spcncer\ ille. where fur a while he w.'i'- einplDvccl by his brothers in 
their store, (ioin.i; then lo New I'aris, huhana. he carried on a general store 
there for about eighteen niontlis and then returned to Spencerville, but soon 
afterwards went to Hamilton, this state, where for a year he also .conducted a 
mercantile l)usiness and then returned to Spencerville. where he opened a 
store and where he has remained until the present time. He has been gratif) - 
ingly successful in this enterprise and has enjoyed his full share of the public 
patronage in his line, his evident desire to please and his courteous treatment 
of his customers gaining for him a well reserved popularity. 

(Jn August (). i8yi, Air. I'lrick was married to .Mabel Murray, daughter 
of James H. and .Margaret ( Langlex ) .\lurra\. whu are referreil to speciti- 
callv in a later ])aragraph. Tn Mr. and .Mrs. I'^rick were born twt; children. 
.Murray li.. born Xoxemlier. ilS(j_'. and W. I'.eeks, born in July, 1894. 

I'olitically, .Mr. F.ricl< has been a life-long supporter of the Demo- 
cratic party and is the [)resent trustee of Spencer township, in fact he is the 
lirst and unh trustee uf tbi^ town-ihip, from the fact that in 1909. owing to 
differences in sehudl matleis. ('iiucdrd Uiwnship was divided, the new division 
being called Sijencer. .Mr. l-'rick takes a juslilialile pride in educational mat- 
ters and had the high scIki.iI ,,\ ibis tdwushi]) commissioned. He is actively 
interested in furthering e\ery moxement which will adxance the liest interests 
of liis felliiw citizens, who ha\e ai)i)reciated liis earnest efforts in behalf of 
the comnuinit)-. 

bVaternally. Mr. Erick is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and 
tile Knights (if l'\thias. in the work of which he takes an appreciative in- 
terest. Mr. Erick possesses a pleasing ])ersonality and is easily approachable. 
Strong and forceful in his relations with his fellow men. he not only makes 
his presence felt, but has also gained the good will and commendation of 
both his intimate .asscjciates and the general public, retaining his reputation 
among them for integrit\ .ind high character and never losing that dignity 
which is the birthright of the true gentleman. 

James II. .Murray, father of Mrs. William (\. lu'ick. was born in Seneca 
county. Ohio, on .Xoxember 7. 1831;, the son of James and Nancy R. 
(Ilcriu) .Murrav. the former a native of Ohio, and the latter of Pennsyl- 
vania, lames C Murrav followed firming all his life and remained in his 
native state, where bis death .iccurred when Mrs. l-'rick's father was but nine 
months old. To him and his wife were born four children, namely: David 
11.. Marv an.] Thonias are ;dl .leceased. and lames IT. 



DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. g8l 

Tlic latter received Iiis educatiini in the cnnmion schools of his native 
state and came to Indiana with his niotiicr and seilled near Leo, where on 
attaining mature years he tooi< up farniiii"-. After reniainino: there for five 
years lie came lo Si>eiicer\ ilic in i Soo and here liccantc identified with milhiii^ 
interests, and remained idenliticd with this for aixnit fifty years. He is now 
retired from active business pur.-uils ;ind is U\ing in Spencerx'ille. 

In 1S73 he married .\lart;:ircl l.;mgley, wliose jiarents were natives of 
Virginia, and t.i them were hmn iw,. ciiildren. Mal)el. tlie wife u\ Wilham 
G. Erick, and Winifred, who married Dr. 11. (). Siu-ok, nf S]iencerviile. 
Pohtically, Mv. ^iurray is a Democrat, while, fratern.ally. he is a memhcr of 
the blue lodge of the I'Vee and .\ccepted Masons at .Spencerxille. 



[.\a)B !•. S.XN'DER. 



liie record of Jacojj l'. Snyder, a leatling farmer (jf Smithfied tovvn- 
shi]j, is that of ;in entcr]jrising gentleman who worthily upholds an honored 
family name and whose life, for many years, has been \erv intimately asso- 
ciated with the material ])ros])erity and mor.a] ad\aiicement of the locality 
where he re-ides, .and dnrmg llie mo>t progressi\e jicriods of the history of 
Ihis \icinit_\. lie lias ahv.ays been found on the right side of ipiestions look- 
ing to the develoitment of the same, and he has at the '-ame time won an 
einiable re])Utalion for honesi\ .and wholesome lixing. 

Jacob !■. Sny<ler was l;i>ru in iSfij in .Seneca counlx. Ohio, .and is a son 
of Carolus .and Lo\ ina iKt-tleri .Sn\<ler. the f.ather a n,ati\e of Lehigh 
county, 1 'cnnsyKania. ;uid the mother honi in Seneca c(iunty, ( )hio. When 
Jacob L. was abou; -ix monib- old llie jiareut- moveil to Allen county. In- 
diana, locating in Ledar (reek townshi]). :md on the jjarental farm there the 
.subject remained until iwenty-four \ears of age. having during the early 
years assisted bis father in the cultivation of (be homestead and securing a 
good practical education in the pulilic schools of tb.at communitv. His par- 
ents spent the remainder of their years on the Allen cotmty farm and died 
there, havin.g, because of their high personal ipi.alitics and industry, earned 
and retained the respect of the entire comnuniilw \bout iSSf) Mr. Snvder 
was married and soon afterwards came to DeKalb county and rented farm 
land in Smithficld and l'"r;uiklin townshi])s. where he eng.aged in agricultural 
iiursuits dm-ing the following twentv vears ;is ;i renter, oecupving onlv three 



9^2 DEKALB COl-NTV. INDIANA. 

farms during that period. In the tall of 1905 Mr. Snyder bought ninety- 
one acres of land in the northeast quarter of section 24, Smithfield township, 
and five years later he bought forty acres additional a short distance north- 
east of his first holdings and in Franklin township. He has made his home 
on the Smithfield township farm continuously since first locating there, and 
has achie\-ed a splendid success in its operation. Practical and up-to-date 
in his ideas and methods, he has left no stone unturned in his efforts to bring 
success out of his enterprise, and that he has accomplished the desired re- 
sult is evidenced by the high standing he occupies amoi^g- the agricultural 
element of his section of the county. He gives every detail of his farm work 
his personal attention, raising all the crops common to this locality and giving 
due attention .to rotation of crops and other important features of successful 
farming. He has a neat and attracti\c residence, commodious and well ar- 
ranged hams, while the well-kept fences, highly cultivated fiekls and the 
general appearance of the place indicates the owner to lie a man of intelli- 
gence and sound judgment. In addition to the cultixation of the soil Air. 
Snyder gives a proper share of his attention to the l>reeding and raising of 
live stock, in which also he has lieen very successful. 

In 1886 Mr. Snyder married Ida A. Harwood, who was born in Allen 
county, Indiana, the daughter of h'dward ;ind Loui.sa (Spencer) Harwood, 
both parents also uatixes of Allen county .'uid members of pioneer families of 
that locality. Mrs. Snyder died on May 1 1. i()oi, lea\ing three sons and a 
daughter. Orange, Elmer, Dora ami Lester. Orange, who lives in Franklin 
township, married Ruby Wolfe, and they ha\e a >on. Frank; Elmer, who 
lives in Smithfield township, married Mina Enzor, and they have a son,. 
Perrv; Dora and Letter are at home. In December, kjoi, Mr. Snyder mar- 
ried Estella ( irat>, a nati\c of .Mien county, this state, antl a daughter of 
Silas and Alice (W'herley) Grats. She wa-- reru-ed in .Mien county, where 
her father, who has been a life-long farmer, still lives. Her mother died there 
in March, 191 3. To Mr. and Mrs. Snyder have been born three children, 
Mildred, Mil ford and Velma. Religiously, Mr. and Mrs. Snyder are earnest 
and faithful members of the United Brethren church, giving their support 
not only to all the interests of this society, but also to every movement which 
promises to be of material, social, educational or religious benefit to the com- 
munitv. They move in the best social circles and liecause of their genial 
qualities and the success which they have attained they have earned and re- 
tained the sincere regard and respect of ;ill who know them. 



DKKAi.B c"o^^'["^■. Indiana. 983 

HENRY D. SHOEMAKF.R. 

Agriculture has been an honoreil vocatiou fruui the earhest ages aud as 
a usual thing men of honorable and humane impulses, as well as those of 
energy and thrift, have been patrons of husbandry. The free out-of-door life 
known to the tiller <it the soil has a decideil tendency to foster and develop 
that independence of mind and self reliance which characterizes true man- 
hood, and no truer blessing can befall a boy than to be reared in close touch 
with nature in the healthful, life-inspiring labor of the fields. It has ahvavs 
been the fruitful soil from w hich have sprung the moral bone and sinew of 
the country, and the majority Hf dur nation's great warriors, renowned states- 
men and distinguished men of letters were born on the farm ;uid were in- 
debted largely to its early inMuence for the distinclion which the\ attained. 
From the farm came the Shoemakers, one of the honored and representative 
families of DeKalb county, of whom Henry D. Shoemaker, one of Smithfield 
township's most progressive agriculturists, is a worthy memlier. 

Hemy^ D. Shoemaker, who for a number of years has been one of the 
most extensive fanners and intluential citizens of Smithfield tnwnshi]). was 
born on August 27, 1858, in this township, and is the son of K. R. Shoe- 
maker, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work, therefore his ancestral 
history will not be referred to further at this point. Henry 1). Shoemaker 
was reared on the parental farmstead and in his youth attended the district 
schools of the locality, his vacation periods being spent in farm work. Later 
he attended the college at Valparaiso, Indiana, securing a good, practical edu- 
cation and then, returning to the \-ocation to which he had been reared, he has 
continuously applied himself to it since with the most pronounced success. 
Mr. Shoemaker is giving his attention to the operation of thiee hun(Ire<l and 
sixty acres of land in .Smithfieki township, besi(k's one hundred and sixty 
acres belonging to the family that is rented. He has an uiuisual well 
equipped farmstead, the detailed description of which would occupy more 
space than is permissible in a work of this character. The e(|uipment includes 
a blacksmith outfit, an arrangement for slaughtering ,ind hue, big bank barns 
which are in every respect a credit to the owner. Mr. .Shoemaker's home is 
pleasant, attractive and ccMiveniently arranged, and the surroundings are in 
keeping with the residence. The farm owned by Mr. Shoemaker is a credit 
to him and reflects credit on his sound judgment and good taste. Mr. Shoe- 
maker has a splendid record as a business man, and for many }ears has made 
it a business rule to run no accounts, and give no promises to pay in the 



9^4 DKKALB Cur.XTV, INDIANA. 

future, even- transaction l)eing strictl}- casli, and this lias undoubtedly been 
one of the secrets of the eminent success which he lias realized in his affairs. 
Progressive in his disposition, public spirited in his attitude toward the civic 
and community affairs, obliging in his relations with his neighbors, he has 
gained the cunhdence and res])ect of all who know him and is numbered 
among the trul_\' representati\e men of DeKalb county. 

In 1S92 Henry D. Shoemaker was united in marriage with .\lahala 
Bachtel, the daughter of Henry Rachtel. and they have one son, Russell. Ijorn 
November 15, 1895. He is a man wlii> would win his way in an\- localitv or 
station where fate might place him. for he has sound judgment, coupled with 
great energ}- and business tact, to.gether with u]M"ight principles, all of which 
make for success wherever and whenever they are rightfully and ])ersistentlv 
applied. 



SAMUEL L. WMDXEY. 

The name borne by the honored -.ubject of thi> re\ lew i> one which has 
been h^ig and intimately identified witli the history of DeKalb county, its 
identification with the ;uinals of this fa\dred section of the Hooseir state 
dating back to the early epoch in which was initiated the develo])ment (.if the 
industrial ;ind cnic interests of DeKall) countw He has here jiassed his long 
and useful life, and as its shadows begin to lengthen from the west he hnds 
himself faxored in being surrounded with hosts of friends and enabled to 
enjoy the rich fruits of his former years of earnest toil and endeaxor. 

Samuel I.. Widney was bom in Xewxille towu>hi]i. DeK.alli couiUw 
Indiana, on June jh. iN,^). and is the son of John I'. W'l.lney. who is referred 
to elsewhere in tins work. \\lien he was but three years old the famil\- 
nioxed to near St. Joe. where bis father had tr.aded the Xewxille farm for 
OIK- hundred aii<l thirty-four acres of raw land. The new place was densely 
covered with limber e.\cept a sni.-dl trad which ha.l been slashe.l. that is, the 
timber cut and piled up in wiiirows to be dried and burned. The only attempt 
toward the cmistruction of a dwelling bad been the erection of the frame of a 
l)lank house, in wbicli not a nail had yet been dri\en. The frame work was 
of poplar wiH.d ;ind the plank- were afterwards fastened 011 with wooden 
pegs. Th:it was in 1S4J and in this house the famil\ lived until 1838. when 
thev built a coinniodioiis ;md comfortable new residence. \\\l-u at that 
period all lumber came rough and all dressing was recpiired to be dom- by 



DKKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 985 

hand. Tlie house that was built in 1842 was an up-lo-dale buiiihng for thai 
period, haviii.t;- the first brick cliimney Iniilt in tliat part of the country, at the 
foot of which was an old-fasliioned hrepiace. with the customary accessories 
of that (hi\-. inciuihn.t; a crane, rellector and other pinueer l)al<ing and cookinj^' 
facihties. When the family l)oui;ht a cook sl(i\e in 1847 it was a great cur- 
iosity in the new settlenienl and many came tn sec it. In other ways the 
Widneys followed the pioueer cu^tnms of the period, doing their own spin- 
ning and wea\ing and enduring the hardships and pri\atioii^ of frontier life. 

Sanuiel Widne.v attended tb,e subscrijUion ^cho,,k m e.arly childhood and 
in 1851. when the f.-iuily nioxed to Auburn because bi^ father bad become 
county clerk, the subject completed bis scb(]olmg m that city. In i860. ;it the 
age of twenty years. Mr. Widney married .Nbary A. .\looix', a daughter of 
James and I'.llen (Hemphill) .Moore, her birtli bavmg occurre.l m Kichland 
county. Ohio, in 1837. In i,S4j >he accompanied her |)arent^ to DeKalb 
county, tiiey locating southeast of .\ubuni in Jackson t<p\\nshi|). Soon after 
his marriage .\lr. W'idne}- retr.rned to the farm near St. |oe and there en- 
gaged in operating that land, lie was an indu'-trious and mtelhgent farmer. 
giving close attention to all the details of liis work .ind being ])rogressi\e in 
his ideas he was somewhat in ad\ance of bis neighbors in many respects. 
especially in relation to the ])roper rotation of crops iu order to conserve the 
fertility of the soil. During all hi> active years he de\oted bis main ;itteiitiou 
to general fjirmiug. altbough to some extent be eng.'iged in tlu- raising ol 
Shorthorn cattle, in which lie wa.^ successful. lA entuallv be became the 
owner of three hundred and thirty-three acres of splendid laud, one hundred 
and twenty acres of which he had cleared from the \irgiu forest b\ his own 
effmts. Si\l\' .acres of the original farm north of St. joe bad been given him 
In- his father at his marriage, but he soou bought forty acres more, for which 
he went in debt. When that tract was ])aid for be continued to liuv more 
land as o])porlunilv ofl'ered and at length was enabled to realize the returns 
on his investment in both lal)or and money, .\fler many years of arduous 
toil .Mr. Widney retired from farm work and resided in St. Joe until luu. 
hut in that vear he sold his home in the latter place and returned to the farm. 
where he now resides with his son. 

To Samuel T.. and Mary Widney were born live children, namely: 
Marion died at the age of I'our months: I'.yron I'., lives on a part of his 
father's farm near St. Joe: he married Rosetta Secbler, and they have a 
daughter, I'.dilh, who is the wile of KoSs .\bel ; \iola i- the wife of I). 1.. 
t'arpenter and li\es on the farm north of St. Joe that w;is her father's from 



y86 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

i860; she is the mother of three sons. Deral, Carl and Paul; Otto L. married 
Bernice \'andergratt, of Adrian, Michigan, and is now living at Hicksville, 
Ohio, where he is engaged in the general merchandise business ; he has no 
children of his'own. l)ut has adopted two little girls, Dorothy and Ruth; Iva, 
who died in 1905, was the wife of Clarence Hart and lived at St. Joe. Re- 
ligiously, Mr. Widney is a member of the Methodist Protestant church at 
St. Joe, of which he is a trustee and in which he has taken an active interest 
for many years, being a generous supporter of its various interests. Mrs. 
Widney died on October 20, 1905, their daughter, Iva, having preceded her 
in death on the 7tli of that same month, and Mr. \\'idney's father also died 
on the nth of that month, there being thus three deaths among his immediate 
blood relatives within two weeks, a daughter, wife and father. It is scarcely 
necessary to revert in detail to the experiences of 'Sir. Widney in his boy- 
hood days, for the tale of the scenes and conditions of the pioneer period has 
been often told. Modern facilities were notable for their absence and the 
pioneers were self dependent to an extent that seems almost impossible of 
realization to the younger generation of the present time. Mr. Widney stands 
today as one of the \enerable and sturdy pioneers of the county, and it is 
gratifying that his life 4iistory can be perpetuated by outlining his useful 
and bonoralile career as a man and as a public-spirited citizen. 



OLIVER PERRY ELDRIDGE. 

Self-assertion is believed by many people to be absolutely necessary to 
success in life, and there are good reasons for the entertainment of such a 
belief. The modest man very rarely gets what is due him. The selfish, ag- 
gressive man elbows his way to the front, takes all that is in sight and it some- 
times seems that modesty is a sin, with self-denial the penalty. There are, 
however, exceptions to all rules and it is a matter greatly to be regretted that 
the exceptions to the conditions are not more numerous. One notable excep- 
tion is the case of the honorable gentleman whose life history we here present, 
who possesses just a sufficient amount of modesty to be a gentleman at all 
times and yet sufficient persistency to win in the business world and at the same 
time not appear over bold. As a result of these well and happily blended quali- 
ties Mr. Eldridge has won a host of friends in DeKalb county, where he is 
well known to all classes as a man of influence, integrity and business ability. 



I>KK All! CnUNTV. INDIANA. i)8~ 

Oliver Perry Eldridge was born in Richland township, DeKalb county, 
December i8, 1869, the son of Thomas J. and Mahala Jane (Keenan) Eld- 
ridge, natives of Ohio, their marriage having occurred at Fremont, that state. 
On commg to Indiana they first located temporarily in Noble county. In 
1864 they bought a farm in Richland township, DeKalb county, to which they 
moved in 1866. The father followed agricultural pursuits during his lifetime. 
To them were born six children : Ida, Edward, Eva and Benjamin E., all de- 
ceased, and Anna M. and Oliver P. Prior to taking up farming, in which 
he is still actively engaged, Oliver P. Eldridge received a good education in 
the DeKalb county public schools. He began operations on the home farm 
and is now the owner of one hundred and ninety-one acres of good farm land, 
eighty acres of which are in Richland township. 

Oliver Perry Eldridge was, on September 22, 1898, united in marriage 
to Pauline Wiehmueller, daughter of John and Barbara (Beauchley) Wieh- 
mueller. They are natives of Germany and came to this country when the 
subject's wife was but five years old. To Mr. and Mrs. Eldridge have been 
born four children. Dennis, Ralph C, Helen Tuanita and Thomas. 



Hl^GH MER\'[.\ \\II)XI-:Y. 

Today the farmer is coniini; into his own. Once lie seemed to l)e al the 
mercy of every other occupation and profession, all of whom were exploit- 
ing him, while he drew from iiis acres a bare livint;- and little more. But in 
those days there was a surplusage of farm iiopulalion as compared with the 
city. Now the city has drawn so many within its ]iortals that tliore is a 
practical scarcity of farmers to supp!\- the demands made upon them, im- 
proved implements and inventions have lessened the farmer's toil, and those 
who live in the rural districts today are reaping a rich reward for llieir lalwrs 
and winning the envy instead of the contempt of the city <l\\ellers. .\mong 
the residents of DeKalb county who have reaped abundantly and in satisfac- 
tory measures from Mother Earth is the gentleman whose name appears at 
the head of this sketch, who as farmer and fruit raiser is meeting with s])len- 
did success from liis line farm in I'onconl township. I Ic is well educated 
and has gained a wide reputation, especially as a lecturer on agricultm-al, 
horticultural and kindred topics, and today is nunil)ered among the leading 
and progressive citizens of his township. 

Hugh Mervin Widney was born in DeKall) couiUy. Indiana, on March 



<;88 nEKAi.B col'xtv, Indiana. 

24, iSdO. and is llic s.ni ..f ( ). H. aiuF I'.mily I-'. (.Maxwell) W'ulney. Oliver 
H. Widney was born on Xo\eniber jj, 1841, near Newville, DeKalb county, 
and was tlie son of John ( i. and Jane ( Lynn ) Widney. He was reared on a 
farm and received his education in the district schools at Orangeville. after- 
wards studying in the .schools of .\nburn and at Newville Academy. He 
engaged in teaching school for a while. Ijut in young manhood gave his at- 
tention to the clearing of a farm of se\eiity acres, which he developed from 
swamps to one of the best farms in his community. In 1877 he traded this 
farm to his father for the old homestead on the St. Joe river near the town 
of St. Joe. There he successfully carried on liis agricultural pursuits. |)os- 
sessing a hue farm of one hundred and thirt\-four acres. On August 7, 
1862, Oliver H. Widney enlisted as a pri\ate in Company H, Eighty-eighth 
Re,giment Indiana \'olunteer Infantry, with which he tO(.)k |)art in some 
ardu(jus service during that fall. i)articipating in the battle of 1 'errys\ ille. 
On December 15th of that same year, be was discharged because of ])bysical 
(lisaliility and remained at home until he had regained his health, when, on 
July iS. i8((3, lie again enlisted as brsl sergeant of C"om|)an\- I!. One liun<lred 
and iMghteenth Regiment Indiana \ MluiUeer infantry, with which lie did 
\;diant and courageous service until March 14. 1804. when he receixed his dis- 
charge, lie later became a member of John C. Kern I'osl Xn. 144. (irand 
Army ,.f the Uepublic. In politics be was a Republican u), to the year 1870, 
after which be alhbalol with the Democratic parly. On Xo\ ember 3. 1804. 
O. II. Wulney m.arried lunily Maxwell. ,,l Conoml Icwvnship. thi> county, 
and they became the parents ni twn children. I high Mervin. the -ubjecl of 
this sketch, and I.eiinrc. who was born on Al;iv 18. 1881. ^Ir. Widney was a 
man of ])rominence and inlluence in his CDinmunily and rendered good ser\ ice 
to his ciiuutx as a member nf tin- board nf cmuiUx commis>i(iners for two 
terms. 

Hugh .M. W idne\ secured bis elementarx education in the common 
schools and was leared to the life of a farmer, which vocation he followed 
for a while .after iitlaining mature years, but turned his attention to the lum- 
ber Ijusiness. in which he was success full\- enga.ged for a time, first in the 
retail business ;md later as a wboksak-r ;iiid m.-uiufactnrer. He then .igain 
returned to the farm for a time, but later eng.aged in the lumber and hard- 
turned his attention to farming, which now occunies his ritteiuioii. lie owns 
a splendid tract of land m Concord townshi]). ;md. here he makes the raising 
of fruit a specialt}-. Vnv twenty years he has gi\eii thoughtful and intelligent 



DKKAI.I! (.(irXTV. INDIANA. ijHiJ 

(lirt'Ctiun m ilii> lint- ui" elTorl, ha\ino- uue i.t the- hcsl orclKird- in DeKall) 
count)^ and he has earned a wide reputation througli this section nt ilie >uiu- 
as one Of the most successful fruit raisers, for he has followed ad\ancc-d 
methods and applied up-to-date husiness ideas to liis affairs. '!"hat Mr. Wid- 
iiey is a man of more than ordinary al)ility in his special line is evidenced by 
the fact that tluring the last three years he has been a lecturer at I'urdue 
University and on the subject of soils and all matters pertaininj; to huriicul- 
turc he is s^enerally considered an authority, haviuiJ- .yivcn much thoui;hlful 
study to that s])ecial subject as' well as done nmch practical experimental 
work on his own account. His orchard contains some of the \ery liest varie- 
ties of fruit, which he handles with the i^reatesi care, spravins;- his trees as 
their special needs re(iuire ;md .ui^'n.i;' <hie attention to all phases of his special 
line so that in the niai'ket the ](niilucts of his orchard command the liest 
prices. 

On December 30, 1883, the sul)ject of this sketch was united in mar- 
riage to Harriette A. Da\is, the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Jones) 
Davis, natives of Ohio and early settlers of DeKalb comity. Mr. Widney's 
grandfather, Joel Davis, was one (jf the pioneers of this locality and a man 
highly resjiected by all who knew him. To Mr. .-md .Mrs. W'idney ha\e been 
born two children. Blanchard W and Doris 1). i'lancli;inl married h'lossie 
Copp, of St. Joe, on August 19, 1913. 

Politically. Mr. W'idney- assumes an independent attitude. ])referring to 
vote for the man whom he considers best fitted for orhcc rather than to be 
guided by party alliance. Fraternally, he is a member of the hree and .Ac- 
cepted Masons and the Knights of Pythias, while his religious membershii) 
is with the Methodist Protestant church. Mr. Widney has honestly earned 
the high repute which he enjoys in his cominunity and Spring Brook Fruit 
Farm is one of the best known i^ieces of rural property in DeKalb county. 
The one hundred and thirty-five acres which Mr. W'idney owns are all under 
cultivation or in orcb.anl. and the fruit, melons and berries which he raises 
find ;i ready market owing to the well known conditions under which they 
are raised. In 1913 be bought -i\ty-si\ acres known ;i> the David l'o])e 
farm. .Mr. W'idney has found out and proved to others that it ])ays to raise 
the \crv best ])roduce and he has set a valuable example to the community 
along this line. Personally, he is a genial and companionable gentleman 
whom it is a pleasure to meet, and he is not only well known throughout the 
section of the state in which he lives, but is equally well liked by all who 
know him. 



990 DEKAI.B COUNTY, INDIANA. 

BYRON E. WIDNEV. 

After a lon<; cuurse of years of daily observation on the part of his 
neighbors, it would be out of the question for them not to know the worth, 
moral standing, public sentiment and social conduct as well as something 
of the private life of Byron E. Widney, one of the substantial agriculturists 
of Concord township, because, as has been said, "actions speak louder than 
words." In his community and, in fact, anywhere in DeKalb countv, there 
is heard nothing concerning Mr. \Vidney but good words and well deserved 
praise, for he has passed so many years here that his worth is well known, 
but it will be of interest to run over the busy events of his life in these pages. 

r.\Ton E. Widney was liorn in Concord township, DeKalb county, In- 
diana, on ^larch 29, j8f)j, and is the son of Samuel and Mary Ann (Moore) 
\\'i(lney. Sanniel L. \\'idne}-, who was the son of John P. and Jane (Lynn) 
Widney, was born in DKalb county on June 26, 1839. He received his edu- 
cation in the schools of his native locality and assisted his father on the home 
farm until attaining mature years. After his marriage, which occurred on 
January i, i860, he lived on his father's farm a year and the following vear 
located on the farm in Concord township, where he spent the remainder of 
his days, and where he acquired the ownership of three hundred and thirtv- 
three acres of fine land. His wife was a daughter of James and J-^llen Mi)ore, 
earl}- settlers of Pleasant township, this county. To Mr. and ^Irs. Widnev 
were l)orn five children, namely: Marion, Rvron E., \'iola. Otto L. and Iva 
Ma)-. 

l:'>_\ron E. Widney was reared under the jjarental roof and was earlv 
inducted into the mysteries of successful farming. His education was re- 
ceived in the common schools of Concord township and he has devoted his 
entire mature life to agricultural pursuits, in w-hich he has been eminently 
successful, owin.g to his untiring efforts and persistency and the sound com- 
mon sense with which he has characterized his labors. Td^o is the owner of 
one hundred and three acres of good land, practically all of which is under 
the plow and the well-kept condition of the fences, the neat and well arranged 
barns and other outbuildings testifying to the progressive ideas and enter- 
prising methods of the owner. 

On January 27, 1883, Mr. Widney was united in marriage to Martiia 
Rosetta Sechler. the daughter of Levi and Mary Barbara (Kistler) Sechler. 
the latter family being one of the oldest in DeKalb county. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Widnev was born one child, Edith, who became the wife of Ross Abel, 



DEKALli COUNTY, INDIANA. 99I 

of Newville township, tliis county. Mrs. Widney, wlio was born on Septem- 
ber 17, 1862, is a lady of many kindly tiualities and because of her earnest 
life and pleasing relations with those with whom she associates, she enjoys 
a well deserved popularity. 

Politically, Mr. Widney has been a life-long supporter of the Republican 
party and, though deeply interested in its success and active in its interests 
during campaigns, he has never sought nor held public office of any nature, 
his private affairs making heavy demands upon his lime. He is deeply inter- 
ested in everything that pertains to the welfare of his cunimunitw sui)[)(irting 
all worthy nioxements, and among those who know him liest he is held in tiie 
highest measure of esteem. 



SHELDON HORATIO HINT-:. 

Specific mention is made in the following paragraphs of one of the 
worthy citizens of DeKalb county, Indiana — one who has figured in the 
growth and development of this favored locality and whose interests have 
been identified with its progress. Additional interest also attaches to his 
career from the fact that practically his entire life has been passed within the 
borders of this county. 

Sheldon Horatio Hine, one of the best kncnvn citizens of Waterloo, 
Indiana, was born on ]\Iarch 22*. 1849, in Erie county, Ohio, the soil of 
Horatio Sheldon and Cynthia (Brooks) Hine, who also w^ere born and 
reared in Erie count)-. Eloratio Sheldon Hine was a son ni Sheldon Horatio 
Hine. who had come from Connecticut and settled in Erie county. The suli- 
ject of this sketch has a son, Horatio Sheldon, and the latter lia^; a son, Shel- 
don Horatio. Thus it will be seen that for five geinraiidns the two given 
names of the eldest son in each family have been reversed. Sheldon H. 
Hine lived until twelve years of age in Erie and Lake counties, Ohio, having 
spent much of his time with his grandfather Brooks in the latter county. At 
the age of twelve years he came with his father to Sedan. DeKall:) county. 
' Indiana, where the father had settled about a year before. The date of the 
subject's arrival here was Christmas day, 1861. At Sedan his father was 
engaged in the lumber business and farmed, and had also for a few years 
run a grist mill. Here the subject was reared U> manhood and eventually 
took his father's place in the mill and on the farm, where he worked for ten 
years. He then bought a farm in the west part of Grant township on the 



992 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

township line, where he lived uiilil Ahirch, 1002. when he nui\eil to Water- 
loo, and where he has since resided. Here, on April i. 1902, when the rural 
routes were established from Waterloo, he became a mail carrier and is still 
following this \ocation. He sold his farm in the \^■est \)avt of Grant town- 
ship to his son, Maynard, but still retains the part of liis father's estate in 
Ivichland township. His life has ])een characterir-^ed Ijy the strictest integrity 
ot motive and actiim, aiul he is nne of the nm^t popular rural route carriers 
of DeKalb county, faithful to the duties of his position. Religiously, Mr. 
fline is a member of the Presb\-terian church, lie has for many years taken 
an active part in public affairs and at the age of twenty-four years was 
elected justice of the peace of Richland, discharging the duties of that re- 
sponsible office to the entire satisfaction of those who elected him. When 
Henry Hines died during his term of office as county treasurer, about two 
months after assuming the office, the subject of this sketch was appointed to 
fill the unexpired term, thus serving as county treasurer for nearly two 
years. He has given a life-long su])p<irt to the Repuljlican party, in whose 
ranks he has been an effecti\'e and earnest worker, and in many \vays he has 
exhibited a commendaljle interest in the welfare of the c(immunitv. with- 
holding his support from no mo\emeiit which has for its ol)jeet the lieneht 
of his fellow men. 

On December 25, i.Sjo, Sheldon Horatio Mine married Catherine A. 
Houser, who w-as born in Fairfield township, this county, the daughter of 
John and Elizabeth (Gonser) Houser. Her parents were from northeastern 
Ohio and came to DeKalb county, Indiana, about 1838 or 1840, being among 
the pioneer settlers of Fairfield township The father farmed there most of 
his life, but for about two years was also engaged in the mercantile business 
at Fairfield Center. By this union Air. Hine liecame the father of six chil- 
dren, of whom four are lixing and two died in infanc\-. Tliose li\-ing are as 
follows: Horatio Sheldon Hine. born on \ut^u>t 10, 1872, was reared on 
the farm and attended school at Waterloo, lie farmed a tew ye;u"s, and 
when about twenty-eight years old he went west and was em])loyed at \arious 
places, taking the keenest interest in his observation of the country through 
which he passed. Returning to DeKalb count}-, he was married liere in 190; 
to Maude Warner, daughter of Jesse H. and Almina (Wallers) Warner, 
who are represented elsewhere in this issue. Mr. Hine is a builder and con- 
tractor, and also substitutes in winter as rural mail carrier. He has had two 
children, one son who died in infancy, and one, Sheldon Horatio Hine, now 
livino-. He is a member of the Indei)endent Order of Odd Fellows. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. g93 

Clyde L., the second son, was l)orn Marcli 31. 1874. He attended the 
Waterloo public school and i,^r;uluatetl with the class of 1895. He belonged 
to Company I. Third Regiment Indiana National ( inard, being sergeant- 
major to Colonel Knhlman. Ik completed a course in dentistry in Indi- 
anapolis, graduating in June, 1904. On Decenil)er _'8, 1903, he was married 
to Delia, daughter of Michael and Flora Kiplinger, who was a graduate of 
the Waterloo schools in the class of igoo. They have three children. Cleo 
K., Maynard K. and Maude. They live in Tuscola, Illinois, where he is 
successfully engaged in dentistry. 

Maynard Hine, the third son of Sheldon Horatio lline and wife, was 
bom on January 2, 1876, at Sedan, DeKalb county, huliana. and lived on 
the home farm during his boyhood \-ears, attending the high school, w here he 
was graduated in 1897. In that year he went to Vuliurn and helped his 
father in the county treasurer's office during a part of the hitter's term. He 
became a corporal of Company 1, Third Regiment Indiana National Ciuards. 
and during the Spanish-American war he went to the front with his com- 
pany, which became a part of the One Hundred and Fifty-third Regin-.ent 
Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was with the regiment until the close of 
that brief war. He returned home and thereafter for several years was em- 
ployed on the home farm. In 1901 he married Mabel Scattergood, and at 
that time began farming for himself. In February, 1912, Maynard Hine 
bought fifty-eight acres of his father's old home place and is engaged in the 
operation of that land, as well as some other land adjoining. He and his 
wife are both members of the United P.rethren church. Mrs. Mabel (Scatter- 
good) Hine was born east of W^aterloo, Grant township, DeKalb county, and 
is a sister of George Scattergood, who is represented el.sewhere in this work. 
When she was four years old her parents moved to the east part of Richland 
township, this county, where she lived until her marriage. 

Lula Hine, the daughter and youngest child, was born May 3. 1880. 
She graduated from Waterloo public school and attended the Normal school 
at Valparaiso for one year, .\fter teaching a few years she became the wife 
of R. C. Smith, of Tuscola, Illinois, who is a real estate agent of that city. 
Mrs. Catherine Hine died on June 10, 19T0, and on June i, 1913, Mr. 
Hine married Mrs. Bertha (Closson) Knott, who was born and roared in the 
southern part of Steuben county, Indiana, and was a teacher in the pub- 
lic schools for more than twenty years. Her parents were early settlers of 
Steuben county and were people of respectability and prominence. Mrs. 
(63) 



994 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Hine is now librarian of Waterloo. Her first husband, John Adams Knott, 
died about twenty-five years ago, about five years after their marriage, which 
was without issue. 

Personally, the subject of this sketch is a man of clean moral c.haracter 
and marked business ability, which was evidenced in the successful manage- 
ment of his farming enterprises, and now he is numbered among the earnest 
and respected citizens of the section of tlie county in which he lives, his daily 
life being evidence of the high motives which control his actions. 



E. W. SAYLOR. 



Among the citizens of Concord township who have built up comfortable 
homes and surrounded themselves with landed and personal property, few 
have attained a higher degree of success than the subject of this sketch. 
With few opportunities except what his own efforts were capable of master- 
ing and with many discouragements to overcome, he has made a success of 
life and has the gratification of knowing that the community in which he has 
resided has been benefited by his presence. 

E. W. Saylor, who occupies a fine farm in Concord township, is a native 
of DeKalb county, Indiana, having been born on August 17, 1858, and is the 
son of William and Mary J. (Stiltz) Saylor. These parents were natives, 
respectively, of Pennsylvania and Ohio, and came to Concord township, this 
county, in 1850, locating on two hundred acres of land which he bought here 
and one hundred and forty of which the subject of this sketch now resides. 
William Saylor was twice married, first to Rosan Wade, to which union 
were born the following children: Mrs. Susan Stafford, now deceased; 
Samuel, deceased: Calvin, of Allen county, this state: Mrs. Catherine Rick- 
ett, of St. Joe. To William and Mary J. Saylor the following children were 
bom: Mrs. Annie Baker, who lives in Concord township on a farm; E. W., 
the immediate subject of this sketch; William H.. of Hicksville. Ohio; 
To.seph H.. of DeKalb county, and Orman F.. who lives in Indianapolis. 

The subject of this sketch received his early education in the common 
schools of DeKalb county and was reared to the life of a farmer, a vocation 
to which he has devoted all his active years and in which he has met with 
most pronounced success. Careful, methodical and energetic in his opera- 
tions, he gives his strict attention to his own affairs, with the result that he 



DKKAI.Ii COUNTY, INDIANA. 995 

has met with a degree of success commensurate with his eiYorts. As before 
stated, he is residing on one hundred and fort\- acres of the old home place 
and he takes a justifiable pride in the manner in which he keeps up the ap- 
pearance of the place. The neat and attractive residence, the substantial and 
commodious barns, well kept fences and the condition of the fields indicate 
the owner to be a man of good taste and sound judgment in the handling of 
his farming operations. He raises all the crops common to this locality and 
also gives some attention to live stock, whicli lie has found to be a valuable 
adjunct to successful farming. 

On August 28, 1887, Mr. Say lor was married to Fannie Bovlick, the 
daughter of Anthony and Barbara Bovlick. natives of Germany, and to this 
union have been born three children, two of whom died in infancy, the sur- 
vivor being a son, Fred, who is now at home with his parents. Fraternally, 
Mr. Saylor is an appreciative member of Lodge No. 671, Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows, at St. Joe. As a neighbor and citizen Mr. Saylor stands 
high in the esteem of all who know him, and the deep interest he takes in 
promoting the social and moral welfare of the community gives him an en- 
viable reputation throughout the locality in which he lives. 



ALBERT N. THRUSH. 



There are individuals in nearly e\ery community who, by reason of 
pronounced ability and force of character, rise above the heads of the masses 
and command the unbounded esteem of their fellow men. Characterized by 
perseverance and a directing spirit, two virtues that never fail, such men al- 
ways make their presence felt and the vigor of their strong personality serve 
as a stimulus and incentive to the young and rising generation. To this ener- 
getic and enterprising class the subject of this review veiy properly belongs. 
Having never been seized with the roaming desires that have led many of 
DeKalb county's young men to other fields of endeavor and other states, 
where they have sought their fortunes, Mr. Ihrusli has devoted his life to 
industries at home and has succeededremarkably well, as we shall see by a 
study of his life history. 

Albert N. Thrush, than whom no citizen of Butler township enjoys to 
a greater degree the popular confidence and regard, was born in Noble county, 
Indiana, on February 22. i860, the son of William T. and Sarepta (Errick- 



996 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

son) Thrush. The subject's mother was a native of Indiana and his father 
of Pennsyhania, from whence he came to Indiana, settling in Fort Wa3'ne, 
where lie followetl the trade of a mason. Subsequently he moved to Noble 
county, Indiana, where he married and then, in 1868, came to DeKalb 
county, settling on a farm in Ihitler township. He retired and li\ed in 
Auburn from 1884 until his death, -\ugu-t 31, 1891. His wife passed away 
in Auburn in April, 1897. They were the parents of seven children, the 
subject of this sketch being the second born. 

Albert N. Thrush recei\^ed his education in the common schools of 
Noble and DeKalb counties, and as soon as old enough took up his share of 
the farm work. He has ne\ er relinquished his agricultural activities, and is 
now the owner of ;i splendid farm of two hundred and sixty-se\'en acres in 
■Butler towiishi]). where he carries on general farming, raising all the crops 
generally cultivated in this locality and also gixing some attention to live 
stock. His farm is kejjt in good condition and is numl)ered among the val- 
uable homesteads of Butler townshii). 

In January, 1882, Mr. Thrush married Ellen Pepple. the daughter of 
Joseph and Adeline Pepple, and to them have been born three children. 
Walter M., who married Inez Heitz; Marie, a teacher, and Marion, in high 
school. In the ci\ic life of the communit}' Mr. Thrush has long taken a live 
interest and has served as trustee of his township one term, 1895 to 1900. to 
the entire satisfaction of his fellow citizens. He has also served as president 
of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company of DeKalb county for six years 
and live years as a director, having been actively identified with this com- 
pany for ele\en \ears. He has also served as county chairman of the DeKallv 
County Farmers' institute work for three years and is still actively connected 
with this association. It is a well authenticated fact tliat success comes only 
as the result of legitimate and well apjjhed energy, unflagging determination 
and untiring perseverance, and in tracing the history of the subject of this 
sketch, it is found that the above elements have entered very largely into his 
makeuj), and therefore there is no surpri-^e at the s]ilendid success which has 
crowned his efforts. His relations with his fellows liave lieen such as to 
inspire their resjiect and confidence, and today no citi/en of Butler township 
is held in higher esteem than .\. X. Thrush. 

Politically, Mr. Thrush is a Republican; fraternally, is a member of 
L<.)dge.No '>8c>, i'ree and Accepted .Masons, at Huntertown, Indiana, and, 
with his wife, belong.s tn tlie Methodist ["'.ijiscojjal cliurch. The son, Walter 
M.. who has always assisted his father on the home jilace, is also a Mason. 



DEKALU COUNTY, INDIANA. 997 

PHILIP S. CARPER. 

It is generally considered by those in tlie habit of superficial thinking 
that the history of so-called great men only is woilliy of preservation and 
that little merit exists among the masses to call fnitli the praises of the his- 
torian or the cheers and api)reciation of mankind. ,\ greater mistake was 
never made. No man is great in all things and \ery few are great in many 
things. Many by a hick)- stroke achieve lasting fame, who before that had 
no reputation beyond the limits of their neighborhoutls. It is not a history of 
the lucky stroke that benefits mankind most, but the long study and effort 
which made the lucky stroke possible. It is the preliminary work, the method, 
that serves as a guide for the success of others. Among those in this county 
who have achieved success along steady lines of action is the subject of this 
sketch. 

Philip S. I'-irpcr, secretary of the b'armers' .Mutual l'"ire Insurance Com- 
pany, was born in DeKall) cnunt\', i)cceml)er 7. 18(15, the son of John and 
Sarah (Friedt) Carper. John Carper was a native of Ibilnies cnunly. Ohio, 
and came to DeKalb county with his parents, .\dani and Elizai^eth (Cobbler) 
Carper, in 1842, they settling in Jackson township on land entered from the 
government. John Carper died in 1895, wdiile his wife is still living. The 
original tract of land entered is still in possession of the family. To them 
w^ere born eight children: Eugene, George W., Lillie A., John A., Mary E., 
Philip, Laura J., and Alda \'iola, deceased. Philip Caqjer received a good 
common school education in the DeKalb county schools, after which he began 
the career of an agriculturalist, in which he achieved a splendid success. Mr. 
Carper remained at home until his marriage and then located on his present 
farm, four miles southeast of .\uburn, on the Aulnirn :\nd St. Joe road, on 
the Henrv I'-mwu farm. He made nil of the improvements just as they 
stand. He has seventy acres, of which fifty-five acres are in a good state of 
cultivation. He carries on a general farming business. In 1903 he was 
elected secretary of the Farmers' ;Mutual Eire Insurance Company, which 
position he still occupies, and his natural ajjtitude for this line of work has 
stood him in good stead, as is evidenced in the wonderful progress of the 
company, it now carrying over seven million dollars in jiolicies with thirty- 
five hundred policy-holders. In this strong company, associated wdth Mr. 
Carper, are the following officers; President, .\. N. Thrush; treasurer, John 
Hebel: vice-president. William Xorris; actuary, C. H. Bangs; board of 
directors, Charles S. Arford, Henry St. Clair, Da\id Shook. George Rhein- 



99^ DEKAI^B COl'NTY, INDIANA. 

hart and Archie Bowman. Mr. Thrush was elected president in 1908, and 
has been actively engaged \\ ith the company for about ten years. Since 1907 
Mr. Carper has been a director of the City National Bank of Auburn. 

On October 16, 1895, Mr. Carper was married to Lulu Able, daughter 
of Walter and Anna (Nelson) Able, who came from their native state of 
Ohio with their parents, he having been born in Trumlmll county and she 
from Tuscarawas county. They had one other child besides the subject's 
wife, a son named Ross. To Mr. and Mrs. Carper have been born two chil- 
dred, Hugh B., born January 16, 1897, and Nellie, born May i, 1900, both of 
whom are still under the shelter of the parental roof. 

Mr. Carper has always given his support to the Republican party, and 
was honored by being selected as drainage commissioner by his fellow citi- 
zens in 1908 and 1909. His splendid success in his varied activities should 
be set down in a work of this character that the future generations mav profit 
by his example. 



TESSE H. WARNER. 



Among the successful, self-made men of DeKalb county, Indiana, whose 
efforts and influence have contributed to the material upbuilding and general 
activity of their respective communities, the gentleman whose name appears 
above occupies a conspicuous position. In view of the energetic, consistent 
and successful record he has achieved, it is eminently appropriate that he be 
given representation in the present work. 

Jesse Warner was born in August, 1850, near Tiffin, Seneca county, 
Ohio, and was a son of Daniel and Rebecca (Ransburg) Warner. Daniel 
Warner was from Hagerstown, ^Maryland, as was his wife. \Mien Jesse H. 
Warner was but a child, his parents moved to near McCutclieonville, Seneca 
county, Ohio, and thence to Jackson township, that county, during the Civil 
war, and there the father bought a wooden bowl factory. He then moved to 
Henry county, Ohio, where he and his wife died, the former at the age of 
ninety-seven years and the latter when about eighty-four }ears old. Jesse 
H. Warner was reared on the home farm and lived there until his marriage, 
in 1877, to Almina Walters, who was born near Weston, Wood county, .Ohio, 
the daughter of Elias and Phoebe Jane (Bossard) Walters. When she was 
five years old her father died, and when fifteen years old she suffered the 
loss of her mother. A few weeks later she went to Henrv countv, Ohio, and 



l'EKA[.l! rorXTV. INDIANA. 999 

there lived with an aunt until her marriage. After their marriage .Mr. and 
Mrs. Jesse Warner went to farming, but about fourteen years later he en- 
gaged in the meat husine.ss, running a market at .Met lure. Ohio, unlil 1909. 
when he sold out and moved to Steuben county, this stale, where he ran a 
meat market at Ashley for one year. He then mo\ed to Waterloo and 
engaged in raising high grade poultry, specializing on Black Minorcas, and 
also does considerable truck gardening. He is the father of four children, 
three daughters and a son, namely : Mrs. Maud Ellen, the wife of Horatio 
Sheldon Hine, and they have one son, SheUlon Horatio: Xellie Blnache is 
the wife of Frank Saltsman, and the\- ha\e three children, Jacob Warner, 
Almina Grace and Francis Irene; .\rthur \crnon, born April 17,' 1883. was 
married on March 6, 1905, to Almeda W. F. Korn and they have two chil- 
dren, William Arthur and Orlo Clayton Warner. Bessie Doris lives at home 
with her parents and is employed at the telephone office at Waterloo. Jesse 
Warner 'belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at McClure, Ohio, 
of which he has been a member for twenty-six years. Arthur Warner be- 
longs to the Odd Fellows at Waterloo. 



SAMUEL A. MUMAW. 

Farming is becoming recognized as a profession and the future farmers 
of our country will be trained as carefully as are our ministers and physicians. 
Purdue University now gives a four-year course in agriculture, leading to the 
Bachelor of Arts degree. The 1913 Legislature of this state created a new 
of^cial known as the county agent, whose duties are to give expert advice to 
farmers on all subjects pertaining to agriculture. The short courses given 
at Piu'due e\ery year are being attended by increasing thousands of farmers 
and their sons. The tendency of all this points to a new era in farming. 
Farmers' institutes are being held throughout the state and liave been the 
means of keeping the farmers abreast of the times. Agriculture is becoming 
a science and the most successful farmer of today is the man who studies his 
business. Such men as these arc the men who make good officials as well as 
good farmers, and such a farmer and official is Samuel .\. Mumaw, the sub- 
ject of this brief review. 

Samuel .A. Mtnnaw, the son of David .\. and Rebecca (Helsey) Mumaw. 
was born in Stark county, Ohio, May 26, 1877. His parents were both 



lOOO DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

natives of Shenandoah county, Virginia, where David A. Mumaw grew to 
manhood and married. He enlisted in the Confederate army from Virginia, 
July 15, 1861 and remained in service until the close of the war. He be- 
longed to Company K, Thirty-third Regiment, at the opening of the Civil 
war and continued in active service throughout tliat memorable conflict, mak- 
ing a brilliant record as a soldier and lieing mustered out at the end of nearl\- 
five years' service \vith a slight scalp wou.nd. He was in the liattle ;it (iettys- 
burg and Winchester and many other noted battles. After the war he re- 
turned to his native state of \'irginia, where he continued t(j reside until 
1 87 1, when he moved to Stark county, Ohio. Here he purchased land and 
improved it, but thinking he could improve his fortunes by going to Indiana, 
he came to DeKall) county, tliis state, in 1886 and purchased a farm in 
Wilmington township of forty acres. Here, at the age of seventy-nine, he 
is still actively engaged in' agricultural pursuits, being probably the oldest 
farmer in active service in tlie county today. His wife is the same age as 
himself and is still in good health. Her parents were of German extraction. 
To Air. and Mrs. na\"id .\. Mumaw have been boru fi\e children, Charles, 
of Butler, Indiana, who has l)een sliipping agent for the Butler Wind-mill Com- 
pany for the past seventeen years; John B., a plumlier of Butler; Jacob, a 
telephone lineman of Eaton, Ohio; Sarah, who married OH\er Kcyshury and 
lives in Fort ^^"ayne, Indiana, and Sanniel .V., the immediate suliject of this 
sketch. 

Samuel A. Mumaw was eckicated in the district schools of his county 
and continued to reside under the paternal roof until he v as married at the 
age of twenty-two years. Upon his marriage on December 13, 1899, to Anna 
jM. Sechler, he moved on to his mother-in-law's farm. Hfty-si.x acres in Con- 
cord township. ]\Irs. Mumaw is the daughter of William and Rachel 
(Nelson) Sechler, her father being a native of Pennsylvania, of German 
stock. Mrs. Sechler was of Irish descent, her parents .being pioneers of Con- 
cord township, where her father followed agricultural pursuits all his life. 
They were both members of the German Lutheran cluuxh. Air. Secliler died 
in April, 1884, and his wife's death occurred on October 30, 1903. Mrs. 
Rachel Sechler first married Samuel Armstrong, and had one son liy this mar- 
riage, Samuel, who married Ethel Imhoof and now li^•es in Concord town- 
ship. Some years after the death of her first husband, Mrs. Rachel Armstrong 
married William Sechler, and to this union were born two children, an infant 
daughter, deceased, and Anna M. Sechler, the wife of the subject of this 
sketch. 



DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. lOOI 

Mr. Mumaw is the owner of a fine farm in Concord township comprising 
fifty-six acres and carries on a general farming business. Besides raising 
all the crops common to this locality, he has made a specialty of raising horses 
and hogs and has been uniformly successful in all his business transactions. 
The esteem in which he is held in his community is shown by the fact that he 
was appointed to the office of trustee of Concord township in July. 191 1. 
In the conduct of liis official affairs in his township, Mr. Mumaw has taken 
a commendable interest and has won the approval of all the citizens of his 
township, irrespective of party affiliations. He has taken a very active inter- 
est in the question of good district schools and has made a special effort to 
secure the best possible teachers for the township schools. He has just com- 
pleted the erection of tlie best school building in DeKall) county. He has also 
been an advocate of good roads and has succeeded in adding a few miles of 
improved highway to the township system each year. lie and his wife are 
members of the Lutheran church at St. Joe and contriljute liberally of their 
means to support the various activities of that denomination. Mr. Mumaw 
is also a valued member of the Knights of Pytiiias and takes an active inter- 
est in the fraternal affairs of that Ijody. In all of his business dealings I\Ir. 
Mumaw has so conducted himself that he has won the confidence and ap- 
proval of all of the good citizens of his community, not only in his lousiness 
relations, but in every effort to elevate the moral, intellectual or social stand- 
ard of his lacolity. 



WILLI.AM E. AND J.VMES M. HAMILTON. 

It is a well authenticated fact that success comes as the result of legiti- 
mate and well applied energy, unflagging determination and perseverance in a 
course of action when once decided upon. She is never known to smile 
upon the idler or dreamer and she never courts the loafer, only the men 
who have diligently souglil her favor I)eing crowned with her blessings. In 
tracing the history of the gentlemen whose names form the caption of this 
review, it is plainly seen that the success which they enjoy has been won by 
commendable qualities and it is also this personal worth thab has gained 
for them the high esteem of those who know them. William E. and James M. 
Hamilton are the sons of Jonathan and Hannah B. (Platter) Hamilton, the 
former of whom was born in New York City. Eventually he located in 
Pennsylvania where he was reared to the life of a farmer. He remained in 



I002 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

Pennsylvania until about eight years of age, when he went to Defiance, 
Ohio, and from there came to DeKalb county, Indiana, where he made his 
permanent settlement. He was prominent among the early pioneers of 
this section and took an active part in the development and progress that 
characterized this locality in those early days. He built and operated the old 
Hamilton mill in 1838, one of the landmarks of this locality for many years, 
and at the same time successfully operated his farm. He was a man of force- 
ful character and sturdy integrity, who impressed his personality on the com- 
munity where he spent so many of his active years and he was a leader 
in many of the important events which concerned the history of his county. 
To him and his wife were born nine children, namely: John R., Agnes 
and Catherine are all deceased; William E. and James ]\1., the immediate 
subjects of this sketch: Elizal^eth and Emmaline are deceased; Mary E. 
and John G. 

William E. Hamilton was born on August 4. 1829, and early in life, 
under his father's direction, he learned the trade of a miller, which he fol- 
lowed during practically his entire active life. He was for a while in the 
West, being located in Idaho, where he established a mill and to him' belongs 
the distinction of having ground the first bushel of wheat milled in that 
state, that being many years ago when it was still a territory. He is retired 
from active life and is li\-ing c|uietly at his comfortable home in Concord 
township, this count) . 

On June 9, 1878. William E. Hamilton married Mary Carpenter, the 
daughter of John Carpenter, a prominent farmer and one of the early settlers 
of DeKalb county. 

James M. Hamilton was liorn on October 2, 1831, and was reared to 
the life of a farmer, a vocation from which he never departed and in which 
he met with a well deserved success. He, too, is now retired from active 
business affairs. Neither of the Hamilton brothers have been aspirants for 
public office, though they have always taken an intelligent and active part 
in public affairs, as every loyal citizen should, and they have performed their 
full part of the duties of citizenship, thereby earning the approval and com- 
mendation of all who know them. 

Politically, William E. Hamilton is an earnest Republican in his views, 
while James M. has given his support to the Progressive party since the re- 
cent campaign. Religioush', the former is a member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal church and the latter of the United Brethren church, to the support of 
which societies they are liberal contributors. Quiet and unostentatious and 
seeking the sequestered ways of life rather than its tumult and strife, the 



nKKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 



HaniiltcMi l)rothers ha\'c- c\er attended strictly to tlit'ir own affairs and by 
their upright H\es and worthy examples have made better all who have come 
within the range of their influence, and today no more deserving or popular 
citizens reside in Concord township then they. 



EZRA ROHM. 



It is not an easy task to describe adequately a man who has led an 
eminently active and busy life, and who has attained a position of relative 
distinction in the community with which his interests are allied. But biog- 
•raphy finds its most perfect justiticatidu, nevertheless, in the tracing and 
recording of such a life history. It is, then, with a full appreciation of all 
that is demanded and of the painstaking scrutiny that must be accorded 
each statement, and yet with a feeling of satisfaction, that the writer essays 
the task of touching briefly upon the details of such a record as has been 
that of the honored subject of this sketch whose eminently honored and 
successful career now comes under review. 

Ezra Rohm, one of the successful fanners aiul respected citizens of 
Cirant township, was born on July 2, 1873, about one and one-half miles 
north of Waterloo, this count)-, and is a son of Simon and Mary (Harsh) 
Rohm, who are mentioned elsewhere in this work. When Ezra Rohm was 
about five years old the family moved to the present location, which is about 
half way between Auburn and Waterloo, and there he was reared. In about 
1896 he bought a part of the old home farm, and to the operation of this 
tract he has applied his energies continuously since with eminent success, 
and has earned a high reputation because of his up-to-date methods and un- 
tiring energy. He has one of the best imjiroved farms in this locality, the 
substantial and attractive residence, commodious and well-arranged barns, 
well-kept fences and the general appearance of the fields evidencing him to 
be a man of good ideas and sound judgment. He carries on a general line of 
farmj'ng, raising all the crops common to this locality and has met with a 
gratifying degree of success as a result of his efforts. 

In 1891 Mr. Rohm married Amelia Walker, daughter of George W. and 
Caroline (Neidig) Walker, of Feagler's Corners, Richland township, where 
her parents now reside. She was born in Stark county, Ohio, and was about 
nine years of age when the family removed to this county. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Rohm have been born seven children, of whom lola I 'carl died in 



I004 DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA. 

infancy. Those living are as follows: Edward M., born March 28, 1892, 
married Hazel Hiisselman, and they have a daughter, Erma May; Edward 
Rohm is operating the Al St- Clair farm; Lillie M. Rohm is the wife of 
Clyde Osborne, and lives in Auburn; Luella is the wife of Merritt Sock- 
rider, who is a postal telegraph operator, and they have a daughter. Myrtle 
Merrill; Elza Frank, born August 21, 1898; Mildred Catherine, born June 15, 
1905, and Myrtle Caroline, born January 16, 1909. The family move in the 
best social circles of the community in which they reside and are held in 
high esteem by all who know them. Mr. Rohm, though quiet and unostenta- 
tious in his life, has been a definite factor in the life of the community, 
for he has given his support at all times to such movements as promise to 
be for the material, social, educational or moral advancement of the people, 
and as a result of his upright life and sturdy industry he has gained an envia- 
ble standing among his fellow citizens. 



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